Chapter 9: The Buyer Arrived at the House
At 9:05 the following morning, a black SUV pulled into Frank's driveway.
Erin was standing beside the living room window when she saw it.
A man in a dark coat stepped out.
He checked his phone, looked at the house number, and walked toward the front door carrying a leather folder.
Frank stood behind his daughter.
"Is that him?""
Erin nodded.
"I think so.""
Daniel had already contacted a property solicitor the previous evening. Frank had also notified the bank that the financial authorization was disputed and requested urgent safeguards.
But the property inspection was not yet cancelled.
The man rang the bell.
Frank walked to the door.
Erin stayed close.
"Good morning," the visitor said.
"I'm Richard Coleman. I'm here about the property.""
Frank didn't move aside.
"What property?""
Richard looked briefly surprised.
"Your house, sir.""
Frank's expression hardened.
"I haven't agreed to sell it.""
Richard opened his folder.
"I was told the owner had approved the transaction.""
"Who told you that?""
"Wade Harrison.""
Frank nodded slowly.
"My son.""
Richard glanced toward Erin.
"Yes. He said you had authorized him to handle the sale.""
Frank's voice remained calm.
"I haven't authorized anything.""
Richard looked uncomfortable.
"Mr. Harrison provided documentation.""
"What documentation?""
Richard removed a printed copy of the draft agreement.
Frank examined the first page.
His name appeared beneath the seller's details.
His property address was correct.
The proposed purchase price was $385,000.
But Frank had never signed it.
"Who witnessed this?"" Frank asked.
Richard hesitated.
"I believe it was handled through the representative.""
"What representative?""
"Wade.""
Frank handed the paper back.
"Then you need to speak to your solicitor. I am not selling my house.""
Richard closed the folder.
"Perhaps there's been a misunderstanding.""
"There has.""
Erin stepped forward.
"My father has disputed the documents. His solicitor has been informed.""
Richard looked at her.
"Are you his daughter?""
"Yes.""
"Your brother told me you were aware of the sale.""
Erin almost laughed.
"He also told my father I had stopped visiting him.""
Richard's expression changed.
Frank looked at the man.
"Did Wade tell you why I wanted to sell?""
Richard shook his head.
"He said you wanted to downsize.""
Frank pointed toward the living room.
"That sofa was bought with my wife's first paycheck after we got married. The kitchen was built by my father. My children's heights are marked on the doorframe upstairs.""
He paused.
"I'm not downsizing.""
Richard looked uncomfortable.
"I understand.""
"Do you?""
Richard closed his folder.
"I'll contact my solicitor.""
He walked back toward his SUV.
Before getting in, he turned around.
"Mr. Frank, I should tell you that I paid a deposit.""
Frank's face tightened.
"How much?""
"Twenty-five thousand dollars.""
Erin felt a chill.
"To whom?""
Richard looked at her.
"To the account provided by Wade.""
Frank slowly nodded.
"Then you should speak to the bank.""
Richard drove away.
Erin closed the front door.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Frank said, "He took a deposit on my house.""
Erin nodded.
"Yes.""
"Without asking me.""
"Yes.""
Frank walked to the kitchen and sat down.
He looked at the empty chair opposite him.
"How did my own son get this far?""
Erin sat beside him.
"Because he thought nobody would compare what he told us.""
Frank looked at her.
"And because we trusted him.""
She took his hand.
"Trusting your child isn't the mistake.""
Frank gave a tired smile.
"Your mother used to say that.""
He looked toward the hallway.
"She would have known what to do.""
Erin smiled through her tears.
"She would have told Wade to sit down and explain himself.""
Frank laughed softly.
For a brief moment, the house felt normal again.
Then Daniel called.
"Mr. Frank, I have an update.""
Frank put the phone on speaker.
"The bank has acknowledged the disputed authorization. They are reviewing the withdrawal requests and the account history.""
"Good.""
"There's also an issue with the property sale.""
Frank looked at Erin.
"What issue?""
"The solicitor representing the buyer has informed us that a deposit was paid to a business account connected to your son.""
Erin leaned forward.
"Can it be recovered?""
"Possibly, but we cannot promise that. The funds may already have been moved.""
Frank rubbed his forehead.
"What happens now?""
"We'll need to establish whether the buyer relied on false representations and whether any documents were submitted without your authorization. I've also advised you not to meet your son alone while this is being investigated.""
Frank nodded.
"Understood.""
After the call ended, Erin walked into the kitchen to make coffee.
She heard a car door slam outside.
Then a voice.
"Where is he?""
Wade.
Erin turned.
Her brother stood in the doorway.
His jacket was unzipped, his hair was untidy, and his face looked drawn.
Frank appeared behind her.
"What are you doing here?""
Wade stepped inside.
"We need to talk.""
Frank stayed near the kitchen entrance.
"About what?""
"The buyer.""
"He's gone.""
"I know.""
"Then there's nothing to discuss.""
Wade looked at Erin.
"You called the solicitor.""
"Yes.""
"You had no right.""
Erin stared at him.
"It's Dad's house.""
"You've made this impossible.""
Wade dropped his keys onto the counter.
"I had a deal. Everything was arranged. I just needed a few more days.""
Frank looked at him.
"Did you sign my name?""
Wade's jaw tightened.
"I was handling the paperwork.""
"Did you sign my name?""
"I was going to explain everything.""
"That isn't an answer.""
Wade threw his hands up.
"Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I wanted to borrow money? I was trying to keep everything together!""
Frank's voice became cold.
"By selling my house?""
"I wasn't going to leave you homeless!""
"You didn't ask me.""
"Because you would have said no!""
Frank stared at him.
"Exactly.""
Wade went quiet.
Erin stepped forward.
"You took my money. You lied to Dad. You tried to use his savings. And now you've involved an innocent buyer.""
Wade turned toward her.
"Stay out of this.""
"No.""
"You've always been the favorite.""
Erin blinked.
"What?""
"Ever since we were kids. Dad always protected you. You could make mistakes and he'd forgive you. I had to prove myself.""
Frank looked stunned.
"Is that what this is about?""
Wade laughed bitterly.
"You got the attention. You got the sympathy. I got the responsibilities.""
Erin shook her head.
"I didn't ask Dad to love you less.""
Wade looked at her.
"You never had to ask.""
Frank stepped forward.
"Your mother loved you both equally. So did I.""
Wade looked away.
"Easy for you to say.""
Frank's voice trembled.
"I spent my entire life trying to make sure neither of you felt less loved.""
He pointed toward the front door.
"And now you're telling me you stole because I loved your sister?""
Wade's eyes filled.
For a moment, Erin thought he might finally apologize.
Instead, he said:
"I need the remaining money.""
Frank stared at him.
"What?""
"The money in the joint account. I need access to it.""
"No.""
"Dad, listen—"
"No.""
Wade stepped closer.
"I have people demanding payment. I have deadlines. If I don't pay, things will get worse.""
Frank shook his head.
"You should have thought about that before using money that wasn't yours.""
Wade looked toward Erin.
"Tell him to help me.""
Erin remained silent.
"Erin!""
She looked at him.
"You told me Dad didn't want to see me. You made me believe I was hurting him by visiting. You made him believe I had abandoned him.""
Wade lowered his eyes.
"That was a mistake.""
"A mistake?""
"I was under pressure.""
Erin shook her head.
"You made that choice every Sunday.""
Wade looked at Frank again.
"Please. Just let me access the account one last time. I'll pay everything back.""
Frank's expression softened for a second.
Then he remembered the unsigned documents, the missing money, and the days he had spent waiting for a daughter who was actually standing outside his house.
"No.""
Wade stepped backward.
"You'll regret this.""
Frank looked at him.
"I already regret trusting you with so much.""
Wade grabbed his keys and walked out.
But this time, he didn't leave quietly.
He stopped on the porch and turned around.
"Fine. If you won't help me, I'll tell everyone what really happened.""
Frank frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Wade smiled without humor.
"It means you don't know the whole story about Mom's estate.""
Erin froze.
Their mother had died seventeen years earlier.
There had been no dispute over her estate. At least, that was what Frank had always told them.
Wade continued.
"Ask Dad why the original inheritance papers disappeared.""
Then he drove away.
Frank stood in the doorway, unable to move.
Erin turned toward him.
"Dad?""
He slowly closed the door.
His face had gone pale.
"Dad, what is he talking about?""
Frank looked at the old family photograph hanging above the fireplace.
For a long time, he didn't speak.
Then he walked to the cabinet and removed a faded brown envelope.
"I was hoping you would never have to know this.""
Erin stared at the envelope.
"What is it?""
Frank opened it.
Inside was a letter from their mother's solicitor, dated seventeen years earlier.
And the first line read:
Regarding the inheritance left specifically to Erin Harrison and Wade Harrison...
Frank looked at his daughter.
"Your mother left something for both of you.""
Erin swallowed.
"Why have I never heard about it?""
Frank's eyes filled.
"Because I thought it had been settled.""
He turned the page.
Then his hands began to shake.
"Apparently, it wasn't.""
May you like
And as Erin read the next paragraph, she realized Wade's financial desperation might have started long before the business failed.
It might have started seventeen years ago.
