Chapter 4 - The Signature That Wasn’t Hers
Tessa sent Amber copies of the filings.
Amber recognized her name immediately.
Amber Elise Hartwell.
Her maiden name.
Her old registration number.
Her original training certificates.
The renewal signatures looked almost perfect.
But Amber knew the difference.
She always crossed the second letter in Hartwell with a long upward stroke.
The signatures on the documents ended sharply downward.
“Kenton signed these,” she whispered.
Tessa hesitated.
“Possibly.”
“You know he did.”
“I know the applications were submitted from his office.”
Amber scrolled through the records.
Every expansion.
Every high-value contract.
Every public claim Kenton made about his own qualifications depended upon Amber’s inactive professional identity.
“Why would the states approve this?”
“Because the applications included continuing education certificates.”
“I never took those courses.”
“Someone did.”
Amber opened another file.
Photographs showed a woman signing attendance sheets under Amber’s name.
Dark hair.
Black coat.
Profile partially hidden.
Marissa.
Kenton’s mistress had not only approved the licenses.
She had impersonated Amber during required compliance training.
Amber felt physically sick.
She pressed both hands over her belly.
The babies moved at once.
Tessa’s voice softened.
“Are you okay?”
“No.”
“Do you need me to call someone?”
Amber almost said no.
Then she remembered the doctor’s warning.
Stress could trigger early labor.
She could not fight Kenton alone.
“Call my obstetrician.”
After the appointment, Amber sat inside her parked car beneath freezing rain.
The triplets were healthy.
But she needed protection, stability, and an immediate legal strategy.
Tessa met her in the hospital parking garage.
“I can’t represent you against Kenton while I’m still his attorney,” she said.
“Then why are you helping me?”
Tessa’s eyes filled with shame.
“Because I introduced you to him.”
Years earlier, Tessa had described Kenton as ambitious, brilliant, and loyal.
She had believed it.
So had Amber.
“I need access to the licensing files,” Amber said.
Tessa shook her head.
“That could destroy my career.”
“He is using my identity.”
“I know.”
“He could destroy mine.”
Tessa looked at Amber’s stomach.
Then she handed her a business card.
Isaac Vale.
Founder and CEO of Vale Capital.
“You need someone Kenton cannot intimidate.”
Amber recognized the company name.
Vale Capital had funded most of Kenton’s expansion.
“Why would Isaac help me?”
Tessa’s answer was quiet.
May you like
“Because Kenton has been lying to him too.”
👉 Isaac had already begun investigating Kenton—but when he met Amber, he discovered that the fraud was tied to something far more personal.
