Chapter 4
I stared at the email until the words stopped making sense.
Recipient of proceeds.
Doreen Carver.
My mother-in-law.
I looked at Rachel.
"That has to be a mistake."
She didn't answer.
Instead, she enlarged the message.
The request involved a proposed home-equity loan secured against the house Nathan and I had bought three years earlier.
Our house.
The one where we'd painted Owen's nursery pale green.
The one where I'd planted roses along the front walkway.
The one I'd helped pay for with money from my mother's inheritance.
"Why would Nathan refinance our house without telling me?"
Rachel looked furious.
"That's what we're going to find out."
I picked up my phone.
My hands trembled.
I wanted to call Nathan.
Demand an explanation.
Scream at him.
But Rachel gently stopped me.
"Let's speak to Dana first."
I swallowed.
"Why?"
"Because he's already lied about your mental health. I don't want him twisting another conversation."
I knew she was right.
Still, it hurt.
I had spent four years believing my husband was the person I could trust most.
Now I needed legal advice before speaking to him.
Dana called back within twenty minutes.
Rachel put her on speaker.
I explained the mortgage notice.
Dana asked several questions.
Was my name on the deed?
Yes.
Had I authorized refinancing?
No.
Had I signed anything recently?
I thought carefully.
Then remembered.
Two weeks earlier, Nathan had brought home a folder.
He said it contained updated insurance documents for the baby.
He asked me to sign several pages.
I was exhausted and heavily pregnant.
I hadn't read everything.
My stomach twisted.
"Oh my God."
Rachel looked at me.
"What?"
"I signed papers."
Dana's voice remained calm.
"Leah, don't assume those were loan documents. We need copies."
I closed my eyes.
"But what if they were?"
"Then we'll determine what they actually authorized and whether there was any misrepresentation."
I looked down at Owen.
He was asleep beside me.
I wondered whether Nathan had been planning to take him while also taking control of our money.
Dana continued.
"Contact the lender's fraud department. Tell them you did not knowingly authorize the transaction and request that it be reviewed before any funds are released."
Rachel took notes.
I listened carefully.
For the first time, I understood how vulnerable I'd become.
My body was recovering from surgery.
My baby needed constant care.
And the people closest to me appeared to be making major decisions without my consent.
After the call, Rachel contacted the lender with me present.
We completed an identity-verification process.
The representative confirmed that a refinancing application had been started.
But no loan had closed.
I almost collapsed with relief.
Then the representative mentioned something else.
An electronic authorization appeared to have been submitted using my credentials.
I shook my head.
"I didn't do that."
The representative explained how to dispute the authorization and place a hold on the application pending review.
I followed every step.
When we finished, I looked at Rachel.
"Why would Doreen need money from our house?"
Rachel's expression was grim.
"I don't know."
But she had an idea.
I could see it.
"What are you thinking?"
She hesitated.
"Leah, do you remember when Nathan's father died?"
I nodded.
"Three years ago."
"Didn't Doreen inherit the family business?"
"Yes."
"And didn't she say it was doing wonderfully?"
I frowned.
"Yes."
Rachel looked at the loan notice.
"Then why would she need access to your equity?"
I felt cold.
Doreen had always presented herself as wealthy.
Designer handbags.
Luxury vacations.
Expensive charity events.
She regularly reminded me that the Carver family had a reputation to maintain.
But what if the money wasn't what it seemed?
What if she'd been hiding financial problems?
And what if Nathan was helping her?
I didn't have time to think further.
Alicia entered the room.
She looked serious.
"Leah, your husband is requesting to speak with you."
My stomach tightened.
"Where is he?"
"At the nurses' station."
Rachel stood.
"Tell him she doesn't want visitors."
I hesitated.
Part of me wanted to see him.
I wanted to look into his face and understand how everything had gone so wrong.
But another part of me remembered his voice outside the supply room.
I've already signed the papers.
I swallowed.
"Tell him I'm not ready."
Alicia nodded.
"I'll let him know."
When she left, Rachel sat beside me.
"You did the right thing."
I stared at the door.
"Why doesn't it feel right?"
"Because you love him."
I started crying.
"I still do."
Rachel hugged me.
"I know."
That was the cruelest part.
I wasn't suddenly free of love because I'd discovered betrayal.
I still remembered our wedding.
Our first apartment.
The night we learned I was pregnant.
The way Nathan cried when he heard Owen's heartbeat.
Those memories didn't disappear.
They simply became painful.
That evening, Mae brought me dinner.
I barely touched it.
She noticed.
"You need to eat."
I looked at her.
"I'm not hungry."
She sat beside me.
"Leah, I know you're frightened. But recovering from surgery and feeding a newborn takes energy."
I nodded.
Then forced myself to eat a few bites.
Mae smiled.
"That's a start."
I looked at her.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Do you think Dr. Rusk knew what Doreen was planning?"
Mae hesitated.
"I can't say."
"But something about the chart bothered you."
She nodded.
"Yes."
"What?"
Mae looked toward the door.
Then lowered her voice.
"Several entries appeared to have been copied from a template."
I frowned.
"What kind of template?"
"Language describing acute risk, but without supporting observations from staff who actually examined you."
My stomach tightened.
"Could someone have added it without seeing me?"
"The audit review should help determine when and by whom each entry was made."
I stared at her.
Then asked:
"Why did you notice?"
Mae's expression changed.
"Because one entry claimed you were disoriented and refusing to recognize your baby."
I blinked.
"That's ridiculous."
"I know."
She looked at Owen.
"I was present at the time listed. You were feeding him, asking appropriate questions, and fully aware of where you were."
I began crying.
Mae squeezed my hand.
"I documented what I observed."
For the first time, I realized how important one honest witness could be.
Later that night, Rachel received a call.
She stepped into the hallway.
When she returned, her face was pale.
"What happened?" I asked.
She sat beside me.
"That was Dana."
My heart raced.
"What did she say?"
Rachel took a breath.
"She checked the public business records connected to Doreen's company."
I swallowed.
"And?"
"The company has several outstanding liens and a pending lawsuit."
I stared at her.
"But Doreen said the business was thriving."
Rachel shook her head.
"Apparently not."
Then she handed me her phone.
On the screen was a public filing involving Carver Family Holdings.
The company was facing a claim for nearly eight hundred thousand dollars.
I covered my mouth.
"Eight hundred thousand?"
Rachel nodded.
"And Leah, there's something worse."
My stomach twisted.
"What?"
She looked directly at me.
"According to the filing, Doreen recently pledged assets she didn't fully own."
I stared at her.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"One of those assets may be your house."
