“But did you ever sign anything yourself?” Sarah asked.
“No, I never touched a single paper related to the sale,” Selene replied.
“Then we need to find out exactly where that paperwork ended up,” Sarah said.
Sarah opened her laptop and began reaching out to her network of contacts, including professionals at regional vehicle registries and local legal offices. Selene sat at the kitchen table, her hands wrapped around a mug of coffee that had long since gone cold, listening to the muffled sound of keyboard clicks and quiet, professional phone calls.
By mid-morning, Sarah hung up the phone and sighed heavily.
“Your mother-in-law was not having any medical emergencies, Selene,” she said softly.
Selene felt a cold knot tighten in her stomach.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“There are no records of surgery or hospital stays for her anywhere in the system,” Sarah explained. “What I did find, however, is a massive debt linked to a high-interest lending firm, and she used her apartment in the suburbs as collateral to secure the loan.“
“How much did she borrow?” Selene asked.
“Seven hundred thousand dollars,” Sarah revealed. “And Owen is listed as the primary guarantor on the entire contract.“
“Your SUV is already sold, Selene. My mother needed those funds more than you ever could, so stop playing the victim and just get to the stove to heat up our dinner.“ Mother-daughterjewelry
Selene stood frozen, one shaking hand still on the oven knob, her clothes drenched and heavy from the unforgiving rain that had been pouring over the quiet residential streets of Oak Creek. She had spent the whole day showing three luxury apartments in Riverdale, a warm craftsman-style home in Fairwood, and a compact commercial unit downtown, leaving her body exhausted and her mind completely worn out.
read more in next page
