Chapter 4
On Tuesday, Hannah woke up before six in the morning. She had barely slept, but her hands were finally steady. She prepared breakfast for eight year old Chloe, dropped her off at elementary school, and then bought groceries for a massive family gathering. She invited Aunt Pauline, Uncle Raymond, two of Brandon’s cousins, and Martha, a kind neighbor who had lived next door to Florence for decades.
Brenda foolishly believed the dinner party was organized to celebrate a major new sewing contract for the workshop.
“Please make sure to wear the emerald green dress tonight,” Hannah told her over the phone. “It looks absolutely stunning on you.”
“Of course I will wear it, because today I also have something massive to celebrate,” Brenda replied arrogantly.
Clifford arrived at the house before the other guests, carrying a dark briefcase and a USB drive.
“The property still has no officially registered transfers,” he explained calmly. “I also discovered that Vance is not a real notary, but a former clerk who uses counterfeit forms and fake stamps to orchestrate fraudulent property deals.”
He added that he had intercepted messages where Brenda offered the house for eight million dollars to an outside investor.
“Make her speak in front of everyone, and leave the rest of the legal steps to me,” Clifford instructed.
The guests began arriving at seven in the evening. Brandon had been locked in the bathroom for half an hour, and when he finally emerged, his face was completely pale.
“Hannah, I desperately need to tell you something before my sister arrives,” he stammered out.
“We will talk about it after dinner,” Hannah replied coolly.
“They are going to take your house away from you!” Brandon blurted out frantically.
Hannah turned around and stared at him directly. “Who is going to take it?”
Brandon opened his mouth, lowered his gaze to the floor, and whispered, “I never wanted things to go this far.”
“Yet here we are,” Hannah stated bluntly.
Brandon then broke down and confessed that he owed six hundred thousand dollars due to severe sports betting, payday loans, and credit cards. Brenda had promised to resolve his massive debts by selling the house and giving them a small amount of money to start over elsewhere.
“A small amount?” Hannah asked incredulously. “Were you really planning to give me a tiny fraction of my own inherited property?”
“I was completely desperate!” Brandon cried out.
“No, you were simply willing to betray us,” Hannah corrected him coldly.
Brandon started to weep openly. For a second, Hannah remembered the loving husband who had held baby Chloe in his arms, but then she remembered the man who held her hand while Brenda pressed ink onto her thumb.
“Go into the bedroom right now and do not come out until I call you,” Hannah commanded.
Brenda arrived fifteen minutes later, wearing the green dress, smelling strongly of perfume, and holding a thick blue folder under her arm.
“Hello family!” Brenda announced loudly. “Tonight we are truly going to make a grand toast.”
For almost an hour, Brenda bragged about her financial expertise while Brandon sat silently and Florence acted like a fragile old woman.
Finally, Aunt Pauline asked, “What exactly are we celebrating tonight, Brenda?”
Brenda smiled brightly and opened her folder. “I have finally secured my financial future, because Hannah and Grandma Florence decided to officially gift this entire house to me.”
Chloe frowned in confusion. “Are we moving away from our home, Mommy?”
Hannah stroked her daughter’s hair gently. “No, my sweet love, we are not going anywhere.”
Brenda’s fake smile instantly vanished as Hannah stood up from her chair.
“You told everyone that we gave you the house,” Hannah said clearly. “I would love for you to explain to the family how that happened.”
“You both signed the power of attorney papers last week with Attorney Vance, so please do not make a dramatic scene out of this,” Brenda snapped.
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“Where did we sign those papers?” Hannah pressed further.
“In his professional office,” Brenda lied smoothly.
