Chapter 5 - The Blue FolderVanessa placed the folder between them.

Inside were school reports, behavioral questionnaires, emails, and a document carrying Daniel's electronic signature.

The title read:

Parental Consent for Comprehensive Psychological Assessment.

Daniel examined the signature.

It resembled the one he used on company documents.

But he remembered no such agreement.

"When did I sign this?"

"August nineteenth."

He checked his calendar.

On August nineteenth, he had been attending a business conference in Seattle.

"I never signed it."

"You approve documents constantly."

"Not this."

Vanessa leaned backward.

"Naomi has problems, Daniel."

"What problems?"

"Defiance. Compulsive lying. Food hoarding. Attachment issues."

He looked at the documents.

A handwritten incident report claimed Naomi had hidden food beneath her mattress.

Another stated she had accused Vanessa of withholding meals.

A third described her as manipulative.

"Who wrote these?"

"I did."

Daniel looked up.

"You wrote reports about yourself?"

"I documented her behavior."

"Where are the medical findings?"

"The evaluation isn't complete."

"Then why does this paperwork describe her as emotionally disturbed?"

Vanessa's expression sharpened.

"Because somebody needed to take responsibility while you were flying around the country playing billionaire."

The accusation landed.

Daniel had expected anger.

He had not expected truth.

He had abandoned too much responsibility to Vanessa.

But he would not let his failures excuse hers.

"You're right," he said.

Vanessa blinked.

"I haven't been here enough. That's on me."

He closed the folder.

"But that doesn't explain what Grace witnessed."

Vanessa stood.

"You would believe a maid over your wife?"

"I believe what Naomi told me."

"Children lie."

"She was hungry."

Vanessa glanced away.

For one brief second, Daniel saw something beneath her composure.

Not regret.

Calculation.

"Where is Julian?" he asked.

"Why?"

"I want to speak to him."

"You can speak to my lawyer through me."

"Your lawyer?"

Vanessa realized her mistake.

Daniel pushed the folder back toward her.

"Pack a bag. You'll stay somewhere else while I find out what's happening."

She laughed.

"You can't throw me out of my own home."

"This is my house."

"I'm your wife."

"And Naomi is my daughter."

Vanessa's jaw tightened.

"You think a few tears from that girl are going to destroy my marriage?"

Daniel moved toward the door.

Vanessa's next words stopped him.

"Be careful, Daniel. You haven't seen the financial records."

He turned.

"What financial records?"

"The ones proving you've been using Naomi's inheritance to support your business."

Daniel stared at her.

"That's impossible."

Vanessa tilted her head.

"Are you sure?"

She left before he could answer.

At two in the morning, Daniel called Evelyn Price again.

He repeated Vanessa's accusation.

Evelyn was silent for a moment.

Then she said, "Mr. Oleso, there have been unusual transactions connected to a company claiming to provide educational services for Naomi."

"From the trust?"

"Not directly. The trust rejected the requests."

Daniel exhaled.

"Then what money?"

"Funds from an Oleso Meridian corporate charitable account."

"How much?"

"That's what we're trying to establish."

Daniel looked through the study window at the dark driveway.

Evelyn continued.

"And Daniel... the vendor is controlled by someone named Vanessa Vale."

Daniel's heart began pounding.

"Vanessa Oleso?"

"Her former legal name."

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He looked toward the staircase.

His wife had never mentioned being a Vale.