Chapter 4 - The House Papers
As Martin reviewed the family’s financial activity, he found unusual filings connected to the house.
Someone had recently attempted to change its ownership.
The application claimed Robert Carter had possessed the property continuously for thirty years. It included statements declaring that Emma’s trust had no legitimate interest in the home.
Attached to the application was another forged signature.
Emma’s.
“They’re trying to erase your ownership,” Martin said.
Emma stared through the window of his office.
“Why would they do that?”
“To use the house as security for a loan.”
The proposed loan was worth four million dollars.
Combined with several business credit applications, Chloe and her parents were trying to gather enough money to enter the fake wellness investment without Emma’s approval.
They planned to place the risk against property Emma had saved.
If the investment collapsed, the house would be lost.
Her parents would blame her.
And Chloe would disappear from responsibility as she always had.
Martin found evidence that a family acquaintance named Victor Dane had prepared the false documents. Victor had introduced Chloe to the wellness company and promised her an executive role if she secured the investment.
He was not a licensed financial adviser.
He had been investigated twice for investment fraud.
Emma felt sick.
She still wanted to believe her family did not understand what they were doing.
Then the investigators recovered a recorded phone call between Chloe and Victor.
Emma listened from Martin’s conference room.
“What happens when Emma notices?” Victor asked.
“She’ll complain,” Chloe replied. “Then our parents will pressure her until she gives up.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“She always does.”
Chloe laughed.
“Emma would rather lose everything than admit her family doesn’t love her.”
The recording ended.
Emma did not cry.
That frightened Martin more than tears would have.
“What do you want to do?” he asked.
May you like
Emma looked down at the ownership file.
“For the first time in my life, I want to let them discover what happens when I don’t give up.”
