The sentence landed.
I leaned back.
“My money is conservative because I don't understand opportunity?”
“No.”
“Then explain.”
“You’re risk-averse.”
“So you decided to use my assets to make me less risk-averse.”
“That’s not fair.”
I laughed.
“You hid my involvement from me.”
“No money moved.”
“That is your defense?”
“Yes.”
He immediately regretted it.
I leaned forward.
“My wife’s lover attempted to use my premarital house as collateral for a business transaction.”
Chris stared.
“What?”
That surprised him.
I watched carefully.
He looked genuinely confused.
Denise did too.
“You didn't know about the house?”
“No.”
Chris looked at me.
“I swear.”
“Did you know they were sleeping together?”
Silence.
There it was.
“How long?”
Chris looked toward the table.
“Three months.”
I closed my eyes.
My brother knew.
For three months.
“And said nothing.”
“I told her to stop.”
“When?”
“Multiple times.”
“But you did not tell me.”
“I didn't know how.”
“Those words are popular too.”
Chris raised his voice.
“What was I supposed to do?”
“Tell your brother his wife is sleeping with another man.”
“You think that's easy?”
“No.”
I stared at him.
“I think it is easier than helping them finance a deal.”
“That happened before the affair.”
I stopped.
“What?”
“The reserve letter was before they started sleeping together.”
I looked at Denise.
The dates matched.
Chris continued.
“Grant met Lauren through me because she was interested in investing.”
“Then what?”
“They started talking.”
“You knew.”
“Eventually.”
“And you kept quiet because?”
Chris swallowed.
“I felt responsible.”
That answer almost made sense.
Almost.
“If I told you, I'd have to admit I introduced them.”
“So you protected yourself.”
His eyes filled with anger.
“I was trying to keep your marriage from blowing up.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“You were trying to avoid being standing in the room when it happened.”
Silence.
Chris looked at Denise.
Then at me.
“There’s something else.”
I laughed.
“Of course.”
He reached into his backpack.
Pulled out a laptop.
Opened an email folder.
“Grant asked me to create a valuation model for a mixed-use development.”
I looked.
Project name:
RIVERSTONE COMMONS.
Estimated value:
$31 million.
Equity requirement:
$4.2 million.
Proposed bridge financing:
$3.1 million.
Grant’s company needed private collateral and reserve documentation to satisfy early lenders.
I scrolled.
Then found a column labeled CONTRIBUTING PARTIES.
Lauren Grant.
Christopher Grant.
Multiple investors.
My name.
Michael Grant — Residential Equity Support.
“I never agreed.”
“I know.”
“Who added me?”
Chris shook his head.
“Grant.”
“When?”
“Three months ago.”
“After the affair began.”
“Yes.”
I stared.
“Did Lauren know?”
“I assumed she did.”
“That isn't what I asked.”