Chapter 6 - The Fall of an Old Family
Wade learned about the announcement from a news alert.
He was sitting alone in the mansion’s library when his phone vibrated.
ALDEN MERIDIAN REVEALS FOUNDER AND MAJORITY OWNER
Beneath the headline was a photograph of Maren standing beside the governor at a housing development ceremony three years earlier.
Wade opened the article.
Maren Cole Alden, founder and chief executive of Alden Meridian Holdings, had managed more than four billion dollars in property assets across New England. The company owned Alden Tower, hotels, office buildings, affordable housing projects, and the Bellweather Lane mansion.
Wade read the article twice.
Then a third time.
He knew Maren was successful. He knew she invested in property.
He had never imagined the scale.
Lorraine entered the library holding her tablet.
“You let her humiliate us.”
Wade looked up.
“You tried to borrow against this house.”
Lorraine stopped.
“Who told you that?”
“So it is true.”
“I was protecting the family.”
“By forging documents?”
“I did not forge anything. I signed as a representative of the household.”
“You wrote that you owned the property.”
“I believed the house would eventually pass to you.”
Wade stood.
“You demanded rent from the actual owner.”
Lorraine’s face twisted.
“She deceived us.”
“No. We never asked.”
“She encouraged us to believe this belonged to the Aldens.”
“You encouraged everyone to believe it.”
“And you allowed me.”
Wade had no answer.
The doorbell began ringing repeatedly. Reporters waited beyond the gates. Friends called asking questions. Two private clubs suspended Lorraine’s memberships after learning she had used false property claims on financial applications.
By evening, Wade’s consulting firm placed him on temporary leave.
One of Lorraine’s loan applications had listed Wade as a supporting beneficiary. Though his signature did not appear, the firm wanted an investigation.
Wade drove to Alden Tower.
Security refused to let him enter the private elevator.
“My wife owns this building.”
The guard remained polite.
“Mrs. Alden requested that all visitors receive prior approval.”
“I am not a visitor.”
The guard did not respond.
Wade called Maren six times.
She finally answered.
“Are you and Elsie safe?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“I need to see you.”
“Not tonight.”
“I didn’t know about the loans.”
“I believe you.”
Relief entered his voice.
“Then we can work this out.”
“Not knowing is not the same as being innocent, Wade.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you spent years refusing to see what was happening.”
“I was trying to keep our family together.”
“No. You were asking me to absorb every injury so you would never have to confront your mother.”
Wade leaned against the lobby wall.
“I love you.”
“I loved you too.”
The past tense frightened him more than anger would have.
“Maren, please don’t end our marriage over one terrible day.”
“This is not about one day. It is about every day that led to it.”
May you like
She ended the call.
For the first time in his life, Wade had no one to blame but himself.
