Chapter 13 - BERNICE NEEDED THE HOUSE FOR MORE THAN PRIDEBernice’s investments had failed quietly.
She owned two small commercial real-estate partnerships.
One Naperville retail redevelopment delayed.
One Oak Brook luxury townhouse project overleveraged.
Interest payments.
Partner withdrew.
Bernice personally guaranteed some obligations.
She was not destitute.
Still had assets.
But liquidity crisis.
She needed collateral or investors.
Juniper Crest had substantial equity—mortgage nearly paid and property value around $1.1 million.
If transferred into LLC she controlled, she hoped to borrow against it.
This would require lender due diligence and valid ownership. She needed real transfer.
So no forged signature alone could easily support sophisticated loan, but she planned valid conveyance through Mallory’s signature.
That is why birthday.
She told herself:
House remains for girls while equity works for family.
Development profits restore.
No harm.
Classic rationalization.
Naomi obtained business proposal Gordon had refused to finalize:
After transfer, LLC seek credit line up to $500k secured by house.
Mallory felt sick.
“She was going to mortgage my house.”
“Yes, if lender approved.”
“And if project failed?”
“House could be at risk depending terms.”
Mallory's anger peaks.
This was not symbolic legacy.
It was financial.
Bernice had mixed grief with need.
She wanted preserve Barrett property while using it to save own investments.
Contradiction.
Mallory confronted through attorneys/mediation.
Bernice finally admitted:
“I intended borrow against only portion.”
“Repay within year.”
Mallory:
“With my house.”
“With girls’ future asset.”
“It is mine now.”
Bernice's face:
“You never think generations.”
Mallory:
“You never think consent.”
There.
Bernice cried.
“I was drowning.”
“Then tell me.”
“You could ask.”
“You would say no.”
“Yes.”
“That’s why.”
There.
People who say “I couldn't ask because you'd say no” are admitting no consent.
Mallory ended session.
This chapter should be ~1200. We need maybe expand with Bernice’s internal view. She saw Caleb’s death, fear, debt. She wanted restore. Still.
She had invested with late Caleb once? Perhaps Caleb warned against Oak Brook project. After death, Bernice doubled down to prove. That intensifies.
Audrey says Caleb called project “money pit.”
Bernice ignored.
Using his house to save project he disliked adds irony.
Mallory tells:
May you like
“Stop saying Caleb wanted.”
Bernice finally silence.
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