Chapter 2: The New Locks
Eric arrived at the house at 7:14 p.m.
My father knew because the security camera sent an alert.
Eric parked in the driveway, stepped out, and stared at the front door as if the house itself had betrayed him.
He tried his key.
Nothing.
He tried again.
Then harder.
He shoved the key into the lock until his hand shook.
Finally, he pounded on the door.
“Daniel!””
My father stood inside.
He didn't open it.
“What are you doing?”” Eric shouted.
Dad's voice came through the door.
“Go home.””
“This is my house too.””
“No.””
“I live here.””
“You used to.””
Eric laughed bitterly.
“You can't lock me out of my own home.””
Dad opened the door just wide enough to look at him.
“You left my eight-month-pregnant daughter on a roadside.””
“She was fine.””
“She was in an ambulance.””
Eric's face changed.
“What?””
“She was admitted.””
He stared.
“You're lying.””
Dad held up his phone.
“I have the hospital records.””
Eric's eyes flicked toward the screen.
“Where is she?””
“In the hospital.””
“Why didn't she call me?””
“She did.””
“I didn't get anything.””
Dad stepped closer.
“You didn't answer.””
“I was working.””
“At seven in the morning?””
Eric's jaw tightened.
“I don't have to explain myself to you.””
“No,” Dad said.
“You don't. But you will explain yourself to a lot of other people.””
Eric stared at him.
“What does that mean?””
Dad shut the door.
Inside the hospital room, I had the same unanswered question.
Who was the woman named in the folder?
Dad returned two hours later carrying a black binder.
He placed it on the table beside my bed.
My fingers felt cold.
“What is this?””
“Your husband has been hiding things.””
I opened the binder.
The first page was a bank statement.
My name was on it.
So was Eric's.
There were withdrawals I didn't recognize.
Thousands of dollars.
Then another statement.
Then another.
I looked up.
“I never made these.””
“I know.””
“Maybe Eric did.””
Dad didn't answer.
I turned the page.
A mortgage document.
My signature appeared beneath a line I had never seen before.
I stared at it.
“That isn't my signature.””
“I know.””
My stomach tightened.
Dad pulled out another document.
“This is the reason I changed the locks.””
I read the heading.
*Notice of Default.*
The room seemed to tilt.
“What did he do?””
Dad sat down.
“Your husband used the house as collateral.””
“But the house is mine.””
“It is in the family trust.””
I shook my head.
“He can't.””
“He already did.””
I turned another page.
At the bottom was a company name.
*Northline Ventures LLC.*
I recognized it.
Eric had mentioned it months ago.
He had said it was an investment.
A business opportunity.
Something that would make us rich.
I had smiled and kissed his cheek.
I felt sick remembering it.
Dad watched me.
“How much?””
“What?””
“How much money did he put into it?””
Dad's expression was grim.
“More than the house is worth.””
I closed the binder.
“No.””
“Claire—”
“No. Eric wouldn't do that.””
“You need to stop protecting the version of him you wish existed.””
The words landed quietly.
I stared at my wedding ring.
My hand looked unfamiliar.
“Why didn't you tell me before?””
“I didn't have proof.””
“And now you do?””
Dad nodded.
“Now I have enough.””
My phone buzzed again.
Eric.
I answered.
“What do you want?””
“I need to see you.””
“No.””
“Claire, listen to me.””
“You left me on the road.””
“I panicked.””
“You called me a liar.””
“I was angry.””
“You threw me out.””
“I didn't think you were actually sick.””
My voice became very quiet.
“You didn't even check.””
Silence.
Then Eric said, “Your father is poisoning you against me.””
I looked at Dad.
“Is that what you think?””
“I know it.””
“Eric, the bank documents have my name on them.””
He stopped breathing for a second.
“What documents?””
“The ones you forged.””
His silence was answer enough.
Then he said something that made my blood run cold.
“Don't open the safe.””
I froze.
“What safe?””
Eric hung up.
Dad and I stared at each other.
There was only one safe I knew about.
May you like
It was built into my mother's old wardrobe.
And according to Eric, it had been broken for years.
