Chapter 7: The Men at My Front Door
The doorbell rang again.
Nobody moved.
Marcus stood beside the dining table, staring at the front entrance as if he were watching a nightmare unfold.
Brianna grabbed Tyler's arm.
"Is that them?"" she whispered.
Tyler shook his head.
"I don't know.""
Robert stepped toward me.
"Vanessa, stay behind me. Don't open the door until we know who we're dealing with.""
I nodded.
Outside, the black SUV remained parked in the driveway. Its headlights illuminated the front windows, casting long shadows across the marble floor.
Then someone knocked.
Three slow, deliberate knocks.
Marcus whispered, "Don't answer.""
I looked at him.
"This is my house. Who are these people?""
He swallowed.
"People I should have paid.""
"With what? My house?""
He didn't answer.
Robert took out his phone.
"I'm contacting the authorities. Nobody should engage with these individuals.""
The doorbell rang a third time.
Then a man's voice came through the door.
"Marcus! We know you're in there.""
Brianna started crying.
"Oh my God.""
The voice continued.
"We're not leaving until we speak to the homeowner.""
I looked at Marcus.
"How do they know my name?""
His silence was answer enough.
Robert moved closer to the entrance but kept the door locked.
"Who are you?"" he called.
A deep voice responded.
"Daniel Carter. I'm here to discuss a financial agreement with Marcus Williams.""
Robert looked at me.
Daniel Carter.
The supposed buyer of my house.
"Tell him the property isn't for sale," I whispered.
Robert nodded.
"Mr. Carter, there is no authorized agreement to sell this property. You need to leave.""
A short laugh came from outside.
"That's interesting. Marcus told me the owner had signed everything.""
Marcus suddenly rushed toward the door.
"Daniel, please. Let me explain.""
Robert caught his arm.
"Don't.""
But Marcus pulled free.
"Just give me a minute!""
I stepped forward.
"You're not going anywhere.""
He turned toward me.
"Vanessa, you don't understand what these people are capable of.""
"Then perhaps you should have thought about that before using my house to make promises.""
The voice outside grew louder.
"Marcus, we gave you enough time. We want our money.""
Daniel knocked again.
"Open the door.""
Robert raised his phone.
"The police are being contacted. You need to leave the premises.""
There was a pause.
Then Daniel spoke again.
"Fine. But tell Mrs. Williams something for me.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What?""
"Tell her that her husband offered us more than the property.""
I looked at Marcus.
His face had gone completely white.
"What does that mean?"" I asked.
Daniel continued.
"He told us his wife would eventually agree to transfer the house if we gave him enough time. He also offered to let us use the property as security while the paperwork was completed.""
Robert's expression hardened.
"That is not possible without the owner's authorization.""
Daniel laughed.
"That's what I told him.""
A car door slammed outside.
Then another.
Tyler moved toward the window.
"There's someone else.""
I looked.
Two men had stepped out of the SUV.
One held a folder. The other was speaking into a phone.
Marcus began pacing.
"This wasn't supposed to happen.""
I turned toward him.
"What exactly did you promise them?""
He dragged both hands through his hair.
"I borrowed money. I told them I had an asset that could cover the debt.""
"My house?""
"I thought I could arrange financing before they demanded payment.""
"With a forged signature?""
He didn't respond.
Brianna suddenly stepped forward.
"Dad, tell her about the second agreement.""
Marcus spun around.
"Shut up!""
Robert looked at him.
"Second agreement?""
Brianna was crying so hard she could barely speak.
"He promised Daniel that if the bank approved the loan, they could take possession of the property while the debt was being settled.""
I stared at Marcus.
"Take possession?""
"It was temporary!""
Robert shook his head.
"That would still require proper legal authority. You had none.""
The man outside knocked again.
This time, the sound was harder.
"Marcus! Last chance!""
Robert stepped away and called the police, explaining that unknown individuals were refusing to leave a private residence and that there was an ongoing dispute involving suspected financial fraud.
I moved toward the staircase.
I needed to get away from the noise.
But before I reached the first step, Tyler called my name.
"Vanessa, wait.""
I turned.
He held up his phone.
"There is something else you should see.""
He opened a video.
It showed Marcus sitting in the apartment, speaking to someone whose face wasn't visible.
The date was from six days earlier.
Marcus's voice came through clearly.
"Once Vanessa signs the final transfer documents, the house will be yours. She won't have a choice.""
I felt my chest tighten.
The other man asked, "And if she refuses?""
Marcus leaned forward.
"She won't refuse. By then, she'll believe she's already lost everything.""
The video ended.
I looked at my husband.
He couldn't meet my eyes.
Robert quietly took Tyler's phone.
"Please preserve this recording. Do not delete or edit anything.""
Outside, sirens began approaching.
Daniel's men finally stepped away from the front entrance.
But before getting into the SUV, Daniel looked directly through the glass.
He raised his phone and pointed it toward me.
Then he mouthed two words.
"See you.""
The SUV pulled away just as the first police cruiser entered the driveway.
Marcus sank into a chair.
Brianna covered her face.
I stood beside the staircase, looking at the man I'd shared six years of my life with.
"Marcus," I said quietly.
He looked up.
"How much of our marriage was real?""
His eyes filled with tears.
"Vanessa, I love you.""
I shook my head.
"Then why did you make me the target of your debts?""
He opened his mouth.
Before he could answer, one of the officers approached the doorway with Robert.
"Mrs. Williams?""
"Yes?""
"We need to speak with you about a report filed against your property.""
I frowned.
"What report?""
The officer checked his paperwork.
"Someone filed a formal claim alleging that you had agreed to transfer ownership of this residence.""
My heart dropped.
"Who filed it?""
The officer looked at the page.
May you like
Then he gave me a name I hadn't expected.
"Your husband's daughter, Brianna Williams.""
