Chapter 3 - My Husband Knew About The LoanSerena drove to Daniel Mercer's office that afternoon.
She told nobody.
His law firm occupied the third floor of a restored brick building near downtown Savannah.
Daniel was sixty-two now.
Gray-haired.
Careful.
The same man who had sat beside Serena six years earlier when she signed the final documents transferring her father's home into her sole ownership.
He closed his office door.
“Before we go any further, I need to be precise.”
Serena nodded.
“The inquiry doesn't mean a loan was approved.”
“Then what does it mean?”
“Someone explored whether equity could be extracted from the property.”
“Using my house.”
“Yes.”
“Without telling me.”
“Yes.”
Daniel turned his monitor toward her.
The application had not progressed far enough to become a lien.
But there it was.
Her address.
Estimated property value: $1.14 million.
Requested credit line: $280,000.
Applicant contact.
Lucas Miller.
Serena stared at her husband's name.
For a moment, she felt nothing.
Then came the nausea.
“What would he need?”
“To actually borrow against the property?”
“Yes.”
“Your signature.”
“So he can't do it.”
“Not legally.”
The final word mattered.
Legally.
Serena looked at Daniel.
“Why would Lucas think he could?”
“I can't answer that.”
But Serena suddenly remembered Beatrice.
Lucas needs to handle the paperwork before she finds out.
“What paperwork could change ownership?”
Daniel's expression became serious.
“A quitclaim deed.”
Serena already knew the term.
Her stomach dropped anyway.
“If I signed one?”
“You could transfer some or all ownership interest.”
“And if somebody presented one with my signature?”
Daniel stared at her.
“Serena, are you asking whether someone could forge your signature?”
She looked through the window.
Savannah moved below them.
Cars.
Tourists.
People carrying iced drinks beneath umbrellas.
Ordinary life.
“I’m asking what happens if my husband has decided my house belongs to him.”
Daniel leaned back.
“Then we make sure he learns otherwise.”
They immediately placed alerts on the property record and contacted the relevant institutions.
Daniel recommended Serena secure every original document.
She agreed.
But before leaving, she asked one final question.
“If Lucas hasn't actually taken money yet, should I confront him?”
Daniel considered carefully.
“That's a marriage question, not a legal one.”
Serena stood.
“Unfortunately, I think it's become both.”
That evening, she returned home at six.
Three unfamiliar cars filled her driveway.
Music came from the backyard.
Serena entered through the front door.
Voices.
Laughter.
Glasses clinking.
She walked toward the kitchen.
Beatrice had invited twelve people for dinner.
Without asking.
A platter of shrimp sat on Serena's antique dining table.
Wine bottles covered the counter.
Her father's crystal glasses had been removed from storage.
Beatrice saw Serena.
“There you are.”
Serena slowly looked around.
“What is this?”
“Dinner.”
“I can see that.”
Beatrice smiled.
“I told Lucas.”
Lucas stood near the patio doors.
He avoided Serena's eyes.
Of course.
She walked toward him.
“You knew?”
“Mom wanted everyone together.”
“That's not what I asked.”
Lucas lowered his voice.
“Can we discuss this later?”
“No.”
Several conversations stopped.
Beatrice sighed dramatically.
“Must everything become a confrontation?”
Serena turned toward her.
“You invited twelve people into my home without asking.”
Beatrice's expression hardened.
“Your home?”
“Yes.”
The room became quiet.
Then Beatrice laughed.
It was not amused laughter.
It was contempt.
“Serena, you've been married to my son for five years.”
“And?”
“This obsession you have with calling everything yours is becoming embarrassing.”
Lucas stepped forward.
“Mom.”
But Beatrice wasn't finished.
“My son lives here. My son contributes here. My son is your husband.”
Serena looked at Lucas.
“Tell her.”
His face changed.
“Serena.”
“Tell her whose name is on the deed.”
The guests shifted uncomfortably.
Beatrice rolled her eyes.
“Don't be ridiculous.”
Serena reached inside her handbag.
She had brought a certified copy home from Daniel's office.
She unfolded it.
Placed it flat on the dining table.
“Go ahead.”
Beatrice looked down.
Her smile slowly disappeared.
Serena turned toward Lucas.
“Tell your mother who owns this house.”
Nobody moved.
Lucas stared at the deed.
Beatrice stared at Lucas.
Then something unexpected happened.
Beatrice didn't look shocked.
She looked angry.
And Serena realized why.
Beatrice already knew.
“You showed her this?” Beatrice demanded.
Lucas went pale.
Serena's blood turned cold.
“You knew?”
Beatrice looked at her.
Then at the guests.
Then back at Serena.
“You have no idea what Lucas has sacrificed for this family.”
Serena folded the deed.
“That's not an answer.”
Lucas stepped closer.
“Serena, please.”
“No.”
Her voice remained remarkably calm.
“You applied for a $280,000 equity line against my house.”
Every face turned toward Lucas.
Beatrice dropped her wineglass.
It shattered across the floor.
May you like
And Lucas whispered:
“How did you find out?”
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