Not His Wife novel · Chapter 16 of 24

Chapter 16: Not His Wife

Ivy's POV

On Monday at nine, the lender's seven days ran out, and I was sitting in the same chair at First Westbridge Bank.

Bernice sat beside me in the navy hat, with her purse on her knees.

The loan officer slid a folder across her desk.

She was the same woman who had turned her screen around a week ago, and she looked as if she hadn't slept.

"Ms. Tolbert, I owe you an apology."

"You don't," I said. "You read me what the county said."

"I read it to you out loud in a lobby. I've thought about that all week."

She tapped the folder.

"Mr. Lathrop's application is withdrawn. His spouse line was false, and our lawyer has sent it to the state as a false statement to a lender."

"What does that mean for me?"

"Nothing. You never signed. The house is untouched."

Bernice let out a breath.

"There are two other lenders on your phone," the officer said. "They called us to compare notes. I'd answer them."

I did, sitting right there in the lobby, with the speaker on.

The credit union went first.

A man read me the truck loan from two years ago, where I had signed under the word spouse.

"Ms. Tolbert, we've pulled the county record. You were not Mr. Lathrop's spouse when you signed, so your signature was given on a false statement."

"I know."

"We're releasing you from the loan. The balance, thirty-eight thousand dollars, goes to Mr. Lathrop and to the company that guaranteed it."

"Which company?"

"Dorsey Lathrop Holdings, with its managing member, Alyssa Dorsey."

I looked at my aunt.

Bernice's face was perfectly calm, and her hat did not move.

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