Chapter 10 - Richard ValeDaniel’s confession changed the shape of everything.
Not because he had accepted Bernice’s offer.
He hadn’t.
At least according to him.
Bernice had approached him in 2018 after months of tension in the marriage.
She told Daniel that Mallory would never choose him over Edward’s family.
Then she said the house would eventually become Mallory’s and that Daniel would spend the rest of his life living under Edward Barrett’s shadow.
“She offered you money?”
“Not exactly.”
“What exactly?”
“She said if I convinced you to sell the house after your father died, she’d make sure I got enough from the deal to start over.”
“How much?”
“Two hundred thousand.”
Mallory closed her eyes.
“And you never told me.”
“I should have.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because I was ashamed.”
“Of what?”
“That part of me considered it.”
At least he admitted it.
Daniel continued.
“I didn’t leave because of the money.”
“You left after she lied that I planned to leave you.”
“I know that now.”
“You knew then?”
“No.”
Mallory felt her anger shift.
Daniel had failed her.
But Bernice had engineered the fracture.
“Why did you believe her?”
“She knew things about us.”
“What things?”
“Arguments. Things I told you privately.”
Mallory’s stomach dropped.
“How?”
“I assumed you told her.”
Mallory thought of Bernice appearing after fights with oddly precise advice.
She had always assumed Daniel confided in her mother.
Perhaps neither spouse had.
Bernice had listened.
Observed.
Collected weaknesses.
“Did Richard Vale ever speak to you?”
Daniel hesitated.
Mallory’s pulse jumped.
“When?”
“After the divorce.”
“About what?”
“The house.”
Mallory closed her eyes.
Of course.
“What did he want?”
“He asked whether I had any marital claim.”
“You didn’t.”
“I told him that.”
“Who sent him?”
“He said he was helping Bernice with estate planning.”
Mallory almost laughed.
Same phrase.
Different decade.
Richard had not stumbled into this plan seven weeks earlier.
He had been circling the property for years.
After ending the call, Mallory drove directly to Oak Brook.
Vale Property Advisory Group occupied the fifth floor of a sleek office building overlooking a landscaped pond.
Mallory didn’t make an appointment.
She walked in and gave her name.
Richard appeared three minutes later.
He looked exactly as she remembered.
Polished.
Calm.
A man who had spent his career making expensive transactions sound inevitable.
“Mallory.”
“Richard.”
He gestured toward a conference room.
“Let’s talk.”
“No lawyers?”
“Not yet.”
“Your choice.”
They sat.
Mallory placed copies of the transfer page, Edward’s letter and the LLC registration on the table.
Richard looked at each.
“Where did you get Edward’s letter?”
“His study.”
Richard’s expression softened briefly.
“I respected your father.”
“No, you didn’t.”
He looked up.
“You helped my mother work around his last wishes.”
“I helped Bernice explore options.”
“For eight years?”
Richard’s face changed.
That was enough.
Mallory leaned back.
“I spoke to Daniel.”
Richard exhaled.
“What did he tell you?”
“That you asked about marital rights after our divorce.”
Richard didn’t deny it.
“Why?”
“Bernice wanted to understand her options.”
“She had one. Live in the house.”
“She didn’t view that as sufficient.”
“That’s obvious.”
Mallory tapped the LLC document.
“When did you decide selling it was realistic?”
Richard looked at the table.
“About three months ago.”
“Why?”
“Todd’s situation became urgent.”
“So you knew the purpose.”
“Yes.”
“And you knew I hadn’t agreed.”
“Yes.”
Mallory stared.
“Yet you prepared documents.”
“Draft documents.”
“You found a buyer.”
“I introduced a buyer.”
“You let an LLC that didn’t own the property sign a purchase agreement.”
“I advised them it was contingent.”
“Contingent on getting my house.”
“On a lawful transfer.”
Mallory laughed bitterly.
“Did you really believe I intended to donate a $1.8 million home to save Todd?”
Richard looked uncomfortable.
“Bernice said you were willing.”
“Did you believe her?”
He didn’t answer.
Mallory leaned forward.
“Richard.”
“No.”
The honesty surprised her.
“Then why continue?”
His jaw tightened.
“Because I owed your mother.”
“For what?”
Richard looked toward the glass wall.
“Years ago, when I left your father’s company, I took clients with me.”
Mallory waited.
“Edward could have sued me.”
“But?”
“Bernice convinced him not to.”
“So you repaid her by helping undermine his estate plan.”
Richard flinched.
“When you phrase it like that—”
“How else would you phrase it?”
He rubbed his forehead.
“I should have stopped sooner.”
“Yes.”
“I told her the signature had to be informed and voluntary.”
“I heard.”
Richard looked up.
“From Diane?”
“Does it matter?”
“No.”
Mallory folded her hands.
“I want copies of everything.”
“I can’t provide client documents.”
“My property is involved.”
“My counsel would—”
“Then call counsel.”
Richard studied her.
“What are you planning?”
“First, I’m protecting my daughters.”
“After that?”
“I haven’t decided.”
He nodded slowly.
Then he surprised her.
“There’s something you should know.”
Mallory waited.
“Bernice wasn’t the person pushing hardest to close.”
“Todd?”
Richard shook his head.
“Franklin?”
Another shake.
Mallory’s stomach tightened.
“Who?”
Richard looked uncomfortable.
“Someone named Celeste Barrett.”
Mallory frowned.
“There is no Celeste Barrett in my immediate family.”
“She contacted me through Bernice.”
“Who is she?”
“I assumed you knew.”
“I don’t.”
Richard opened a drawer and removed a folder.
He slid a business card across the table.
Celeste Barrett — Barrett Family Holdings — Strategic Advisor
Mallory stared at it.
“Phone number?”
Richard nodded.
“Who is she?”
“I don’t know her relationship to you.”
“But you met her?”
“Twice.”
“What does she look like?”
Richard described a woman in her late thirties.
Dark hair.
Tall.
Confident.
Mallory knew no one matching that description.
“She said the house needed to be sold quickly,” Richard continued.
“Why?”
“She said delays could expose an older family issue.”
“What issue?”
“She wouldn’t tell me.”
“Did Mom know?”
“Of course.”
Mallory’s pulse quickened.
“Did Todd?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Diane?”
“No.”
Mallory stared at the name.
Celeste Barrett.
Then she remembered something.
Her father had once had a younger sister.
Cecilia.
Not Celeste.
Cecilia died before Mallory was born.
Or at least that was what Mallory had always been told.
“What older family issue?”
Richard shook his head.
“I genuinely don’t know.”
Mallory rose.
“Send copies of everything you legally can to Gregory Hale.”
Richard nodded.
She started toward the door.
“Mallory.”
She turned.
Richard looked genuinely worried now.
“If Bernice thinks Celeste is going to protect her, she’s wrong.”
“What does that mean?”
“I watched them argue after the buyer signed.”
“About what?”
“Money.”
Mallory’s stomach tightened.
“What did Celeste say?”
Richard hesitated.
Then answered.
“She said, ‘Once the house is sold, Bernice gets nothing until I get what Edward owed my mother.’”
Mallory stared.
“Who was her mother?”
May you like
Richard swallowed.
“She said her name was Cecilia.”
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