Chapter 5 - Uncovering the Rot
Friday morning brought a revelation that turned this from a simple family dispute into something much darker.
Arthur arrived at my hotel earlier than usual, his face grim. “We did a deep dive into Chloe’s background, just as you asked. I wanted to know why she was so desperate to get your house in her name only.”
He opened his laptop and turned the screen toward me.
“Chloe doesn’t just have expensive taste, Eleanor. She has a crippling gambling addiction. Offshore casinos, high-stakes private poker games. She owes nearly $800,000 to some very unsavory lenders.”
I stared at the screen, the puzzle pieces rapidly snapping into place.
“The deed,” I whispered.
“Exactly,” Arthur confirmed. “If she got the house in her name, free and clear, she could immediately take out a massive line of equity against it, or sell it out from under you to pay off her debts. Mark was completely blind to it. She convinced him his credit was the issue, but she needed sole ownership to liquidate the asset without his permission.”
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She wasn't just a gold-digger. She was an absolute parasite who had planned to leave me homeless and my son financially ruined the moment she got what she wanted.
“Arthur,” I said, my voice turning to ice. “It’s time to arrange a family meeting.”
