Chapter 7 - CHARLES FINALLY OPENED THE BOOKS
Laura demanded the truth.
Not from Thomas.
From her husband.
Charles resisted for two days.
Then an independent attorney advised him that hiding the review from Laura could create worse consequences if joint assets were involved.
He opened the books.
The penthouse was heavily leveraged.
Ashford Strategic Partners had lost two major investors.
One commercial development was underwater.
A bridge loan was due in thirty-eight days.
Charles had expected to refinance through Bennett Community Financial.
The compliance review stopped that.
Laura stared at him.
“You told me we were fine.”
“We are not insolvent.”
“That is not what I asked.”
He looked away.
Emily sat at the far end of the room.
For the first time, Charles did not look like the richer father.
He looked tired.
Human.
Embarrassed.
“I thought I could fix it before anyone knew.”
Laura laughed bitterly.
“That sentence is how families lose houses.”
Charles admitted something else.
He had encouraged Emily to let Thomas pay for the wedding.
Not because he wanted Thomas humiliated.
Because he could not afford it.
When Emily suggested listing Charles as her father, he accepted.
He did not correct her.
He liked it.
May you like
That part was vanity.
And vanity had made him comfortable accepting honors financed by another man.
