CHAPTER 2: Transfer of ownership

Fiona, recognizing the voice, swallowed hard and whipped her head around to meet the smug face of Brenda, Jackson’s mother. During the years of their marriage, Brenda was the most caring and loving mother-in-law, but right now to Fiona, she was the direct opposite of what she used to be. 

Fiona need not be told that things have changed since she left for prison. She turned away from her as soon as she took a glance at Brenda, who felt nonexistent with the unkind gaze Fiona shot her. 

Brenda seemed very shocked by Fiona’s reaction because years ago, Fiona would miss no opportunities to please her. 

Fiona's jaw clenched tight, but her voice remained steady. "Who am I?” She bit her lower lips, her gaze moving between Jackson and his smug accomplice Alaina. “I am the rightful owner of Veritas Holdings." She stated. 

She shifted her gaze to Brenda, who had just joined them. “I just put your ungrateful son in charge!” she gritted, aircoating the ‘ungrateful’. “And now I am back to claim the rightful owner of what belongs to me,” Fiona glowered silently.

Jackson's eyes widened in disbelief, while Alaina's carefully constructed facade crumbled into a sneer. Perhaps Jackson never expected that Fiona could call her an ungrateful son. During the years that they were married, Fiona never got into an argument with him, not to mention challenging his mother. Jackson seemed so surprised that Fiona gave his mom a counterattack. 

What has she turned into in prison? Jackson thought to himself. 

Brenda scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous, Fiona," she spat, her voice dripping with disdain. "You ran the company into the ground! All those unpaid taxes nearly ruined everything. Now you come back, tail tucked between your legs, expecting to waltz back in like nothing happened?"

Fiona met Brenda's venomous gaze head-on, a glint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Actually," she countered, her voice laced with quiet power, “your son was in charge of the company while I was a full-time housewife taking care of Rowan and our home. How was I responsible for invading those taxes? Well, maybe your son didn’t tell you; he was responsible, then he blamed me for it.” Fiona simmered with rage, even though she tried hard to keep her anger in check because of her son's presence, but she seemed to be failing. 

"Lies! You were the one responsible! My son would never be involved in an act that would tarnish the image of his company!” Brenda scowled defiantly. 

Fiona snickered. “His company?" She shook her head in amusement. "The truth is the company was never truly Jackson’s. Yeah, he was the face of it, but ownership has always been mine.” 

Fiona shifted her gaze to Jackson. “You haven’t explained to your dumb mother? Huh?” She half-yelled, giving Jackson a once-over. 

Jessica and Alaina gasped in shock, surprised that Fiona called her mother-in-law dumb. 

Jessica pointed her index finger towards Fiona, irritation twisting her face. “You will not.” She was interrupted by Jackson, who stepped forward closer to Fiona, a cruel smile twisting his lips. His familiar cologne hits Fiona’s nostrils, flooding her mind with memories of their happier times. 

"Enough of this charade! Fiona," he said, his voice tinged with condescension. "You willingly signed the ownership papers two years ago before you went to prison. You remember, don't you?" A sadistic smirk curled up on Alaina's face, hearing what Jackson had said. 

A vein throbbed in Fiona's temple as Jackson's words hung heavy in the air. Confusion was obviously watched in her demeanor. 

Jackson excused himself from the rest, then came back a few seconds later with a worn leather folder, snapping it open with a flourish. Inside, a single sheet of paper lay nestled against the folder. 

The room held its breath as Jackson held the document out towards Fiona. Her heart pounded nervously at each turn of the page. 

What is he up to? 

What’s in the paper? Fiona thought. 

With trembling hands, she reached out and gingerly took the paper. TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP AGREEMENT was boldly written on the paper. 

And beneath, the bold black letters of her signature seemed to mock her from the page. 

How did her signature get on the transfer of ownership document? 

An intense pain filled her heart. It was as if someone was carving a hole in it with a chisel. The tears she had fought back started glistening once again. 

Betrayal, sharp and icy, coursed through her veins. She looked up at Jackson, his face a mask of triumph. Brenda, with a smug smile plastered across her face, preened beside him. Alaina, eyes gleaming with a predator's satisfaction, took a step closer, clinging onto Jackson with a sadistic smile plastered on her face. 

As the glistening tears in her eyes flowed down freely, a choked sob escaped her lips. The weight of her naivety and the crushing realization of Jackson's deceit threatened to consume her whole.

Then it dawned on her that Jackson had done the same thing just like two years ago. He forged documents granting Fiona significant control over the company’s financial decisions two years ago, whereas in truth Jackson had control over those decisions since Fiona put him in charge of her company. He had also presented employee witnesses, testifying to Fiona's involvement in the tax evasion that led her to prison.

Tears streamed down her face—a cruel echo of the emotional storm twirling within her.

Fiona raised her head to meet Jackson’s cold gaze. "Ja- Jackson," she stammered, her voice echoing the tremor in her hands and heart. "You stole my company." Her heart clenched. 

Jackson smirked, his coldness radiating like a glacier. "Stole? No, Fiona. You signed the papers.” 

Fiona shook her head in disbelief, not believing what was happening. She reached out a trembling hand, tracing the signature at the bottom of the document. It looked exactly like hers—a perfect copy.

"This can't be real.”

"What do you mean?" Jackson snapped, his voice sharper than usual.

"My signature..." Fiona paused, her voice barely above a whisper. "It doesn't feel right. I haven't signed anything like that in years." She shook her head from side to side. The lump in her throat felt like twice the size of a pea. 

Alaina scoffed. "Don't be dramatic, Fiona. You're just upset, and maybe you have forgotten because you stayed long in prison," she smiled softly with a mocking grin. 

Fiona ignored her. Her gaze darted between Jackson and the document, a chilling suspicion forming in her gut. "There's something wrong here," she insisted, her voice gaining strength. "I don't remember signing these papers.” 

A tense silence descended upon the room as the air crackled with unspoken accusations.

Jackson cleared his throat. "Look, Fiona," he said, attempting a placating tone, "we can go over the paperwork with a lawyer if you want. But these are the official documents transferring ownership."

"A lawyer, huh?" Fiona echoed a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Yes, a lawyer sounds perfect. One who specializes in forgery, perhaps?"

Jackson squared his shoulder like an arrogant peacock. "Forgery?" He paused, with a smug look on his face. "Did you think I am a criminal like you are?" The venom in his voice could make blood turn cold. 

Fiona held the document up. "This signature. It may look like mine, but it's not.” She glowered with a broken voice. 

Jackson remained silent, trying to put on a facade as his jaw clenched tight. He knew Fiona wasn’t a fool who wouldn’t know what she had done, but he couldn’t let her win. He had to claim ownership of the company whether Fiona liked it or not. 

"You stole my company, Jackson," Fiona continued, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and sadness. "But you did it through a lie. A clever one,” she smiled sadly.

“Fiona, you see, the truth is hard to believe. Just so you know, I am now the rightful owner of Veritas Holdings, and there is nothing you can do about it,” Jackson said with a tone of finality. 

Fiona, having caught on that she had been won over, held Rowan’s hand in her sweaty, trembling ones. She had hoped she could take over her company and restore its reputation.

Her father gave the company to her when she was eighteen years old. It now dawned on her that she had been a pawn in Jackson's love game. Seven years wasted on an ungrateful husband. 

Her eyes went down to Rowan. “Let’s go,” she mumbled under her voice to Rowan, who was clinging to her and watching the scenes. 

Just as Fiona turned to leave the lounge defeated, Jackson's voice halted her movement.

“One other thing, Fiona,” he said as he paused, crossing his arms on his chest. “I should have asked for a divorce before sending you to jail, but I guess now is the right time. Let’s divorce!” Jackson declared, his voice laced with hatred.