Chapter 1 - The Bathroom DoorVanessa was still smiling when the front door opened downstairs.
One second earlier, she had been lying beside Marcus on the enormous bed, one hand resting against his chest.
“When are you leaving him?” Marcus whispered.
Vanessa’s smile became smaller.
More calculated.
“Soon.”
“You’ve been saying that for months.”
“I told you. I have to do this correctly.”
Marcus pushed himself onto one elbow.
“Correctly?”
Vanessa glanced around the master bedroom.
The carved walnut furniture.
The silk curtains.
The view across six acres of carefully landscaped grounds.
“This house isn’t just a house.”
Marcus frowned.
“Vanessa—”
“Once I get this place…”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“…and my share of Daniel’s assets…”
She moved closer.
“…we won’t have to hide anymore.”
Marcus finally smiled.
Then—
CLICK.
The front door opened downstairs.
Vanessa’s smile vanished.
Marcus sat upright.
Neither breathed.
“Vanessa?”
Daniel’s voice carried through the foyer.
Marcus stared at her.
“Why is he home?”
“I don’t know.”
“He said six.”
“I know.”
Footsteps downstairs.
Vanessa pointed toward the en-suite bathroom.
“Bathroom.”
Marcus didn’t move.
“Now!”
He jumped off the bed.
Vanessa rushed toward the bedroom door and listened.
Daniel was still downstairs.
Marcus crossed the room.
Entered the bathroom.
Pulled the door completely shut.
Click.
Vanessa moved.
Fast.
She straightened the comforter.
Smoothed her dress.
Fixed her hair.
One breath.
Two.
By the time Daniel appeared in the doorway carrying his leather work bag, she was smiling.
“You’re home early.”
Daniel looked tired.
Dark suit.
Tie loosened.
“Meeting ended.”
Vanessa stepped toward him.
“You should’ve called.”
Daniel put his bag near the dresser.
“Thought I’d surprise you.”
“You did.”
For a fraction of a second, her eyes moved toward the bathroom.
Daniel did not appear to notice.
“Dinner?” she asked quickly. “We could go downtown.”
“Sure.”
Relief loosened her shoulders.
Then Daniel removed his watch.
“Let me shower first.”
Everything inside Vanessa stopped.
Daniel turned toward the bathroom.
“You’re showering now?”
He looked back.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
Daniel frowned.
“Why?”
“No reason.”
She smiled.
Too quickly.
“Of course.”
Inside the bathroom, Marcus stood pressed against the wall beside the door.
His jaw was locked.
Breathing shallow.
His eyes fixed on the handle.
Daniel approached.
One step.
Another.
Marcus stared.
The handle was inches from him.
Outside, Daniel reached for it.
Vanessa’s fingers tightened behind her back.
Daniel’s phone rang.
He stopped.
The sound made Vanessa nearly gasp.
Daniel looked at the screen.
His expression changed.
“Rachel?”
Vanessa recognized the name.
Rachel Moreno.
Daniel’s attorney.
Daniel answered.
“Hey.”
He listened.
Then his brow tightened.
“What deed?”
Vanessa went completely still.
Daniel turned away from the bathroom.
“No.”
He listened again.
“I never asked you to prepare that.”
Vanessa’s face lost color.
Daniel looked toward her.
She immediately lowered her eyes.
His voice became quieter.
“No, don’t file anything.”
A pause.
“I’m at home.”
Another pause.
“Send me everything.”
Daniel walked toward his desk.
The bathroom remained closed.
Marcus did not move.
Daniel opened his laptop.
“What exactly did the email say?”
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“Problem at work?”
Daniel raised one finger.
Wait.
Then:
“And it came from my account?”
He listened.
“No.”
His expression hardened.
“I did not authorize transferring Briarwood into joint title.”
Vanessa’s heartbeat seemed to fill the room.
Briarwood.
The mansion.
Daniel’s home since before their marriage.
The property Vanessa had been discussing with Marcus less than two minutes earlier.
Daniel continued.
“Do nothing until I speak to you in person.”
He ended the call.
Vanessa forced a casual expression.
“What was that?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Someone asked Rachel to prepare a new deed.”
“For the house?”
“Yes.”
“That’s strange.”
“Very.”
Vanessa tilted her head.
“Maybe your office sent something?”
“My office doesn’t handle my personal estate documents.”
She shrugged.
“I’m sure it’s nothing.”
Daniel watched her.
Just a second too long.
Then:
“I need the original Briarwood deed from the safe.”
Vanessa’s stomach tightened.
“Now?”
“Yes.”
“It can’t wait?”
Daniel frowned.
“Why would it?”
“It’s just…”
She smiled.
“You came home early. I thought we could spend some time together.”
Daniel studied her.
Then softened.
“Give me five minutes.”
He picked up his work bag and left the bedroom.
Vanessa waited.
Three seconds.
Five.
Ten.
Then rushed to the bathroom.
Marcus stepped out.
His shirt clung slightly to his back.
“What the hell was that?”
“Quiet.”
“He almost opened the door!”
“I know.”
“What deed?”
Vanessa grabbed his arm.
“Not now.”
“You said he didn’t know anything.”
“He doesn’t.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“He literally just said someone tried to transfer his house.”
Vanessa’s eyes flashed.
“Marcus, listen to me.”
He stared.
“You need to leave.”
“How?”
“Service stairs.”
“What if he sees me?”
“He’s downstairs.”
She pulled him toward the door.
Marcus stopped.
“Vanessa.”
“What?”
“Are you actually trying to take his house?”
Her expression changed.
Just slightly.
“You knew I wanted a fair settlement.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Footsteps sounded faintly downstairs.
Vanessa leaned close.
“If Daniel discovers you were here, there is no us.”
Marcus swallowed.
“Go.”
He went.
Down the back staircase.
Through the mudroom.
Out the service door.
Vanessa watched through an upstairs window until he disappeared behind the hedges.
Then she returned to the bedroom.
Daniel came back five minutes later carrying a folder.
He had opened Rachel’s email.
Attached was a draft deed.
A request to move Briarwood from Daniel’s sole name into ownership with Vanessa.
The request appeared to come from Daniel.
It contained language he would never have used.
My wife and I have agreed that this reflects our marital intentions. Please move quickly.
Daniel read the sentence twice.
Vanessa entered.
“There you are.”
He closed the laptop halfway.
“Everything okay?”
“Probably.”
She smiled.
“Dinner?”
“Sure.”
Daniel looked at her.
Then toward the bathroom.
The door was now open.
He had left it closed.
He was almost certain of that.
Almost.
Vanessa walked toward the closet.
Daniel said nothing.
Then his phone vibrated.
A security notification.
SERVICE ENTRY OPENED — 5:42 P.M.
Daniel looked toward Vanessa.
She was facing away from him.
“Did someone leave through the service door?”
Vanessa’s shoulders stiffened.
Then relaxed.
“Probably Rosa.”
“Rosa has the day off.”
Vanessa turned.
A beat.
“Oh.”
Daniel looked at his phone again.
The service door had opened thirty-six seconds after he entered the downstairs study.
Someone had left his house.
May you like
And whoever it was—
Vanessa had desperately needed Daniel not to open the bathroom door before they did.
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