Then Thomas discovered the most serious detail.
A company controlled by Daniel Cross had recently attempted to negotiate a large transfer involving shares of Bennett Performance Solutions.
The proposed agreement valued the transaction at more than twenty million dollars.
And the documentation included a signature that appeared to belong to Marcus.
Vanessa examined the copy.
Her face went pale.
“Dad,” she whispered, “I don’t think Marcus signed this.”
Samuel leaned forward.
“What is it?”
“An authorization for a transfer of a controlling interest.”
He stared at her.
“What does that mean?”
“It means someone may be trying to sell control of his company.”
Samuel felt his hands go cold.
“Without his knowledge?”
Vanessa nodded.
“That’s what it looks like.”
She immediately contacted Robert.
He confirmed that Marcus had never discussed such a transaction.
Together, they began reviewing the documents.
The forged authorization was part of a broader package.
There were proposed amendments to shareholder agreements, instructions for a transfer agent, and documents suggesting that Claire had authority to act on Marcus’s behalf.
Some were incomplete.
Others contained obvious inconsistencies.
But if they had reached the wrong institution with the right accomplices, the damage could have been enormous.
Vanessa understood the urgency.
“We need to tell Marcus tonight.”
Samuel hesitated.
“Let me speak with Claire first.”
Vanessa stared at him.
“Dad, no.”
“Maybe there’s an explanation.”
“An explanation for forged documents?”
“I want to hear what she says.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“She’ll manipulate you.”
Samuel smiled sadly.
“I’m not as easy to manipulate as you think.”
“That’s not what worries me.”
He looked at her.
“What worries you?”
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“That she might be desperate.”
Samuel considered the warning.
But he had spent his entire life believing that people deserved an opportunity to explain themselves.
He decided to invite Claire to the mansion.
That decision brought them to the afternoon when everything exploded.
Claire arrived shortly after two o’clock.
She wore a fitted green dress, matching heels, and a delicate gold necklace.
Her blonde hair was perfectly styled.
She walked into the mansion smiling.
“Samuel, it’s lovely to see you.”
He greeted her politely.
“Thank you for coming.”
“Of course. You said it was about Marcus’s anniversary surprise?”
Samuel nodded.
“Let’s talk in the study.”
Claire followed him.
The study was a warm room filled with bookshelves, family photographs, and dark leather furniture.
Samuel sat behind his desk.
Claire settled into a chair opposite him.
“What are we planning?” she asked cheerfully.
Samuel took a deep breath.
“Claire, I need to ask you some questions.”
Her smile faded slightly.
“About what?”
“Your business.”
She looked confused.
“Whitmore Lifestyle?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Samuel opened a folder.
“I’m concerned about some transactions.”
Claire laughed softly.
“Samuel, you don’t need to worry about my business.”
“I do if it’s affecting Marcus.”
Her expression tightened.
“What does Marcus have to do with this?”
Samuel placed a copy of the proposed share transfer on the desk.
Claire looked at it.
For a fraction of a second, her face changed.
Samuel noticed.
“Do you recognize this?”
She looked up.
“Where did you get that?”
“That’s not important right now.”
“Actually, it is.”
Samuel remained calm.
“Claire, did Marcus authorize this transaction?”
She stared at him.
Then she smiled.
“Of course.”
Samuel shook his head.
“His accountant confirmed there’s no record of an authorized transaction.”
Claire leaned back.
“You’ve been investigating me.”
“I’ve been trying to protect my son.”
She laughed bitterly.
“That’s what you call it?”
“Claire—”
“You and Vanessa have never accepted me.”
“That isn’t true.”
“You think I’m not good enough for Marcus.”
Samuel sighed.
“This isn’t about whether you’re good enough.”
“Then what is it about?”
He tapped the document.
“It’s about whether someone is trying to steal his company.”
Silence filled the room.
Claire stared at him.
Then she asked quietly, “How much do you know?”
Samuel felt his stomach tighten.
“Enough.”
“About Daniel?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Interesting.”
Samuel studied her.
“Claire, this can still be handled without making things worse. Tell Marcus the truth. Get legal advice. Cooperate with whatever investigation follows.”
She laughed.
“You really think I’m going to let you destroy everything I’ve worked for?”
Samuel frowned.
“What have you worked for?”
Claire’s expression hardened.
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to get close to a man like Marcus?”
Samuel stared at her.
She continued.
“He has money, but he also has people watching him constantly. Your daughter. His accountant. His lawyers. You.”
Her voice grew sharper.
“Every time I tried to make a decision, someone questioned me.”
Samuel slowly stood.
“Because you were trying to take something that didn’t belong to you.”
Claire rose too.
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand enough.”
She walked toward the door.
“Stay out of my marriage.”
“Claire, I won’t allow you to hurt Marcus.”
She stopped.
Then she turned.
“You really believe he’ll choose you?”
Samuel remained silent.
Claire smiled coldly.
“He loves me.”
“Then tell him the truth.”
“He’ll believe whatever I tell him.”
Samuel felt an uncomfortable chill.
“What does that mean?”
Claire stepped closer.
“It means you should think carefully before accusing me of anything.”
Samuel watched her.
“Are you threatening me?”
She smiled.
“I’m giving you advice.”
He shook his head.
“It’s time for you to leave.”
Claire stared at him.
Then she walked into the hallway.
Samuel followed at a distance.
He intended to escort her to the front door and call Vanessa afterward.
But Claire stopped beside a decorative table beneath an oil painting.
A heavy brass candleholder stood on the table.
She looked at it.
Then at Samuel.
“One last chance,” she said.
“Claire, go home.”
“Destroy those documents.”
“No.”
“Tell Vanessa to stop investigating.”
“No.”
Her face became expressionless.
“Then you leave me no choice.”
She picked up the candleholder.
Samuel frowned.
“Claire?”
Before he could move, she swung.
The metal struck his left cheek.
A sharp pain exploded through his face.
He stumbled backward.
“What are you doing?”
Claire struck him again.
This time the candleholder hit near his eye.
Samuel cried out.
He raised both hands to shield himself.
“Stop!”
Claire dropped the object.
It crashed against the hardwood floor.
Then she grabbed the neckline of her dress and tore it.
Samuel stared at her.
She scratched her arm repeatedly.
“Claire, what are you doing?”
She looked at him.
And smiled.
“Your son is going to hate you.”
Samuel felt horror rise inside him.
She pulled out her phone.
Then she began screaming.
“Help! Somebody help me!”
Samuel backed toward the wall.
Claire called Marcus.
When he answered, she was sobbing.
“Marcus! Please come!”
“Claire? What’s wrong?”
“Your father attacked me!”
Samuel shouted, “That’s a lie!”
Claire screamed.
“He’s coming toward me again!”