Chapter 6 - The Original Document
The original document was hidden inside Emily's shopping bag.
She had placed it there before meeting Margaret.
It was a simple envelope.
Nothing about it looked important.
But inside was the property authorization.
The real one.
Not the scanned copy.
The original contained handwritten notes in the margin.
Emily recognized the handwriting.
Nathan's.
She had seen it on company documents many times.
The note said:
Move before December 20. Emily cannot know.
Below it was another instruction.
Daniel handles the signature.
Emily's heart sank.
Daniel hadn't merely been a passive participant.
He had been assigned a role.
She showed Margaret.
Margaret's lips parted.
“Daniel wrote this?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Nathan.”
Margaret stared at the words.
“I raised two sons.”
She swallowed.
“I don't recognize either of them anymore.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“Mom, please.”
Margaret looked at him.
“Did you forge Emily's signature?”
Daniel hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Emily closed her eyes.
“Thank you.”
Daniel looked confused.
“For what?”
“For finally answering me without words.”
He looked away.
“I was scared.”
“So was I.”
“I thought Nathan would destroy me.”
“And you thought it was okay to destroy me first?”
Daniel couldn't answer.
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“I didn't know about the forged signature.”
Emily turned.
“I believe you.”
Vanessa looked surprised.
“But you knew about the property transfers.”
“I thought they were Daniel's.”
“They weren't.”
Vanessa's face fell.
“I swear, I didn't know.”
Margaret stepped between them.
“Then start telling the truth.”
Vanessa took a breath.
“Nathan met me once.”
Daniel looked at her sharply.
“When?”
“Two months ago.”
“What did he say?”
“He asked me if Daniel had told Emily about the divorce.”
Daniel's face changed.
“He knew?”
“Yes.”
Vanessa looked terrified.
“He told me if Emily found out about the properties, Daniel would be blamed.”
Emily's eyes narrowed.
“So Nathan planned this.”
“Yes.”
“And you stayed with Daniel anyway.”
Vanessa looked down.
“I thought he was leaving his wife.”
Emily didn't respond.
She understood something then.
The affair wasn't the center of the story.
It was the curtain.
Behind it was a property scheme that could destroy the Sterling family.
Emily took out her phone.
She sent the original document to her attorney.
Then she sent a second message.
I have the original.
A reply came almost immediately.
Do not go home.
Emily looked up.
“Why?”
Her attorney called.
“Nathan knows.”
“How?”
“We don't know.”
Margaret looked at Emily.
“What do we do?”
Emily stared across the crowded Christmas atrium.
May you like
“Now we stop running.”
👉 Nathan knew the original document existed, and Emily realized the next move would come from him.
