Mrs.
Mercer has canceled authorization for all rooms except her own.
The restaurant bill from last night, minibar charges and spa cancellation fees must be settled before checkout.”
Mark held up the restaurant invoice.
“This is more than six thousand dollars.”
Beatrice stared at Amanda.
“You invited us.”
“I invited you to celebrate,” Amanda replied.
“I did not invite you to insult me, forge my signature or threaten to throw me out of my own home.”
Patrick pointed toward the elevators.
“This has nothing to do with the hotel.
Amanda, come upstairs.
We’ll sort this out as husband and wife.”
Claire stepped between them.
“My client will not meet with you privately.”
“Your client?” Patrick repeated.
“She is my wife.”
“And she is the sole owner of the property you attempted to use as collateral.”
Patrick’s confidence faltered, but only for a moment.
He turned to Nora.
“Even if there was an error on the signature, no money was released.
So there is no crime and no harm.”
Nora’s expression did not change.
“The application triggered a valuation order, a credit inquiry and preparation for a lien against property owned by someone who did not consent.
The bank will determine the appropriate next steps.
You should preserve all messages, files and devices related to the application.”
Rachel took another step away from her brother.
“You told me Amanda signed everything.”
Patrick glared at her.
“Stay out of this.”
“No.
You said the loan was approved.
You said you would repay the money you borrowed from Mark and me.”
Mark lowered the restaurant bill.
“How much did you tell her?”
Rachel’s face tightened.
“All of it.”
The silence that followed was different from the silence the night before.
Then, the family had watched Amanda be humiliated and chosen not to interfere.
Now they were wondering which of them Patrick had lied to first.
Claire removed another sheet from the bank file.
“This is the proposed disbursement instruction,” she said.
“It shows where the loan proceeds were supposed to go.”
She placed the page on the table.
The largest transfer, three hundred thousand dollars, was directed to a holding company Amanda had never heard of.
A second transfer would have paid overdue balances connected to Patrick’s import business.
The remaining amount was marked for private debts.
Beatrice covered her mouth.
Amanda looked at the name of the holding company again.
Briar Rose Property Group.
“Who owns that company?” she asked.
Nora looked at Patrick, but Rachel answered first.
“Mom does.”
Amanda felt the floor steady beneath her.
Beatrice had spent years claiming she barely survived on her pension.
