Chapter 3 - Lauren Already Knew Too Much
Ethan read the deed twice.
Then a third time.
Nothing changed.
The house had been placed into trust eighteen years earlier.
Margaret had the right to live there for life.
After her death, ownership passed not directly to Ethan, but to a separate family trust.
Lauren snatched the paper.
“There has to be an amendment.”
Robert looked at her.
“Why would you think that?”
Lauren froze.
It lasted less than a second.
But Margaret saw it.
So did Ethan.
He turned slowly.
“Lauren?”
She recovered quickly.
“Because your father always said Ethan would get the house.”
Margaret’s face became unreadable.
“That is not what I asked.”
Lauren’s jaw tightened.
Ethan looked back at the documents.
Something felt wrong.
Not about Margaret.
About Lauren.
Then Robert removed another paper.
A photocopy.
“Three months ago, someone attempted to file a transfer deed.”
Ethan frowned.
“To who?”
Robert looked at Lauren.
“Ethan and Lauren Morgan.”
Ethan’s stomach dropped.
He had not signed anything.
Lauren did not speak.
Margaret asked him quietly.
“Did you authorize that transfer?”
“No.”
“Did you sign this?”
Robert handed him the copy.
Ethan stared at the signature.
It looked like his.
Almost.
But the last stroke was wrong.
“No.”
Lauren stepped backward.
Margaret watched her.
Ethan looked at his wife.
“Lauren.”
She crossed her arms.
“This is ridiculous.”
“Did you know about this?”
“No.”
Robert spoke.
“The filing originated from a legal-services account tied to Lauren’s brother.”
Ethan went still.
“Jason?”
Lauren’s face changed.
That was enough.
Margaret closed the front door halfway.
Not in Ethan’s face.
May you like
In Lauren’s.
“Now you understand why the locks were changed.”
