Chapter 4 - THE SIGNATURE THAT WASN’T MINE
The document purported to transfer my interest in the house to Eric.
Executed three months before he served me divorce papers.
My signature appeared at the bottom.
It looked good.
Very good.
But it wasn’t mine.
I had never signed away my interest.
Never appeared before the notary listed.
Never discussed a quitclaim deed.
Priya obtained a copy from the county recording system and immediately challenged it through the appropriate channels.
The title company handling Eric’s attempted refinance had apparently noticed inconsistencies after my divorce attorney filed notices concerning disputed marital property.
That triggered additional review.
Then the refinance stopped.
That was why Eric called at 11:23.
Not because I had hacked anything.
Not because I had secretly seized his accounts.
Because he had tried to move faster than the paperwork could tolerate.
The next problem was worse.
The attempted refinance would have increased debt on the house by approximately:
$185,000.
“Why?”
I asked Priya.
“We’re finding out.”
We did.
Eric and Tessa had planned to buy a $740,000 home together.
Tessa had already placed money from the sale of her condo into escrow.
Eric claimed he would contribute $170,000.
He did not have $170,000.
He planned to extract most of it from our house.
The house he had already told me he was “taking” in the divorce.
He expected the refinance to close before the marital property fight became complicated.
Tessa apparently believed I had agreed.
At least that was what she claimed.
Then another record surfaced.
Eric had also applied for a home-equity line four months before serving me.
Application status:
Withdrawn.
Reason:
Additional borrower documentation required.
He had been trying for a while.
My hospital stay had not inspired the divorce.
The timing had simply given him an opportunity.
He thought sick meant distracted.
He thought frightened meant compliant.
He thought a woman he believed earned less than half his salary would not hire competent counsel.
Most importantly:
He thought I would sign whatever he highlighted.
May you like
That was his real miscalculation.
---
