Chapter 7 - Lorraine Finally Told the Truth

Lorraine sat in the chair where Owen had sat hours earlier.

She did not ask for coffee.

That surprised me.

Rebecca remained beside the desk.

Dad stood near the window.

I sat across from Lorraine.

“Start talking.”

She looked at Dad.

“I prefer to speak privately.”

“No.”

“Mara.”

“No.”

I leaned back.

“You have had private conversations about me for three years.”

Her face tightened.

“We are done with privacy.”

She looked at Rebecca.

Then the folder in her lap.

Finally:

“Mercer Holdings is in trouble.”

I waited.

“How much trouble?”

“Forty-three million.”

Dad went still.

Debt.

That explained Savannah.

Lorraine continued.

“My husband left problems when he died.”

Owen’s father had died five years earlier.

Everyone described him as a brilliant real estate developer.

Apparently brilliance had been financed.

“We refinanced,” Lorraine said.

“Then rates changed. Two projects failed.”

“And you needed collateral.”

“Yes.”

“My property.”

“Eventually.”

I almost laughed.

“Thank you for making the theft sound patient.”

Her expression hardened.

“I was trying to protect my son.”

“There it is.”

She frowned.

“What?”

“That word.”

Dad looked at me.

He understood.

I continued.

“You researched me.”

“Yes.”

“You arranged the fundraiser.”

“Yes.”

“You had Richard use information from my father’s legal files.”

Lorraine hesitated.

“I did not know how he obtained everything.”

“But you used it.”

“Yes.”

“You encouraged Owen to date me.”

“I encouraged him to meet you.”

“Why?”

“Because you were suitable.”

I stared.

“Suitable.”

“Educated. Stable. No scandals. Good family.”

“And likely rich.”

She looked away.

“Yes.”

The honesty was almost insulting in its simplicity.

“Did Owen know before meeting me?”

“No.”

“Did you tell him afterward?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because he was getting serious.”

“And that bothered you?”

“No.”

She looked at me.

“It helped.”

I felt cold.

“So you liked that he loved me because it made the financial plan easier.”

Lorraine’s eyes filled.

“I liked you.”

I laughed.

She flinched.

“I did.”

“You called me easy.”

Her face changed.

I lifted my phone.

“You said it six hours ago.”

Lorraine closed her eyes.

“I was cruel.”

“Yes.”

“I was angry.”

“At what?”

“At Owen.”

That surprised me.

“Why?”

“Because he wanted to stop.”

Silence.

Rebecca looked up.

“Stop what?”

“The asset plan.”

I stared.

“When?”

“Yesterday morning.”

My wedding morning.

“What did he say?”

“That he would marry you but would not sign any Mercer debt against your property.”

My chest tightened.

Rebecca asked:

“Then why did he bring the documents?”

Lorraine looked ashamed.

“I told him they were only management authorizations.”

I stared.

“He didn’t know?”

“He knew some.”

“How much?”

“He knew the marital agreement expanded his rights.”

“And the lien?”

“No.”

“Cross-collateralization?”

“No.”

Rebecca looked at her carefully.

“Why are you telling us this?”

Lorraine gripped the folder.

“Because Richard forged more than Mara’s signature.”

She opened it.

A corporate guarantee.

Signed:

OWEN MERCER.

Lorraine pointed.

“That is not his signature.”

I stared.

Richard had forged Owen too.

Rebecca took the document.

“When did you discover this?”

“An hour ago.”

“What does it guarantee?”

“Mercer Holdings debt.”

“Using what assets?”

Lorraine’s voice dropped.

“The Savannah condo.”

Rebecca stared.

“But Owen has no ownership interest.”

“Not unless Mara signs the marital agreement.”

There it was.

The sequence.

Forge Owen’s guarantee.

Get me to sign.

Convert my property.

Attach the debt.

Lorraine looked at me.

“I thought Richard was helping us restructure.”

“You also planned to use my marriage.”

“Yes.”

“You wanted the condo.”

“Yes.”

“You wanted the trust.”

“Yes.”

She did not hide now.

“Did you plan our divorce?”

Lorraine looked down.

“I discussed it.”

“Did Owen?”

“He refused.”

“Then why did he repeat it on the phone?”

“Because I told him if he didn’t, I would confront you tonight.”

I stared.

“He was buying time.”

“Yes.”

That did not absolve him.

But it changed the shape of his betrayal.

I asked:

“Why didn’t he tell me?”

Lorraine looked at me with something like pity.

“Because my son is weak when he thinks honesty will cost him love.”

That hurt because it sounded true.

Dad finally spoke.

“And you exploited that.”

Lorraine looked at him.

“Yes.”

Silence.

Rebecca closed the folder.

“Where is Richard now?”

Lorraine swallowed.

“I don’t know.”

“His office?”

“Empty.”

“Home?”

“Empty.”

Rebecca’s phone rang.

She answered.

Then looked at me.

“The lien has been withdrawn.”

“By whom?”

“The filing firm.”

“Why?”

“They claim it was submitted without authorization.”

Lorraine whispered:

“Richard.”

Rebecca nodded.

Then another message appeared.

From the junior associate who had sent us the files.

One line.

CHECK SAVANNAH CLOSING ESCROW.

Rebecca logged in.

A disbursement ledger appeared.

The purchase price.

Dad’s trust wire.

Taxes.

Fees.

Then a payment I had never seen.

CONSULTING FEE — VOSS ADVISORY.

$425,000.

Dad stared.

“That came from my transfer.”

Rebecca nodded.

I looked at Lorraine.

“You paid Richard with money meant for my condo.”

Her face went pale.

“I didn’t know.”

This time I believed her.

Which was almost funny.

Then Rebecca scrolled to the destination account.

VOSS ADVISORY.

Closed yesterday.

Funds transferred offshore.

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Richard had not just helped Lorraine target me.

He had been stealing from all of them.