Chapter 7 - The Dominoes Fall
"Two counts of felony bank and commercial fraud," Marcus said, his tone devoid of emotion as he noted the admission on his yellow legal pad. "Ashley forged Sarah's name on a home equity application with Crestview for eighty-five thousand dollars. Robert forged Sarah's name on a corporate guarantee with Apex Capital for one hundred and ten thousand dollars."
Marcus looked up, peering over the top of his glasses at the four people across from us.
"If Sarah and Michael walk out of this room right now and proceed directly to the county prosecutor's office, both of you will be arrested before sundown," Marcus stated. "Ashley, as a first-time offender who spent only ten thousand of the drawn funds, might secure probation if restitution is made. Robert, on the other hand, signed a commercial instrument involving an interstate lending entity with organized collection arms. You would face federal bank fraud and wire fraud charges. At your age, Robert, you would die in a federal penitentiary."
Eleanor leaned back in her chair, pressing a handkerchief to her mouth. She looked frail for the first time in her life, stripped of the manicured cruelty that had governed our childhood.
"What do we do?" Eleanor whispered through her linen. "What do we do, Sarah? You're our daughter. You can't let them take your father."
"She isn't your daughter anymore, Eleanor," Michael said coldly. "You made that abundantly clear when you struck her across the face in front of your entire family and told her you were better off without her."
"I was upset!" Eleanor wept. "I was under pressure! You don't know what it's like to watch everything you've built slip away!"
"You didn't build it!" I yelled, finally breaking my silence, my voice cutting through the room with an authority that silenced every sob and excuse. "I built it! I spent twelve years working seventy-hour weeks at an accounting firm! I gave up vacations, I postponed buying our forever home with Michael, I poured nearly four hundred thousand dollars of my own earnings into keeping you in that neighborhood because I was terrified of your shame!"
I stood up, resting my palms flat on the table, leaning in toward my parents.
"And you rewarded me by treating me like an endless line of credit. You let Ashley laugh in my face. You slapped me because I told you no for the first time in six years."
"Sarah," Robert pleaded, lifting his tear-streaked face. "I'll do whatever you want. I'll plead guilty. Just don't let them take the house from your mother."
"There is no house for your mother, Robert," Marcus interjected smoothly. "Let us be unequivocally clear on the legal status of Elmwood Lane. Sarah is the sole fee simple owner. You have no legal tenancy contract, merely a month-to-month implied occupancy that was terminated when notice was served on December 24th. The offer Sarah extended thirty minutes ago—to allow you to purchase the property for the mortgage balance of one hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars—is officially withdrawn."
Eleanor let out a sharp gasp. "Withdrawn? Where are we supposed to live?"
"That is no longer Sarah's concern," Marcus replied. He pulled a new, stark set of documents from his leather portfolio and slid them across the walnut table.
"Here are the non-negotiable terms of surrender," Marcus said. "First: Ashley signs the Confession of Judgment and the immediate transfer of the remaining seventy-five thousand dollars from her holding account back to Crestview Bank. Greg signs a marital waiver ensuring that his personal accounts are shielded, provided he oversees the remaining ten thousand dollar restitution paid directly from Ashley's liquid assets within ninety days."
Greg reached for a pen without hesitating. "Give it to me."
"Greg, wait!" Ashley cried, grabbing his sleeve. "If you sign that, I have to sell my car! I won't have anything left!"
Greg jerked his arm away, his eyes blazing with cold contempt. "You'll sell your car, you'll sell your designer bags, and you'll find a job at the grocery store if you have to. If you don't sign this right now, Marcus Hayes calls the police, and by noon my attorney files for divorce and full custody of the children based on felony fraud. Choose."
May you like
Ashley stared at her husband, realizing for the first time that her tears held no power over him anymore. Shaking violently, she took the pen and signed her name on the four marked lines.
"Now for Robert and Eleanor," Marcus continued, turning to my parents.
