Chapter 4 - The Debt Derek Brought Into the House
Derek’s failed business had not simply run out of money.
It had collapsed beneath hidden debt.
He owed commercial lenders.
Credit-card companies.
A private investor who had financed equipment that Derek later sold.
He also owed more than $200,000 from online sports gambling.
Chloe knew about some of it.
Not all.
Derek told her the debts were temporary.
He claimed one successful property deal would repair everything.
Then he found James Bennett’s old appraisal of the family house.
The neighborhood had changed dramatically.
A new medical campus was being built nearby.
The property that James purchased for $180,000 was now worth almost $900,000.
Derek began talking about selling.
Helen refused.
“This is the last place I lived with your father.”
Derek changed tactics.
He proposed refinancing.
He said they could pay off the remaining mortgage, renovate the house, and create “security for everyone.”
Brooke asked to see the numbers.
Derek became offended.
“You don’t trust me?”
“I want to know what Mom would be signing.”
“It’s not your decision.”
Brooke looked at him.
“I pay the mortgage.”
Chloe laughed.
“You pay part of it.”
Brooke opened her banking application.
Every mortgage payment for four years had come directly from her account.
Derek barely glanced at the proof.
“You lived here. That was rent.”
Helen became upset.
“Please stop.”
The conversation ended.
Two weeks later, Brooke discovered a letter from the mortgage company inside the trash.
The account was three months past due.
That was impossible.
Brooke had sent every payment.
She called the lender.
Her transfers had been received.
Then each payment had been reversed into another account through an online servicing request.
The receiving account belonged to Hale Property Management.
Derek’s newly registered company.
Brooke confronted Chloe privately.
Her sister’s face changed.
“Derek said he was reorganizing the payments.”
“He stole them.”
“He moved them temporarily.”
“The mortgage is in default.”
“He’s fixing it.”
“With what money?”
Chloe became angry.
“You always act like you’re smarter than everyone.”
“This isn’t about being smarter.”
“It’s always easy for you. Dad trusted you. Mom depends on you. You have your perfect nursing career.”
Brooke stared at her.
“I work fourteen-hour shifts.”
“And everyone praises you for it.”
There it was.
Not concern.
Resentment.
Derek had found the oldest wound between the sisters and pressed directly into it.
That evening, Brooke sent the records to Thomas.
He called back immediately.
“Do not sign anything. And do not let Derek remove your father’s Bible from the house.”
Brooke looked toward the living room shelf.
May you like
The Bible was gone.
👉 Someone had already taken the one object James warned Brooke never to lose.
