Chapter 8: The House He Tried to Take
Renee sat in Margaret's passenger seat with both hands resting on her stomach.
The drive from the repair shop was quiet.
Outside, Columbus traffic moved beneath a gray afternoon sky. Cars passed through intersections, people crossed shopping center parking lots, and ordinary life continued as though nothing had happened.
Margaret glanced at her.
“Would you like me to take you to the hospital?””
Renee shook her head.
“I'm okay. I just want to go home.””
Margaret nodded.
But she didn't start driving immediately.
“Renee, sweetheart, I need you to know something.””
Renee turned toward her.
“I don't expect you to defend him.””
“I wasn't going to.””
Margaret looked down at her hands.
“I knew Devon had been acting strangely. He was always on his phone. He stopped talking about the baby. Whenever I asked about the business, he changed the subject.””
Renee swallowed.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I thought he was stressed. I didn't want to interfere in your marriage.””
Renee looked out the window.
“Everyone thought they were helping by staying quiet.””
Margaret reached over and squeezed her hand.
“I'm sorry.””
For a moment, Renee couldn't speak.
Then she whispered, “I don't know where my husband went.””
Margaret started the car.
“Maybe the man you thought he was isn't the man he chose to become.””
They drove to Renee's house.
It was a modest two-story home with white siding, a small front porch, and a maple tree near the driveway.
Renee had spent the previous weekend washing baby clothes and organizing the nursery.
A little wooden crib stood beside the window.
Tiny yellow socks were arranged in a basket.
A framed ultrasound picture rested on the dresser.
When she entered the bedroom, the sight of the crib nearly broke her.
She sat on the edge of the bed and covered her face.
Margaret brought her a glass of water.
“I'm going to stay with you tonight.””
Renee nodded.
Her phone vibrated.
A message from Devon appeared.
*We need to talk. Please don't involve lawyers. We can fix this privately.*
Renee read it twice.
Then another message arrived.
*I'm still your husband. Don't destroy our family over a misunderstanding.*
She placed the phone facedown.
Margaret saw her expression.
“What did he say?””
Renee shook her head.
“Nothing I need to answer.””
A little later, she received a call from Robert.
“Mrs. Carter, I have an update.””
Renee sat straighter.
“What happened?””
“During our conversation after you left, Mr. Carter disclosed that another property-related transaction may exist.””
Renee felt her stomach tighten.
“What property?””
“Your marital residence.””
Renee looked toward the bedroom door.
“Our house?””
“Yes. Apparently, an application was submitted to refinance the mortgage.””
She stood.
“Without telling me?””
“That is what we are trying to establish. The property records and lender documents need to be reviewed.””
Renee gripped the phone.
“Is my name on it?””
Robert paused.
“Yes.””
“Did I sign it?””
“That is precisely what we need to verify.””
Renee looked at Margaret.
Her mother-in-law immediately understood something was wrong.
“What is it?””
Renee put the call on speaker.
Robert continued.
“The application appears to include a request to increase the borrowing against the property. The additional funds were intended to support the business.””
Renee felt dizzy.
“How much?””
“Approximately $110,000.””
Margaret gasped.
Renee looked toward the window.
The house had been purchased three years earlier.
She had contributed the down payment from her savings.
She had chosen the paint colors, repaired the kitchen cabinets, and spent weekends planting flowers along the walkway.
It was the place where she had imagined bringing her baby home.
“Can he sell it?”” she asked.
“I'm not able to determine that without reviewing the title and mortgage documents. But you should contact an independent property attorney immediately and notify the lender that you dispute any authorization bearing your name.””
Renee nodded.
“I will.””
After the call ended, Margaret sat beside her.
“Did Devon really try to borrow against your house?””
Renee looked down.
“I don't know what else he has done.””
Margaret shook her head.
“I will help you find out.””
That evening, Renee received an email from Robert containing copies of several documents.
She opened them one by one.
The first showed the original property ownership.
The second showed the disputed business transfer.
The third was the refinancing application.
She enlarged the signature section.
Her name appeared beneath Devon's.
Again, the signature looked wrong.
But this time, there was another detail.
The application listed Renee's employment status as unemployed.
She stared at it.
She had worked at the same supermarket for six years.
Her employer's name was printed incorrectly.
Even her date of birth contained a mistake.
Renee called Robert.
“Why would someone put incorrect information on this application?””
“It's possible the information was entered inaccurately. We need to establish who submitted it and whether it was knowingly misrepresented.””
She looked at the document again.
Then she noticed the date.
The application had been submitted two days before the grand opening.
Devon had been at home that evening.
He had eaten dinner with her.
He had asked whether she had packed her hospital bag.
Then he had kissed her forehead and said he couldn't wait to meet their baby.
Renee felt sick.
A knock sounded at the front door.
Margaret looked toward the hallway.
“Stay here.””
She walked to the entrance and checked through the window.
Then she turned around.
“It's Devon.””
Renee stood.
“Don't let him in.””
Margaret opened the door only as far as the security chain allowed.
Devon stood outside holding a large bouquet of white roses.
His shirt was wrinkled.
His hair was disheveled.
He looked nothing like the confident businessman who had welcomed customers that morning.
“Mom, I need to speak to Renee.””
Margaret remained in the doorway.
“She doesn't want to see you.””
“Please. I just need five minutes.””
Renee walked into the hallway.
“Mom, let him speak from there.””
Margaret stepped aside but kept the chain fastened.
Devon saw Renee.
His expression softened.
“Renee, sweetheart.””
“Don't call me that.””
He looked at the flowers.
“I brought these for you.””
She stared at the bouquet.
“You should have brought them when I was standing outside your shop.””
Devon swallowed.
“I made mistakes.””
“You forged my authorization.””
“I didn't forge anything.””
“Then explain the signature.””
He looked away.
“I was going to tell you.””
“When?””
“After the business stabilized.””
Renee shook her head.
“You used our savings, tried to transfer my ownership, and applied for another loan against our house.””
Devon stepped closer to the door.
“I was trying to build something for us.””
“Then why did you tell Celeste you were going to build a life with her?””
His face tightened.
“Celeste manipulated me.””
Renee stared at him.
“You gave her my money.””
“I was paying expenses.””
“You gave her my identity.””
He looked down.
“I know how it looks.””
“No, Devon. You know what it looks like. I know what it feels like.””
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he lowered his voice.
“I need you to sign something.””
Renee frowned.
“What?””
“A temporary financial authorization. It will help us prevent the business from collapsing while the paperwork is reviewed.””
She stared at him.
“You came to my house after everything that happened today, and you're asking me to sign another document?””
“It's just temporary.””
Renee almost laughed.
“That's the same word you used for the apartment.””
Devon took a folded document from his jacket.
“I've already filled everything out. You just need to sign at the bottom.””
Margaret stepped forward.
“Put that away.””
Devon ignored her.
“Renee, think about the baby. If the business fails, everything we've worked for disappears.””
Renee looked at him.
“Our baby needs a father who tells the truth.””
He placed the paper against the doorframe.
“Just read it.””
Renee didn't move.
Then her phone vibrated.
An email notification appeared from the lender.
*URGENT: Additional borrower authorization required within 24 hours.*
She looked at the document Devon was holding.
The heading was clearly visible.
*CONSENT TO REFINANCING AND ADDITIONAL SECURITY.*
Renee slowly lifted her eyes.
“You're still trying to use the house.””
Devon's expression hardened.
“I'm trying to save what we have.””
Renee took one step backward.
“Leave.””
“Renee—”
“Leave before I call someone.””
Devon stared at her.
Then he folded the document and slipped it back into his jacket.
He placed the flowers on the porch.
“You'll regret turning against me.””
Margaret immediately closed the door.
The lock clicked.
Renee stood motionless.
A moment later, her phone rang again.
This time it was Robert.
“Mrs. Carter, don't sign anything your husband brings you. The lender has just sent me a copy of the refinancing file.””
Renee closed her eyes.
“What did you find?””
Robert paused.
Then he said:
“The house was listed as security for a loan that had already been approved in principle.””
Renee gripped the phone.
“And there's something else. The application names a second person who would receive the proceeds.””
“Who?””
May you like
Robert's answer made her sit down.
“Celeste.””
