“What original documents?”
Robert’s expression changed.
He looked toward the hallway.
“That’s the problem.”
“What problem?” I asked.
He whispered:
“The original deed is missing.”
I stared at him.
Then I remembered something.
Something I hadn’t thought about in years.
Something I had hidden away because I never believed I would need it again.
The old blue folder.
The one my father had given me before he died.
The folder containing every original document related to this house.
I suddenly knew exactly where it was.
My eyes moved toward the upstairs hallway.
Robert noticed.
His face went white.
“You still have it.”
I didn’t answer.
“You still have the folder, don’t you?”
Daniel looked at me.
“Mom?”
I nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Robert stood.
“Where is it?”
I looked directly into his eyes.
“Somewhere you will never find it.”
For the first time that morning, I saw something I had never seen in Robert before.
Fear.
Real fear.
Not fear of losing me.
Fear of what would happen if I opened that folder.
Because suddenly, I understood something.
The forged signature wasn’t the whole story.
Robert hadn’t come back because he wanted another chance.
He had come back because he needed something from me.
And whatever was inside that blue folder could either save him…
or destroy him.
PART 4
The next thing Robert did made me realize that the $380,000 debt was only the beginning.
He lunged toward the staircase.
Daniel caught his arm before he could take the second step.
“Don’t.”
Robert pulled hard.
“Let go of me.”
“No.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand enough.”
Robert looked at me over Daniel’s shoulder.
“Elena, please.”
That word stopped me.
Not because I felt sorry for him.
Because Robert had never been a man who said please.
Not when he wanted dinner.
Not when he wanted forgiveness.
Not when he wanted me to sign documents.
Not even when he was leaving our marriage.
Robert demanded.
He manipulated.
He expected.
But now he was pleading.
And that terrified me more than his anger would have.
“Why do you need that folder?” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
“Robert.”
His eyes dropped.
“I need the deed.”
“For what?”
“To prove the house belongs to you.”
“I already know it belongs to me.”
“No. You don’t understand.”
“Then explain.”
He looked at Daniel.
Then Marisol.
Then Lucas.
Finally, he looked back at me.
“The people I borrowed from have documents showing that you agreed to guarantee the loan.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“Forgery.”
“Yes.”
“And if they don’t have the original deed?”
“They can’t complete the transfer.”
Daniel stared at him.
“So you came here to steal the deed.”
