Chapter 6: The House That Was Never Supposed to Be at Risk
I drove to Patricia's house twenty minutes later.
Daniel insisted on coming with me.
I didn't want him in my car, but he kept saying his mother was having a breakdown and needed both of us.
I finally told him he could follow in his own vehicle.
When I arrived, Patricia was standing in the doorway wearing a pale blue robe.
Her hair was uncombed.
Her usual expensive lipstick was nowhere to be seen.
In her hands was a thick envelope.
“Sarah!””
She rushed toward me.
“Thank goodness you're here.””
I stepped inside.
“What happened?””
She thrust the envelope toward me.
“Look at this.””
The document was from a private lending company.
It listed Patricia's home as collateral for a loan of $22,000.
The borrower's name was Daniel Thompson.
Patricia's name appeared beneath it.
I read the first page.
Then the second.
My eyes stopped at a section titled:
*PROPERTY OWNER CONSENT.*
There was a signature beneath it.
Patricia Thompson.
I looked up.
“Did you sign this?””
She shook her head rapidly.
“No.””
“Are you sure?””
“Of course I'm sure!””
I looked toward the hallway.
Daniel was standing near the coat rack.
His face was pale.
“Daniel,” I said.
“Did you forge your mother's signature too?””
Patricia turned.
“What?””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Mom, please.””
Patricia took a step backward.
“Daniel?””
He didn't answer.
She looked at the document in my hand.
“Tell me this isn't true.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“I was going to explain.””
“You used my house?””
“I needed a loan.””
“You told me you were borrowing money from a friend!””
“I was.””
“You told me the paperwork was temporary!””
Daniel looked down.
Patricia began shaking.
“How could you do this to me?””
He stepped toward her.
“Mom, I can fix it.””
She pushed his hand away.
“Don't touch me!””
I stood between them.
“Patricia, sit down.””
She lowered herself onto the sofa.
For the first time since I'd known her, she looked genuinely frightened.
I examined the document again.
The lender's name was Victor Hale.
The amount was $22,000.
The loan date was six months earlier.
A section near the bottom referred to a property security agreement.
I looked at Daniel.
“Did you tell the lender your mother had agreed to this?””
He nodded.
“Did you show them her identification?””
He didn't answer.
“Daniel!””
“Yes.””
Patricia covered her mouth.
I continued reading.
The document listed an outstanding balance, including fees and interest.
It was now $27,850.
I looked at the payment deadline.
Friday.
Three days away.
“Have you paid anything toward this?””
Daniel shook his head.
“I made one payment.””
“How much?””
“Five hundred.””
Patricia stared at him.
“Five hundred dollars?””
“I was going to pay more.””
“With what?””
He looked at me.
I immediately shook my head.
“Don't even think about asking me.””
He looked wounded.
“Sarah, please.””
“No.””
Patricia stood.
“You have been asking her for money while putting my house at risk?””
Daniel lowered his head.
“I was trying to sort it out.””
“How long have you been doing this?””
He didn't answer.
Patricia turned toward me.
“Did you know about the gambling?””
“Yes.””
Her face crumpled.
“And you didn't tell me?””
I looked at her.
“Patricia, I only found out yesterday.””
She sat down again.
For several seconds, she simply stared at the floor.
Then she whispered:
“I gave him money because I thought he was struggling with the house.””
I looked at her.
“I know.””
“I thought he was trying to build something for his family.””
“I know.””
She started crying.
Daniel moved toward her.
“Mom—”
“Stay away from me!””
Her voice cracked.
“You used my house. You used my savings. You let me stand in front of thirty-two people and praise you for a birthday dinner that Sarah paid for!””
Daniel looked at me.
“Can we please not do this right now?””
I stared at him.
“Your mother has just discovered that her house is being used as collateral for a loan she says she never authorized. When exactly would you like to discuss it?””
He turned away.
I took out my phone and called Laura.
She answered after two rings.
“Sarah?””
“I'm at Patricia's house. We found another document.””
I explained what had happened.
Laura became serious.
“Do not sign anything. Do not promise to pay the lender. Photograph every page and keep the original document safe.””
“What about Patricia?””
“She should contact an independent attorney immediately. If her signature was forged, she needs advice specifically about protecting her property.””
I nodded.
“Should we contact the police?””
“Given the allegations of forged signatures and the property documents, Patricia should discuss reporting it with her attorney promptly. If anyone is threatening physical harm, contact emergency services.””
I thanked her and ended the call.
Patricia was watching me.
“What did she say?””
“She said you need independent legal advice immediately.””
Patricia looked at Daniel.
“You hear that?””
He threw his hands up.
“This is getting out of control!””
I turned toward him.
“No, Daniel. It has been out of control for months. We're just finally seeing it.””
He paced across the room.
“Victor isn't going to take Mom's house.””
“How do you know?””
“Because I know him.””
I looked at him.
“You borrowed twenty-two thousand dollars from him. You used your mother's property documents. You haven't repaid the loan. And you expect us to believe everything will be fine because you know him?””
Daniel stopped.
“Sarah, I can handle this.””
I shook my head.
“You couldn't handle the birthday dinner.””
He stared at me.
“You're enjoying this, aren't you?””
The accusation stunned me.
“Enjoying what?””
“Watching me fail. You've always thought you were better than me because you make more money.””
I looked at Patricia.
Even she seemed unable to believe what he had just said.
I stepped closer.
“Daniel, I spent six years trying to make sure you never felt smaller because of my salary. I paid for things you couldn't afford. I covered expenses you didn't tell me about.
I defended you when your mother criticized you. I kept quiet when Melissa treated me like an ATM.””
My voice began to shake.
“And you still convinced yourself I was the enemy.””
He looked away.
I continued.
“You didn't lose my trust because you had a gambling problem. You lost it because you lied, forged signatures, and made everyone else's financial security depend on money you didn't have.””
Patricia started crying again.
Daniel sat down.
For a few moments, the room was silent.
Then Patricia spoke.
“There's something else.””
I turned toward her.
“What?””
She looked at Daniel.
“Tell Sarah about the house.””
Daniel's expression changed.
“Mom, don't.””
Patricia's voice became firmer.
“She deserves to know.””
I looked between them.
“What about the house?””
Patricia reached for the envelope and pulled out another document.
It was a property ownership record.
“My house was supposed to be transferred to Daniel after I passed away,” she explained.
“I made arrangements with my attorney several years ago.””
I nodded.
“I didn't know that.””
“Daniel knew.””
He stared at the floor.
Patricia continued.
“Last month, he asked me to sign some updated paperwork. He said it was necessary for the inheritance arrangements.””
My stomach tightened.
“Did you sign anything?””
She shook her head.
“No. I told him I wanted my attorney to review it first.””
Daniel suddenly stood.
“Mom, you're misunderstanding.””
She ignored him.
“He became angry. He said I didn't trust him.””
I looked at Daniel.
“What paperwork?””
He didn't answer.
Patricia handed me another page.
It was a draft deed transfer.
The document proposed transferring ownership of her house into a new property-holding company.
Daniel's name appeared as the sole director.
But there was another name on the paperwork.
Mine.
Sarah Thompson.
I stared at it.
“Why is my name here?””
Patricia shook her head.
“I don't know. Daniel said it was for tax purposes.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Did you put my name on a property company without telling me?””
He swallowed.
“It's complicated.””
“Then simplify it.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“I wanted to create an arrangement where the house could be used as an asset for future family expenses.””
I stared at him.
“You wanted to put your mother's house into a company with my name on it?””
“Not exactly.””
“Then what exactly?””
He looked at me.
“Mom would transfer the property. You and I would manage the company. It would make it easier to get financing.””
I felt sick.
“You wanted to use my name and my financial history to secure loans against your mother's house?””
He didn't answer.
Patricia looked horrified.
“Daniel, you told me it was just paperwork!””
He turned toward her.
“Mom, I was trying to protect the family.””
“From what?””
“Financial problems!””
She stood so quickly that the envelope fell from her lap.
“You created the financial problems!””
Daniel shouted back.
“I was trying to keep everything together!””
Patricia flinched.
I took a step toward her.
“Please lower your voice.””
Daniel stared at me.
“You don't get to tell me what to do in my mother's house.””
“No. But I can tell you that my name is not going on any document you create.””
He shook his head.
“Sarah, you're making this impossible.””
I almost smiled.
“You keep saying that as though I'm the one who forged everyone's signature.””
He looked at the floor.
Patricia picked up her phone.
“I'm calling my attorney.””
Daniel moved toward her.
“Mom, wait.””
“No. I should have done this years ago.””
She walked into the kitchen.
Daniel turned to me.
“Sarah, please. We need to talk.””
“We've talked.””
“I need you to help me.””
“I won't pay your debt.””
“I'm not asking you to pay everything.””
“You asked me for ten thousand yesterday.””
He looked desperate.
“I can repay it.””
“With what?””
“I'll get another job.””
“Then do that.””
He stepped closer.
“Sarah, if Victor takes action, Mom could lose her house.””
I held his gaze.
“Then you need to find a legitimate way to resolve the debt.””
He looked at me as though I had just abandoned him.
I picked up my purse.
“I'm leaving.””
He followed me toward the door.
“Where are you going?””
“Home.””
“Sarah, wait.””
I stopped.
“What?””
He looked around to make sure his mother couldn't hear.
Then he lowered his voice.
“There's something else you need to know about the twenty-five-thousand-dollar family fund.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What now?””
He swallowed.
“Mom already promised that money to someone.””
“Who?””
He hesitated.
Then he said:
“Melissa.””
I stared at him.
“For what?””
“Her house deposit.””
I blinked.
“Her house deposit?””
Daniel nodded.
“She's buying a new house. She thought the family fund would cover part of it.””
I looked at him in disbelief.
“So Melissa has already planned to spend money I never agreed to contribute?””
He nodded again.
“And she's expecting the first payment next week.””
I slowly opened the front door.
“Then you should tell her the money isn't coming.””
Daniel grabbed the doorframe.
“Sarah, if she loses the house, she'll blame me.””
I looked directly into his eyes.
“Then perhaps you should stop making promises with money that doesn't belong to you.””
I walked outside.
But before I reached my car, Patricia called my name.
I turned.
She was standing in the doorway, holding her phone.
Her face was pale.
“Sarah, my attorney just checked the property records.””
I stopped.
“What did she find?””
Patricia looked at Daniel.
Then back at me.
“The loan isn't the only thing attached to my house.””
My stomach dropped.
“What do you mean?””
She held up her phone.
“There's another application. Someone has already tried to register a second charge against the property.””
I looked at Daniel.
He closed his eyes.
May you like
Patricia whispered:
“And this time, the application was submitted using your name, Sarah.””
