That sentence had frightened Ethan, because he understood what Lauren didn’t: I would never give up that easily unless I already knew more.

Chapter 5 — The Structure

Lauren looked down at the home-equity application. “How much did you borrow?” Ethan stayed silent. “How much?”

“Four hundred thousand.”

Her face lost its color. “Against our house?”

“Against Daniel’s equity.”

“That’s our home.”