Chapter 2 - SOMEONE HAD BORROWED AGAINST MY HOUSE
Eric stared at the folder as if the pages might rearrange themselves if he waited long enough.
“What loan?”
Madison answered too quickly.
“I don’t know.”
That was when I knew she did.
Samuel noticed too.
He always noticed.
That was why I had trusted him with my business affairs for twenty-three years.
He opened his leather case and removed another document.
“Four hundred eighty thousand dollars.”
Eric turned toward his wife.
“What?”
Madison’s face hardened.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Madison.”
“It was for the business.”
“What business?”
Silence.
Eric’s construction company had been struggling for two years.
I knew that.
I also knew I had quietly covered three supplier balances through separate entities without telling him.
Eleanor knew too.
She had begged me not to let him fail completely.
“He needs one real chance,” she always said.
Apparently, someone had decided my generosity was permission.
Samuel continued.
“The loan documents contain a personal guarantee signed by Eric Hale.”
Eric shook his head.
“I never signed anything like that.”
Madison looked away.
That hurt him more than the loan itself.
“Madison?”
She finally snapped.
“You were drowning.”
“I asked you a question.”
“And I fixed it!”
“With forged documents?”
Her eyes widened.
There it was.
She had not expected him to use that word.
I remained beside the Bentley.
Still.
Quiet.
Watching the marriage I had protected begin to crack.
Madison looked at me.
“This is your fault.”
Samuel actually raised an eyebrow.
“My fault?”
“You knew his company was struggling and you sat on millions.”
Eric said softly, “Stop.”
“No, Eric. Your father could have helped us.”
I looked at her.
“I did.”
She stopped.
“I paid your largest supplier twice.”
Eric turned toward me.
“What?”
“I covered payroll three times.”
His face changed.
“I also paid the tax lien last spring.”
Madison stared at me.
Eric whispered, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because your mother asked me not to.”
The mention of Eleanor silenced all of us.
Then Samuel’s phone buzzed.
He read the message.
His expression tightened.
“What is it?” I asked.
“The lender sent the full file.”
He looked toward Madison.
“The forged signature isn’t the worst part.”
He turned the screen toward me.
May you like
Attached to the loan was a copy of my will.
A will I had never written.
