nou ) The loan is down to the final installment… but who will pay it?
The knock on the front door came early that morning.
Three slow knocks.
Bethany was in the kitchen preparing coffee when she suddenly stopped. She looked toward the hallway and immediately felt that something was wrong.
“Larry, are you expecting somebody?”
Larry walked out of the bedroom, still looking tired.
“No. I’m not expecting anyone.”
Another knock came.
This time, it was louder.
Larry and Bethany exchanged a nervous glance before Larry slowly walked toward the door.
When he opened it, two professionally dressed debt-recovery officers were standing outside. One carried a large folder while the other held a tablet.
“Good morning. Are you Mr. Larry?”
“Yes. Who are you?”
The officer showed Larry his identification and explained that they were handling a bank debt-recovery matter.
“We’re here regarding an outstanding bank loan registered in your name.”
Bethany immediately stepped closer.
“An outstanding loan?”
Larry’s expression changed.
The officer opened his folder.
“A default notice was previously issued to you. According to our records, the bank did not receive a response or the required payment within the stated period.”
Bethany slowly turned toward Larry.
“You received a default notice?”
Larry remained silent for a moment.
“Yes.”
“And you never told me?”
“I thought I could take care of it myself.”
Bethany stared at him in disbelief.
BUT HE NEVER TOLD BETHANY.
The recovery officer remained calm and professional.
“Mr. Larry, because there was no response, the matter has now been escalated to the debt-recovery department.”
“What happens now?”
“Our purpose today is to formally discuss the outstanding account and explain the lawful options available to resolve it.”
The second officer opened the tablet and showed Larry the account information.
Larry stared at the screen.
His face suddenly changed.
“How much is it?”
Larry didn’t answer.
“Larry, how much do you owe the bank?”
The officer explained that the exact amount was listed in the official statement and that Larry should contact the bank directly to confirm the balance and discuss repayment arrangements.
Bethany looked at Larry.
“You knew this was coming.”
“I knew I was behind.”
“Behind? They’re standing at our door, Larry!”
Larry lowered his head.
The recovery officer handed Larry another document.
“This is the next-stage notice. Please read it carefully and contact the bank as soon as possible.”
Larry accepted the document with trembling hands.
“What does it say?”
“It says I need to resolve the account.”
“And if you don’t?”
“If you don’t respond, the bank may consider further lawful recovery steps available under the agreement and applicable law.”
Bethany looked at Larry.
She was no longer simply angry.
She was worried.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t want you to worry.”
“You didn’t want me to worry, so you let me find out from strangers at our front door?”
Larry had no answer.
After the officers left, Larry slowly closed the door.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Bethany finally turned around.
“Tell me everything.”
“Bethany…”
“No. No more excuses.”
Larry sat down and placed the notice on the table.
“I took the loan because I thought things were finally going to get better.”
“What things?”
“I had a plan.”
“What plan?”
Larry hesitated.
“I thought I could invest the money into the business, make enough to cover the payments, and still have something left over.”
Bethany stared at him.
“You borrowed money from the bank for the business?”
“Yes.”
“And it didn’t work?”
“No.”
Bethany walked toward the window.
“So you’ve been struggling with this the entire time?”
“Yes.”
“And every time I asked why you looked worried, you told me everything was fine.”
“I was embarrassed.”
Bethany looked back at him.
“This isn’t just about embarrassment anymore.”
Larry’s phone suddenly rang.
He looked at the screen.
It was the bank.
“Answer it.”
Larry hesitated.
“Larry, answer the phone.”
He finally accepted the call.
“Hello?”
He listened carefully.
His expression slowly changed.
“What?”
Bethany watched him anxiously.
“No, I didn’t know about that.”
He stood up.
“Are you saying the account has already been transferred?”
Bethany’s eyes widened.
Larry listened again.
“Tomorrow?”
He ended the call.
“What did they say?”
Larry looked at her.
“They said the case has moved to another stage.”
“What does that mean?”
“They’re sending someone back tomorrow.”
Bethany stepped closer to Larry.
“Larry, what aren’t you telling me?”
Larry took the notice from the table and turned it over.
There was another page attached to the back.
Bethany hadn’t seen it before.
Larry slowly handed it to her.
She began reading.
Her eyes widened.
“Larry…”
“I know.”
“This isn’t just about the loan.”
“No.”
Bethany stared at the document.
“Then what did you put up as security?”
Larry remained silent.
“Larry… what did you promise the bank?”
Larry finally looked directly at her.
“Something that belongs to both of us.”
Bethany froze.
Before she could ask another question, a car slowly stopped outside their house.
Then came another knock.
Three times.
Larry looked toward the door.
“It’s them.”
Bethany stood beside him.
“Then we’re going to find out exactly what you’ve been hiding.”
Larry reached for the door handle.
But before he could open it, his phone rang again.
He looked at the name on the screen.
His face went completely pale.
The caller was someone neither of them expected.
BUT WHO WOULD PAY THE LAST INSTALLMENT — AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AFTER IT WAS PAID?
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