Part 3My Husband Signed My Death Warrant. I Rewrote the Ending.

Joel stared at me, his eyes turning ice-cold.

He lowered his voice.

"Lily, are you determined to let this spiral out of control?"

Vivian immediately pleaded with me through her tears.

"Lily, Joel's only trying to help you. Once the police get involved, there'll be an official record. What if it affects your credit, your job, or even your ability to buy or sell a house?"

Joel picked up where she left off, his voice gentle and full of hurt again.

"Lily, you have your whole life ahead of you. We can find a way to deal with $1.6 million. But if you keep this up and get yourself flagged as a risk, who'll want to do business with you?"

The people waiting in line nearby began to whisper.

"$1.6 million? That's terrifying."

"She took out the loan, then denied it and called the police?"

"Her husband seems pretty reasonable. Looks like she's dragged him into this."

"That young woman beside them is crying so hard. She must be really worried about her."

Joel looked at me, his voice hardening.

"I'll ask you one last time. Are you withdrawing the report?"

I met his gaze calmly.

"No."

The last trace of warmth vanished from his eyes.

By the time the police arrived, Joel was composed again.

He stood beside me, playing the husband burdened by his wife's outrageous behavior.

Vivian sat nearby, her shoulders shaking with sobs.

Caleb pulled up the loan documents in front of the officers.

"Officers, here are Ms. Reed's identification documents, electronic signature records, and video authorization."

The video appeared on the conference room screen.

On-screen, "I" sat in a dim room with my head lowered.

Someone off camera asked, "Miss Lily Reed, please confirm that you are voluntarily applying for a personal loan of $1.6 million."

The woman in the video nodded.

"I confirm."

"Do you confirm that the loan will be used for home renovations and shared living expenses?"

"I confirm."

"Do you confirm that you understand your repayment obligations and the consequences of default?"

"I confirm."

The video lasted just over twenty seconds.

But the voice sounded like mine, and the profile looked like mine too.

Worst of all, the woman's left hand briefly came into view.

A wedding ring sat on her ring finger.

Joel looked utterly distraught.

He turned to the officers, his voice hoarse.

"Officers, I honestly don't know why she's doing this. She's been under a lot of stress lately. Maybe she took out the loan on impulse, and now she's too scared to admit it."

Vivian immediately nodded.

"Lily isn't a bad person. She just hates admitting she needs help."

"She wanted everything about the renovations to be perfect. Maybe she borrowed the money herself because she was afraid Joel would say no."

Joel briefly closed his eyes.

"Officers, this is a family matter. She's being unreasonable and has turned this into an ugly scene. We'll find a way to sort it out as soon as possible."

Vivian spoke through her tears.

"Yes, we'll talk some sense into her. She's just panicking."

I watched them back each other up.

One played the wronged husband.

The other played the concerned friend.

With just a few words, they painted me as a deranged woman who borrowed a fortune behind her husband's back, then lied to the police when she was caught.

Even the officers seemed uncertain.

"Based on the bank's records, all the required authorization steps do appear to have been completed."

Joel turned to me, his eyes full of hurt.

"Lily, after everything you've seen, are you still going to keep this up?"

Vivian spoke softly.

"Lily, just admit it. Joel won't leave you to deal with this alone."

I let out a short laugh.

"My loving husband and my dearest friend. Why are you both so eager to make me pay back this loan?"

Joel looked wounded.

"Lily, I'm trying to clean up your mess."

Vivian quickly spoke up.

"Lily, you've got him wrong. He doesn't want you flagged as a risk or to see this debt ruin the rest of your life."

Joel's voice grew hoarse.

"If you admit it now, we can take our time figuring out a solution. But if you keep acting like this, no one will be able to help you."

Everyone in the conference room stared at me.

I slowly raised my head and looked at the officers.

"Officers, I have evidence."