Chapter 2
PART 2
Isaac refused to close the box and stared directly into his brother’s eyes.
“The thing our parents could never bear is discovering who let them go hungry all these years,” Isaac replied firmly.
Liam stepped forward and tried to snatch the financial documents out of his hands, but Samuel appeared in the dark hallway, having been awakened by the noise.
“What are you two doing up at this hour?” Samuel asked, leaning on his cane.
Liam immediately regained his warm, friendly tone and flashed a quick smile.
“It is nothing at all, Dad, because Isaac is just confused from his long drive,” Liam claimed smoothly.
Isaac carefully packed all the forged letters and bank documents into his leather backpack.
“We are going to sit down and talk tomorrow morning, all of us together,” Isaac stated coldly.
First thing the next morning, Isaac searched for and hired Daniela Ross, an attorney from the local area who specialized in complex property fraud cases. Daniela carefully reviewed the signatures, the dates on the documents, and the official bank authorization form.
“These letters certainly look forged,” Daniela stated after a thorough examination. “However, we will need a formal expert analysis along with complete account statements, which the bank will not release without your parents’ authorization or a strict court order.”
Before heading back to his parents’ house, Isaac drove over to visit Jonah, the youngest of the three brothers, who worked at a small repair shop near the industrial district. Upon seeing the fake letters, Jonah slowly lowered his head in shame.
“I saw Liam copying your signature many years ago,” Jonah confessed in a quiet voice. “He told me it was just for some routine family paperwork, and since he collected the mail and went to the bank with Dad, I decided not to get involved.”
“Choosing not to get involved was still an active decision that hurt our parents,” Isaac replied sternly.
Jonah clenched his fists tightly and stared at the concrete floor.
“You are absolutely right about that, and I am deeply sorry,” Jonah admitted softly.
That afternoon, Samuel and Teresa agreed to sign the legal request to investigate the bank account, though Teresa kept staring at the fake letters in disbelief.
“So you were never actually bankrupt all this time?” Teresa asked with tears welling in her eyes.
“I was never bankrupt, Mom, and I sent thousands of dollars every single month to make sure you were taken care of,” Isaac answered gently.
The poor woman covered her face with her trembling hands, realizing that for years she had been cutting her daily medication pills in half just to save money.
The financial investigation took only a few days to reveal a clear pattern, showing that as soon as money entered the account, Liam would withdraw it or transfer it to various private accounts within forty-eight hours. Over nearly ten full years, more than two hundred thousand dollars had completely disappeared from the account.
However, there was an even worse revelation hidden deep within the records.
Daniela discovered that eighteen months earlier, Liam had used the same fraudulent power of attorney to secure a high-interest loan backed by his parents’ house, and the debt was now severely overdue. If the loan was not paid off immediately, the family could lose the property in just a few weeks.
“He did not just steal their monthly living money,” Daniela explained seriously. “He also placed the only valuable asset your parents have left in direct jeopardy.”
Isaac returned to the house carrying full copies of the legal case file. Liam was already sitting in the living room waiting for him, accompanied by his wife, Natalie, and a stern man in a formal suit who introduced himself as a representative of the lending company.
“I have come here to make a reasonable proposal,” Liam said, gesturing toward the table. “If Isaac simply pays off the outstanding debt today, everything can stay strictly within the family.”
Samuel suddenly clutched his chest in shock and looked at his eldest son.
“What debt are you talking about, Liam?” Samuel asked, his voice trembling violently.
The financial representative placed a heavy folder containing the official foreclosure notice onto the coffee table.
Teresa opened the document to the final page and saw what appeared to be her own signature written in blue ink.
“I never signed this paper in my life,” Teresa declared, looking up in absolute horror.
Daniela carefully examined the fresh document and turned pale as she looked at the family.
“This signature is completely forged as well,” Daniela announced with absolute certainty.
Liam took a sudden step toward the front exit, but Jonah stepped into the doorway and blocked his path.
Isaac immediately switched on the voice recorder on his smartphone and held it up.
“Now you are going to explain to everyone where that money went and why you mortgaged this house,” Isaac demanded.
Liam looked over at his parents, then turned his eyes to Natalie, before finally letting out a bitter, sarcastic laugh.
May you like
“Because this property should have belonged to me in the first place,” Liam sneered openly. “Once you find out what Dad did twenty-seven years ago, you will understand why I took what was rightfully mine.”
