Chapter 4: The Cottage They Had Already Stolen
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything except the pounding of my own heart.
The cottage.
Robert's cottage.
It stood on a quiet stretch of land outside Savannah, Georgia. Two bedrooms, a small porch, and a garden where my husband had planted magnolia trees when Daniel was still a little boy.
It wasn't worth nearly as much as the mansion.
But it was priceless to us.
Robert had bought it with his first substantial paycheck after becoming a licensed architect. He used to tell Daniel that one day it would belong to him.
And after Robert died, I had kept that promise.
Or at least, I thought I had.
I stared at the financing application.
"Daniel, what does this mean?""
He wiped his eyes.
"Mom, I can explain.""
"Then explain.""
Ashley moved toward the staircase.
The female officer stopped her.
"Ma'am, please remain here.""
Ashley looked furious.
"Am I under arrest?""
"Nobody said that. We're still gathering information.""
Daniel sat down heavily in Robert's old leather chair.
"Six months ago, Ashley and I needed money.""
"How much?""
He hesitated.
"About four hundred thousand.""
I gripped the document.
"For what?""
"Business expenses.""
"What business expenses?""
He looked toward Ashley.
She folded her arms.
"Tell her everything, Daniel.""
He shook his head.
"Not now.""
"Tell her!""
I looked between them.
"Stop arguing and answer me.""
Daniel took a breath.
"We had invested in a hospitality project. It was supposed to involve renovating several coastal properties and renting them to wealthy vacationers.""
"How much did you invest?""
"Three hundred thousand initially.""
"And the remaining hundred thousand?""
"Fees, consultants, legal costs.""
I looked at the application again.
"Where did you get that money?""
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"Some came from savings. Some came from loans.""
"Against the cottage?""
He nodded.
I felt something tighten in my throat.
"Did you tell me?""
"No.""
"Did you ask me?""
"No.""
"Did you have the right to use that property?""
He looked at Ashley.
She answered for him.
"The cottage was left to Daniel.""
I turned toward her.
"Not according to the property records I remember.""
She rolled her eyes.
"Margaret, please. You're his mother. It was always intended for him.""
"Intended for him is not the same as legally owned by him.""
Harold opened another folder.
"She's correct.""
He placed a copy of the estate document on the table.
"Robert's will left the cottage to Daniel, but the property was held in a testamentary trust until the conditions of distribution were satisfied. Margaret retained certain control rights, and the original deed was never transferred into Daniel's individual name.""
I stared at him.
"Then how did they borrow against it?""
"That's precisely what we need to establish.""
Laura examined the financing application.
"There's a lender's certification attached. It states that Daniel was the sole beneficial owner and that no third-party consent was required.""
Harold nodded.
"Which appears inconsistent with the estate documents.""
Daniel stood abruptly.
"Victor said it was fine!""
Everyone turned toward him.
I spoke slowly.
"Victor Hayes told you that you could borrow against your father's property?""
Daniel nodded.
"He said the trust was just a technicality. He had people who could handle it.""
"People who could handle what?""
"The paperwork.""
I looked at Ashley.
"Your father.""
She lifted her chin.
"My father has decades of experience in real estate.""
"Has he ever met with Harold?""
"No.""
"Has he ever spoken to me?""
She didn't answer.
I turned back to Daniel.
"How much money did you actually receive?""
He swallowed.
"Three hundred and eighty thousand.""
"Where is it?""
His face crumpled.
"Most of it's gone.""
I closed my eyes.
"How?""
Ashley finally spoke.
"The project failed.""
"How?""
She snapped.
"Because the market changed!""
Harold interrupted.
"Mrs. Bennett, I need to ask whether either of them ever received a formal default notice.""
Daniel looked down.
Ashley said nothing.
Harold removed a sheet from the folder.
"According to this document, the lender issued a notice of default six weeks ago.""
I stared at him.
"Six weeks?""
"Yes.""
"Why wasn't I informed?""
Daniel's voice was barely audible.
"Because I thought I could resolve it before you found out.""
I almost laughed.
My son had borrowed against a property that wasn't entirely his, hidden the debt, and then invited strangers into my home to secure another multimillion-dollar loan.
All because he thought he could resolve everything before I discovered it.
"How much is outstanding?""
Harold examined the paperwork.
"Approximately four hundred and twenty-seven thousand dollars, including interest and fees.""
I sat down.
Robert had spent forty years building something for his family.
And our son had turned it into collateral for a business he couldn't afford.
The female officer asked Daniel to explain who had prepared the documents.
He pointed toward Ashley.
"Her father.""
Ashley shook her head.
"Don't put this all on my family.""
"Your father arranged the financing!""
"Because you begged him for help!""
Daniel's face reddened.
"You were the one who wanted the mansion!""
Ashley stared at him.
"What?""
"You said the property could make millions. You said we could turn it into a luxury rental business.""
"And you agreed!""
"Because your father told me the financing was already arranged!""
Their voices rose.
I sat quietly, listening.
Then Ashley said something that made the room go still.
"You told me your mother wouldn't be a problem because she wouldn't be around much longer!""
Daniel froze.
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"What?""
Ashley covered her mouth.
The officer immediately looked up.
"Ma'am, what did you mean by that?""
Ashley shook her head.
"Nothing.""
I stood.
"Ashley. Look at me.""
She wouldn't.
"What did my son tell you?""
Daniel moved toward her.
"Don't.""
But she was already angry enough to stop caring.
"He said you were getting older. He said the house was too much for you. He said eventually you'd have to move somewhere smaller.""
I looked at Daniel.
"Is that what you said?""
He looked down.
"Mom, I didn't mean—"
"How long have you been planning to take this house?""
Nobody answered.
I felt tears forming, but I refused to let them fall.
"How long?""
Ashley crossed her arms.
"Since last spring.""
Last spring.
Nearly seven months.
Seven months of phone calls, meetings, paperwork, and plans.
Seven months of my son kissing my cheek when he visited.
Seven months of Ashley asking whether I was lonely.
Seven months of them smiling at my breakfast table while discussing my future behind my back.
The officer asked Daniel to step into another room for further questioning.
Harold moved beside me.
"Margaret, I think you should sit down.""
"I'm fine.""
"You don't have to pretend.""
I looked at him.
"I trusted him.""
Harold nodded sadly.
"I know.""
The officers eventually left with copies of the documents and statements. Daniel and Ashley were instructed to remain available for further questioning.
Before leaving, Daniel approached me.
"Mom, can I talk to you?""
I looked at him.
"About what?""
"About us.""
"There is no us to discuss right now.""
His eyes filled.
"Please don't let this destroy our family.""
I stared at him.
"You brought strangers into my home and told me to find a hotel. You used your father's estate to obtain money without permission. You put my retirement at risk.""
"I made mistakes.""
"Those weren't mistakes, Daniel. They were decisions.""
He lowered his head.
"I love you.""
I wanted to believe him.
More than anything, I wanted to believe him.
But love without honesty had become a weapon in his hands.
"Then you should have treated me like your mother.""
He walked toward the front door.
Ashley followed, carrying two designer handbags and a suitcase.
At the threshold, she stopped.
"You're going to regret this.""
I looked at her.
"No, Ashley. I regret not seeing who you were sooner.""
She slammed the door.
For the first time in days, the house was silent.
Harold remained with me for another hour, arranging emergency notices and contacting the appropriate authorities.
Laura prepared a list of accounts and documents we needed to secure.
Before leaving, Harold placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Margaret, there's one more thing.""
I looked up.
"What?""
He hesitated.
"We received a message from the lender this afternoon. They have requested confirmation of your identity and authorization.""
"Why?""
"Because the lender has received a second application.""
My stomach dropped.
"Another loan?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"Against the mansion?""
Harold looked at me.
"Against the mansion and the cottage.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"How much?""
"Three million dollars.""
I stared at him.
"Who submitted it?""
He opened his briefcase and handed me the application.
At the bottom, beneath the borrower's signature, was the name of the company.
Bennett Coastal Holdings.
But the person listed as its authorized representative wasn't Daniel.
May you like
It was Victor Hayes.
And the application had been submitted that very morning.
