Chapter 10 - The Lake House Was No Longer Free of DebtKatherine Bell answered Rosalie's call at midnight.
Twenty minutes later, she was reviewing photographs of the documents Sienna had provided.
"Do not let Sienna leave without preserving these."
Sienna looked terrified.
Rosalie said:
"She isn't my prisoner."
"No, but ask whether she'll voluntarily forward copies directly to me."
Sienna agreed.
Katherine continued:
"And Rosalie?"
"Yes?"
"Call the county recorder first thing in the morning."
"About the lake house?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because if Adrian used paperwork related to that property, I want to know what changed."
Rosalie didn't sleep.
At 8:01 a.m., she called.
The property clerk located the file.
Rosalie gave the parcel number from memory.
Her grandmother had bought the Lake George house in the 1970s.
It passed to Rosalie after her death.
No mortgage.
No liens.
At least, that was what Rosalie believed.
The clerk said:
"There is a recorded security instrument from February 2025."
Rosalie stopped breathing.
"What?"
"A mortgage."
"That's impossible."
"Would you like the lender?"
"Yes."
The amount:
$1.6 million.
Rosalie sat down.
Maren stared.
Sienna covered her mouth.
"Borrower?"
Rosalie asked.
The clerk read:
"Rosalie Mercer."
"Co-borrower?"
"Adrian Mercer."
Rosalie felt numb.
"I never borrowed one point six million dollars."
The clerk became cautious.
"You may need to speak with legal counsel."
"Can you send me the recorded documents?"
Minutes later, the file arrived.
Rosalie opened the signature page.
Her signature.
Real.
She recognized it.
Then she looked at the date.
February 12, 2025.
She had been in Orlando with Lily for a school break.
Adrian joined two days later.
There was no way Rosalie signed a mortgage closing in New York on February 12.
Katherine reviewed the file.
"This appears to be electronically notarized."
"Can that be forged?"
"Anything can be falsified. The question is how."
Sienna leaned forward.
"I know that notary."
Rosalie turned.
"What?"
"Pamela Ricks."
"Who is she?"
"She handled corporate closings for Adrian."
Katherine asked:
"Does she work for Blackwell?"
"Contractor."
Rosalie looked through the mortgage documents.
Purpose.
Business investment.
Proceeds wired to—
Aster Ridge Holdings.
The room went silent.
Sienna whispered:
"Oh my God."
Rosalie looked at her.
"You didn't know."
"No."
"I believe you."
That was the first kindness she'd offered Sienna.
It didn't erase anything.
But truth required precision.
Adrian had borrowed against Rosalie's inherited property and sent the proceeds into the company he planned to share with his mistress.
Maren stood abruptly.
"I'm going to kill him."
Katherine, still on speaker, said:
"Please don't."
Maren sat back down.
"Fine."
Rosalie continued reading.
The mortgage carried an adjustable rate.
Payments had been made from a Blackwell Development operating account.
If those stopped—
Rosalie's lake house could eventually be at risk.
The house where her grandmother taught her to swim.
Where her father proposed to her mother.
Where Lily learned to paddle a canoe.
Adrian hadn't merely moved money.
He'd placed family property behind his secret plan.
Rosalie called Daniel.
"Did you know?"
"About the mortgage? No."
"One point six million went to Aster Ridge."
Silence.
Then Daniel said:
"That explains the capitalization."
"What?"
"When Aster Ridge formed, Adrian told us an outside investor provided initial funds."
"That investor was me."
"Apparently."
Rosalie closed her eyes.
"Without knowing."
Daniel swore softly.
"I have something else you need."
"What?"
"Board minutes from March 2025."
"Why?"
"Adrian told the board he personally funded Aster Ridge."
Rosalie laughed.
Of course.
He'd stolen capital and claimed credit for investing it.
Daniel continued:
"If the mortgage signature isn't valid, Adrian has a much bigger problem than divorce."
Katherine said:
"Correct."
Rosalie's phone vibrated.
Adrian.
She almost ignored it.
Then another message arrived.
I know Sienna was there.
Rosalie looked at her.
Sienna went pale.
Another:
She took confidential materials. If you use them, both of you may face legal action.
Katherine said:
"Do not respond."
Rosalie didn't.
Then another message.
You have no idea what you're doing.
Rosalie stared at the words.
For ten years, Adrian had relied on that.
That Rosalie wouldn't know.
Wouldn't understand.
Wouldn't look.
She typed one sentence before Katherine could stop her.
You're right. I didn't. Now I do.
Adrian responded almost immediately.
Then check your own signature before calling me a thief.
Rosalie looked at the mortgage.
That wording was deliberate.
Adrian believed the signature protected him.
Katherine said quietly:
"He thinks he has a defense."
Rosalie asked:
"What defense?"
Sienna answered before the attorney could.
Her face had gone completely white.
"Because there was a video."
Rosalie turned.
"What video?"
May you like
Sienna whispered:
"Of you signing the lake house paperwork."
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