The Secret Jordan Came to Reveal

The threat changed the atmosphere in the room.

Until that moment, I had believed Nia was simply trying to save herself.

But now I was beginning to understand that she might have been afraid of Jordan for reasons I didn't know.

Danielle moved closer.

"Marcus, we need to get Mom somewhere safe.""

I nodded.

"Call her. Tell her not to leave the house.""

Nia wiped her face.

"Please don't call the police yet.""

I looked at her.

"You've got to be kidding.""

"Jordan has people helping him.""

"Who?""

"I don't know their names.""

"How convenient.""

"I'm telling the truth!""

I pointed toward the documents.

"Then tell me why you signed a power of attorney giving yourself access to my mother's money.""

Nia sat down.

"Jordan said it was a temporary arrangement. He said your mother was going to need help managing her finances after surgery.""

"She has children.""

"I know.""

"She has a son who has been paying her medical bills.""

"I know, Marcus.""

"Then why didn't you ask me?""

She began crying again.

"Because Jordan told me you would never allow it.""

I shook my head.

"You're still blaming him for your decisions.""

She looked up.

"I know what I did.""

"Do you?""

"Yes.""

"Then tell me the truth about the $28,000.""

She hesitated.

"I still have most of it.""

"Where?""

"In my personal savings account.""

"How much?""

"Twenty-four thousand.""

I looked at Danielle.

"That's more than enough to prove where the money went.""

Nia shook her head.

"Jordan told me not to transfer it anywhere.""

"Why?""

"He said it would look suspicious.""

I stared at her.

"Because it is suspicious.""

She lowered her head.

Danielle picked up the phone.

"I'm calling Mom.""

She walked into the kitchen.

I remained standing across from Nia.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

Then she said quietly, "Do you remember our anniversary last year?""

I frowned.

"What?""

"Your thirty-fifth birthday. The weekend we went to Savannah.""

I remembered.

We had stayed at a beautiful hotel near the river. Nia had arranged a surprise dinner and bought me a watch I'd admired for months.

She had written a card telling me I was the safest place she'd ever known.

I still had that card in my office drawer.

"Why are you bringing that up?""

She wiped her cheeks.

"Because I wasn't pretending then.""

I looked at her.

"I loved you, Marcus. I still do.""

I felt something twist inside my chest.

"Then why did you do this?""

She shook her head.

"I don't know how it got this far.""

"That's not an answer.""

She stared at her hands.

"Jordan started contacting me months ago. At first, it was just messages. He apologized for how things ended between us. He said he regretted losing me.""

I remained silent.

"He told me he had changed. He said he was building a successful business and wanted to make something of himself.""

"And you were impressed?""

She nodded reluctantly.

"He made me feel important.""

I almost laughed.

"Was I not making you feel important?""

She looked up.

"You were always working.""

"I was working to pay for our life.""

"I know.""

"I was working extra hours because I wanted us to have children someday. I wanted us to move into a bigger house. I wanted to give you everything we talked about.""

Her eyes filled.

"I know, Marcus.""

"Then what did Jordan give you that I didn't?""

She didn't answer.

Finally, she whispered, "Attention.""

I looked at her for a long time.

That answer hurt more than I expected.

Not because I believed I was perfect.

But because I had spent years assuming we would tell each other when something was wrong.

Instead, she had gone looking for comfort in the one person who had once threatened our marriage.

Danielle returned.

"Mom's okay. She's staying with the neighbor until we get there.""

I nodded.

"Good.""

She looked at Nia.

"There's something else I haven't told you.""

Nia frowned.

"What?""

Danielle placed her phone on the table.

"I found a voice recording on Mom's old tablet.""

Nia's expression changed.

"What recording?""

"One from the day Jordan visited her in the hospital.""

Danielle pressed play.

At first, there was only background noise.

A door opening.

Footsteps.

Then Jordan's voice.

"Mrs. Carter, I promise you Marcus knows about this.""

My mother's voice sounded weak.

"Then why hasn't my son called me?""

"He's embarrassed. He doesn't want you worrying.""

A pause.

Then Nia spoke.

"Mrs. Carter, we're only trying to make things easier for everyone.""

My mother replied:

"I don't understand why Marcus would give his house to Jordan.""

Jordan laughed softly.

"He isn't giving it to me. It's a business arrangement.""

My mother's voice became firmer.

"Then why does the paper say transfer of ownership?""

Silence.

Then Jordan said:

"Because that's how the arrangement works.""

My mother refused.

"I won't sign something I don't understand.""

Nia's voice became impatient.

"Please, you're making this more difficult than it needs to be.""

I felt my jaw tighten.

My mother continued:

"I want to speak to Marcus.""

Jordan replied:

"He's not available.""

"Then I'll wait.""

A chair scraped.

Then Nia spoke again.

"Maybe you should think about what happens if Marcus loses everything.""

My mother's voice softened.

"Is he in trouble?""

Jordan answered immediately.

"He's in serious financial difficulty. If you don't help us, he could lose the house.""

I closed my eyes.

There it was.

The same lie.

The same manipulation.

My mother had been frightened into believing her son was in trouble.

Then another voice entered the recording.

A voice I didn't recognize.

"Are we finished?""

Jordan answered:

"Almost.""

The unknown man laughed.

"Make sure she signs before the weekend. The buyer is getting impatient.""

My eyes snapped open.

The recording continued.

Nia asked:

"What if she refuses?""

The unknown man replied:

"Then we'll use the other document.""

Jordan lowered his voice.

"Not here. We already discussed that.""

A door closed.

The recording ended.

Nobody spoke.

Danielle looked at me.

"Who was that other man?""

I shook my head.

"I don't know.""

Nia was trembling.

I turned toward her.

"Do you know?""

She looked at the floor.

"Yes.""

My stomach tightened.

"Who?""

She pressed her lips together.

"His name is Victor.""

"Victor who?""

"Victor Hayes. He's Jordan's business partner.""

Danielle picked up her phone.

"Why didn't you tell us there was another person involved?""

Nia began crying.

"Because I was told not to.""

I stepped closer.

"What does Victor do?""

"He handles the property transactions.""

"What property transactions?""

She looked at me.

"Several houses.""

I frowned.

"How many?""

"Three that I know about.""

I felt a chill run down my spine.

"Three houses?""

She nodded.

"Jordan told me he was buying distressed properties. He said he could make a lot of money if he found owners who needed cash quickly.""

I stared at her.

"Was my mother's account part of that business?""

"I think so.""

"And my house?""

She nodded.

Danielle shook her head.

"This isn't just about our family.""

I looked at the documents again.

The suspicious transfers.

The forged signatures.

The power of attorney.

The property transfer agreement.

It was becoming clear that Jordan had built something much bigger than a personal revenge scheme.

And my family was only one target.

I picked up the bank statements.

"We're taking everything to the police.""

Nia grabbed my wrist.

"Wait.""

I pulled away.

"What now?""

She reached into the pocket of her cardigan and removed a small black flash drive.

"I have something else.""

I stared at it.

"What's that?""

"Copies of Jordan's files.""

"Where did you get them?""

"He left his laptop open at my apartment.""

I frowned.

"Your apartment?""

She immediately looked uncomfortable.

"An apartment he rented.""

My stomach tightened.

"Why were you at an apartment he rented?""

Nia started crying.

"Marcus, please.""

"Answer me.""

She took a shaky breath.

"I was there last night.""

I stared at her.

Last night.

While I had been working late, believing my wife was home.

She had been with Jordan.

I stepped away.

"Did you sleep with him?""

Nia shook her head.

"Nothing happened.""

I laughed bitterly.

"Don't.""

"Marcus, I swear.""

I looked at the flash drive.

"What's on it?""

"Bank records. Emails. Property agreements. And a recording.""

"Of what?""

She swallowed.

"Jordan talking to Victor.""

"About what?""

Her voice dropped.

"About the house.""

I took the flash drive.

"Why didn't you bring this to me earlier?""

"Because I was afraid.""

"Of Jordan?""

She nodded.

"After I realized what he was doing, I tried to back out. He threatened me.""

I stared at her.

"What did he threaten?""

She looked directly into my eyes.

"He said he had a recording of me agreeing to help him. He said if I went to the police, he'd tell them I was the one who planned everything.""

I held up the flash drive.

"Then this recording better tell a different story.""

Nia nodded.

I plugged the drive into my laptop.

A folder appeared.

Inside were dozens of files.

One was labeled:

*CARTER PROPERTY — FINAL AGREEMENT.*

I opened it.

The document contained my home address.

My mother's bank details.

And a proposed sale price.

$640,000.

I stared at the screen.

The house was worth considerably more than that.

Someone had arranged to sell it far below market value.

I opened the audio file.

Jordan's voice came through first.

"Once Marcus signs, we're clear.""

Victor answered:

"What if he doesn't?""

Jordan laughed.

"He won't have a choice.""

"Why?""

"Because by then, he'll think his wife stole his mother's money.""

A pause.

Then Victor asked:

"And Nia?""

Jordan's voice became colder.

"She's useful until the transfer is complete.""

I felt my stomach drop.

Victor chuckled.

"You really think she'll accept that?""

Jordan answered without hesitation.

"She already signed everything. When this is over, she'll have nobody to blame but herself.""

I looked at Nia.

She was crying silently.

The recording continued.

Victor asked:

"What happens to Marcus?""

Jordan laughed.

"Marcus is going to prison.""

I froze.

Then Jordan said something that made every hair on my arms stand up.

"We've already prepared the evidence. By the time he realizes what's happening, the police will have enough to arrest him for stealing his mother's money.""

The audio continued.

"And the final piece?"" Victor asked.

Jordan replied:

"His wife's signature. That's what makes the whole thing believable.""

I slowly turned toward Nia.

She was staring at the screen.

Then she whispered:

"Marcus, I think they're planning to arrest you tomorrow.""

My phone rang.

An unfamiliar number.

I answered.

"Hello?""