Naomi had calculated that too.
A private agreement promised Vanessa a “consulting fee” equal to eight percent of the resale profit generated by Bridgemont.
If the redevelopment went through, Vanessa could receive more than $300,000.
Daniel had known they wanted control of my assets.
He had known they were manufacturing evidence against me.
He had participated in hurting and intimidating me.
But the deeper scheme?
He had been excluded from it.
He stared at Vanessa as though seeing a stranger.
“You used me.”
She laughed softly.
It was the ugliest sound I had heard all day.
“Oh, don’t pretend you’re innocent.”
“I never agreed to this!”
“You agreed to get the house.”
“I thought we were selling it to pay our debts.”
“And how did you think we were going to get control of it, Daniel?”
He said nothing.
Vanessa leaned closer.
“You held your own mother against a wall while I photographed her bruises the next day.”
Daniel looked sick.
“I never—”
“Don’t.”
Her voice became sharp.
“Don’t suddenly grow a conscience because you found out I was getting more money.”
Judge Mercer ordered them to stop.
Then he turned to Hale.
“Mr. Hale, did you know about the Bridgemont agreement?”
