Only for a second.
Then she continued adjusting her earring.
"Who?"
"Richard Coleman."
Vanessa turned around.
"Why are you asking about him?"
"Because I saw your messages."
Her expression changed.
"What messages?"
"The ones you sent me."
She stared at him.
"You were looking through my phone?"
"No. You sent me a message while we were at my mother's house. I saw it."
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Well, perhaps you shouldn't read things that aren't meant for you."
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"You're worried about privacy now?"
"What exactly are you accusing me of?"
"I want to know who Richard is."
"He's a financial consultant."
"Why are you discussing my mother's property with him?"
Vanessa's face tightened.
"Because someone has to think about our future."
"Why did you tell me not to tell my mother about him?"
"Because I knew she would misunderstand."
"Why did you say she needed to sign something?"
Vanessa walked toward the kitchen.
"Daniel, you're making a big deal out of nothing."
He followed her.
"Then explain it."
She opened a cupboard and took out a glass.
"Richard was helping me explore some financing options."
"Financing for what?"
"Our wedding."
"That's not what the documents say."
Vanessa froze.
"What documents?"
Daniel placed the envelope on the kitchen counter.
"These."
She looked at the papers.
Her face became noticeably pale.
"Where did you get these?"
"My mother gave them to me."
Vanessa stared at him.
"She has been investigating us?"
"She was protecting her property."
"That's ridiculous."
"Is it?"
Vanessa pushed the papers away.
"Your mother has always been suspicious of me."
Daniel shook his head.
"Don't change the subject."
"I'm not changing anything. I'm telling you the truth."
"Then tell me about the 620,000 dollars."
Vanessa looked at him.
"What?"
"Your business transactions. The payments. The money transferred to companies connected to you."
She remained silent.
Daniel continued.
"Why didn't you tell me about your debts?"
Vanessa laughed nervously.
"Because they are my personal matters."
"You're my fiancée."
"Exactly. Which means you should trust me."
Daniel stared at her.
"Trust works both ways."
For a moment, Vanessa looked genuinely offended.
Then her expression softened.
"Daniel, sweetheart, listen to me. I was trying to help us. I didn't want you to worry about money."
"How much do you owe?"
She looked away.
"Vanessa."
"About two hundred thousand."
Daniel felt as though the floor had shifted beneath him.
"Two hundred thousand dollars?"
"It's not as bad as it sounds."
"How can that not be bad?"
"I had a business idea. It didn't work out."
"You told me the company was successful."
"It was supposed to become successful."
"You told me you had money saved."
"I did."
"Where did it go?"
Vanessa raised her voice.
"Do you think I wanted this to happen?"
Daniel stepped backward.
He suddenly understood that the woman he had been preparing to marry had been hiding an entire financial life from him.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I knew you would react exactly like this."
"Like what?"
"Judging me."
Daniel shook his head.
"I'm not judging you for failing. I'm questioning why you lied."
Vanessa began crying.
"Because I was afraid you would leave me."
Daniel looked at her.
"Did you borrow money from Richard?"
She nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"How much?"
"About 180,000 dollars."
"Then why were you discussing my mother's property?"
Vanessa wiped her eyes.
"Because Richard wanted security."
"Security for your debt?"
"For our future."
"Stop saying that!"
His voice echoed through the apartment.
Vanessa flinched.
Daniel had never shouted at her before.
He took a deep breath.
"Did you intend to have my mother sign a document without explaining what it meant?"
Vanessa remained silent.
That silence answered more than she realized.
Daniel looked at her for a long time.
Then he picked up his keys.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"Somewhere I can think."
"Daniel, don't walk away from me."
He stopped at the door.
"I need to understand who I'm planning to marry."
He left.
Vanessa stood alone in the kitchen.
For the first time, she realized that her carefully constructed plan was beginning to collapse.
The following afternoon, Margaret received a detailed report from Claire.
She immediately called Eleanor.
"We have the information you requested."
"What did you find?"
"Richard Coleman is a private financial intermediary. He has been involved in several high-risk lending arrangements."
"Is he legitimate?"
"He operates through registered businesses, but some of his lending practices are questionable. We found several complaints involving misleading loan agreements."
Eleanor listened carefully.
"Continue."
"Vanessa approached him approximately eight months ago. She borrowed money to finance her event-planning business."
"How much?"
"Initially, 75,000 dollars. The amount increased through additional borrowing and accumulated fees."
"Does Daniel know?"
"He appears to have known about some financial difficulties, but not the full amount."
Margaret opened another file.
"There is something particularly concerning."
"What?"
"Richard and Vanessa exchanged messages about obtaining a loan secured against your property."
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"Do we have proof?"
"Yes. Several messages and draft agreements."
"What do they say?"
Margaret read from the report.
"One message from Richard says that the property would provide sufficient security to restructure Vanessa's outstanding debt."
Eleanor remained silent.
Another message appeared on the screen.
Margaret continued.
"Vanessa replied that Daniel would persuade you to cooperate."
Eleanor slowly put down her pen.
"Did she mention my financial investments?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"She asked whether your house was the only significant asset in your name."
Eleanor felt a deep sadness.
Not because someone had attempted to obtain her money.
She had dealt with dishonest people throughout her business career.
What hurt was the realization that Vanessa had been examining her as though she were a collection of financial opportunities rather than a human being.
"Margaret," Eleanor said quietly, "I want the complete report preserved."
"Of course."