Chapter 5: The Man My Husband Pretended to Be
Daniel didn't sit down.
He stood beside the table, gripping his jacket so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"David Carter is an old business contact," he said.
I stared at him.
"You told me David Carter was a client.""
"He is.""
"Then why is his email address connected to the sale of my mother's house?""
Daniel looked toward Robert.
"Because Dad doesn't understand business.""
Robert calmly removed his glasses.
"Then explain the business to me.""
Daniel said nothing.
I pulled out my phone and searched my old messages.
Six months earlier, Daniel had asked me to photograph my driver's license.
He'd said the bank needed updated identification for our joint account.
I'd sent it without thinking.
Two days later, he'd asked for my Social Security number because an insurance form supposedly needed updating.
I'd given him that, too.
I remembered the conversation clearly.
We had been sitting on the couch, watching television.
"Why do they need all this information?"" I'd asked.
Daniel had kissed my forehead.
"Because you're my wife, sweetheart. We share everything.""
Now those words sounded different.
I opened my email and searched for David Carter.
An account notification appeared.
It was from a credit monitoring service I'd forgotten I had subscribed to.
*New Business Credit Application — Status: Approved.*
The application date was six months earlier.
The applicant's business address was our home.
The personal guarantor listed was Sarah Mitchell.
I felt my stomach twist.
"Daniel, what is this?""
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed.
"That must be an error.""
"An error with my Social Security number?""
He leaned forward.
"Sarah, I was going to explain it.""
"When?""
"After the business became profitable.""
"What business?""
He exhaled.
"An investment company.""
Robert shook his head.
"Daniel, stop lying.""
Then he removed a printed report from his folder.
"I contacted the bank's fraud department yesterday. They confirmed that several credit inquiries had been made using Sarah's information.""
I looked at the report.
There were three separate applications.
One for a business credit line.
One for a personal loan.
And one for a property-related financing arrangement.
The total requested borrowing was $210,000.
My hands went cold.
"Did you use my credit to borrow money?""
Daniel rubbed his face.
"I didn't take anything out of your account.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He looked away.
Robert answered for him.
"One loan was approved. The funds went into Vanessa's business account.""
I turned toward her.
She was crying silently now.
"How much?""
"Sarah, please—"
"How much, Vanessa?""
She whispered, "Sixty thousand.""
I stared at her.
Sixty thousand dollars.
That was more than I had saved during the first four years of my marriage.
"Where is it?""
Daniel interrupted.
"It's invested.""
"In what?""
He didn't answer.
Michael stood up.
"Daniel, I think you need to tell her.""
Daniel spun around.
"Stay out of this!""
Michael's voice grew louder.
"You told me you were starting a construction company. You asked me to help you find contractors. I even introduced you to two people.""
Daniel glared at him.
"That was legitimate.""
"Then why did you use a fake name?""
Nobody spoke.
I looked at Michael.
"What do you mean?""
Michael took a breath.
"Three months ago, I got a call from a man named David Carter. He said he wanted to purchase some commercial equipment. He sent me a business proposal.""
He pointed at Daniel.
"It was him.""
I felt dizzy.
"Why would you pretend to be someone else?""
Daniel finally exploded.
"Because nobody would lend me money under my own name!""
Robert stood.
"Why?""
Daniel laughed bitterly.
"Because you destroyed my reputation years ago!""
Robert stared at him.
"What are you talking about?""
"You refused to help me when my business failed. You told everyone I was irresponsible. You made me look like a failure.""
Robert's face hardened.
"I refused to pay your gambling debts. That's not the same thing.""
Patricia gasped.
"Gambling debts?""
Daniel immediately looked at his mother.
"Don't.""
Robert nodded slowly.
"That's what I thought.""
He opened another envelope.
Inside were several bank statements.
"Last year, Daniel asked me for $40,000. He said he needed the money to rescue his business. I refused because I discovered he had lost almost $70,000 through online betting.""
I turned toward Daniel.
"You gambled?""
"It was a bad period.""
"How much?""
He looked at the table.
"Sarah, it was months ago.""
"How much?""
Robert answered.
"According to the records I obtained, more than $110,000.""
The number seemed impossible.
I'd spent years believing we were building a future together.
Meanwhile, he had been gambling, borrowing under false identities, and using my financial information to cover his losses.
Then Daniel said something that made the entire table go silent.
"I was going to pay everything back after the Franklin property sold.""
I slowly turned toward him.
"With the money from my mother's house?""
He nodded almost imperceptibly.
I felt something break inside me.
Robert shook his head.
"That's not what the money was for.""
Daniel frowned.
"What?""
Robert pulled out a bank letter.
"Because the Franklin property isn't worth what you think it is. The lender rejected the final financing application yesterday.""
Daniel went completely still.
Robert continued.
"And the company that agreed to purchase Sarah's mother's house has just withdrawn.""
I looked at him.
"Why?""
Robert turned the letter around.
The company had conducted a background check.
It had discovered the questionable ownership documents and the disputed signature.
The transaction was frozen.
I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
My mother's house was safe.
At least for now.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
The caller's name was Lauren.
He rejected the call.
It rang again.
And again.
Finally, Vanessa leaned toward him and whispered something.
I caught only a few words.
"She knows about the money.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
Then he answered.
"Lauren, not now.""
A woman's furious voice came through the speaker.
"Daniel, where is my money? The attorney says the transfer is frozen, and the bank has contacted me!""
Daniel stood and walked toward the restaurant entrance.
But before he could leave, Lauren shouted loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"You promised me the house was mine! You said your wife had already signed!""
I stared at him.
Then I looked at Robert.
"How much did he promise her?""
Robert didn't answer.
May you like
Instead, he pulled out a final document.
And the amount printed at the top was $300,000.
