Chapter 8 - THE TRUTH ABOUT THE LAKE HOUSE
Under questioning, Kyle admitted that he had signed the documents Madison placed before him.
He insisted that he believed Eleanor had approved the transfer.
The investigators compared his signature with the paperwork and confirmed that he had not forged Eleanor’s name.
Madison had done that herself.
Her luxury maternity business owed nearly six hundred thousand dollars. She had promised investors access to property she did not own.
The lake house was supposed to secure the loan.
Madison began crying, but her tears did not soften Eleanor.
“You don’t understand,” Madison said. “I was going to build something for this family.”
“You tried to build it with someone else’s foundation,” Eleanor replied.
“I would have paid everything back.”
“With what?”
“The company was going to succeed.”
David shook his head.
“The company had already lost its primary investor before you submitted the forged document.”
Madison turned toward Kyle.
“You said you believed in me.”
“I believed you were honest.”
“You signed the papers.”
“Because I was weak.”
Kyle looked at Eleanor.
“I should have called you. I should have read everything. And I should have spoken when she insulted you.”
Eleanor’s voice remained controlled.
“Yes. You should have.”
Kyle’s face crumpled.
“I’m sorry.”
“I believe you are sorry.”
“Can you forgive me?”
“Not today.”
The answer hurt him, but Eleanor refused to make forgiveness another gift he received without earning.
The officer asked Madison to come with him to answer further questions. She was not dragged away or placed in handcuffs in front of the guests, but the humiliation she feared had already happened.
As she reached the door, Madison turned toward Eleanor.
“You planned this.”
May you like
Eleanor looked down at the blanket.
“No. Thomas planned for the truth to survive us both.”
