Chapter 12 - Next Comes Chloe
Daniel Voss was the private lender arranging the three-million-dollar loan.
He was also Kyle’s former college roommate.
On paper, Voss Capital provided short-term financing to distressed developers.
In practice, Daniel structured high-interest loans that allowed him to seize valuable collateral quickly.
Kyle and Daniel had completed similar deals before.
The borrowers usually lost.
The investors usually profited.
The message thread showed that Kyle planned to use Norman’s farm as the first step.
After Prairie Horizon acquired the property and accepted the energy company’s offer, Kyle expected to receive more than eight million dollars.
He would replace the missing escrow money.
Pay Daniel.
Then use the remaining profit to purchase controlling interests in several properties held by Chloe’s family trust.
But he needed Chloe removed as trustee.
His plan was hidden in a draft email.
Once Norman is declared impaired, Chloe will panic. I can push her to sign temporary management authority. If she resists, we use the marriage account and show she participated in the transfers.
Kyle had forged Chloe’s name on the secret account for years.
He intended to use his own forgery as evidence against her.
“He was going to frame me for his theft,” Chloe said.
Marissa nodded.
“If the escrow deficit became public, he could argue that you knew about the money because your name was on the account.”
The marriage itself had become part of Kyle’s plan.
He believed Chloe would protect him to protect herself.
If she refused, he would threaten her career in compliance by tying her name to financial fraud.
Norman looked devastated.
“He married you for the trust?”
Chloe did not answer immediately.
Twelve years of memories passed through her mind.
Their small wedding.
The first apartment.
Kyle sitting beside her mother’s hospital bed.
The night he promised Norman he would always protect Chloe.
Not every moment had been false.
That made the betrayal worse.
Somewhere along the way, love had become entitlement.
Kyle began to see Chloe’s family assets as the reward he deserved for remaining married to her.
Marissa received notice that federal investigators had frozen accounts connected to Bennett Shore Development, Prairie Horizon, and Daniel Voss.
Kyle’s attorney requested a meeting.
Kyle wanted to make a statement.
He claimed he could prove Chloe knew about the entire plan.
Norman stood.
“I’m going with you.”
Chloe shook her head.
“You don’t have to face him.”
“Yes, I do.”
He looked at his daughter.
May you like
“Kyle used my fear of losing you. I need him to see that he failed.”
👉 Kyle expected Chloe to arrive frightened and defensive, but she entered the meeting with Norman beside her and every forged document preserved.
