Chapter 2: Signed Away

We made our way to the sales office, still high from touring the house. The sales office smelled like burnt coffee and sugar cookies, and the walls were plastered with posters of happy families and backyard BBQs.

Natalie and her mom sank onto the lobby couch, flipping through glossy brochures, grinning ear to ear.

The waiting area buzzed with the hum of eager buyers. A coffee machine hissed in the corner, and the sweet scent of cookies tried to make everything feel warm and homey.

Derek was busy, too—snapping photos of the place, muttering, "This place is really nice. My room faces the courtyard—my girlfriend’s going to be so impressed." He took selfies from every angle, his phone lighting up with hearts and emojis as he texted them out.

I hovered off to the side, palms slick with sweat.

A sales lady approached, balancing a tray of tea. Her smile was practiced, her voice soft as she set the cup in front of me: "Mr. Carter, the contract is ready. Please come take a look."

I stood and reached for Natalie. "Come on, let’s go sign the contract."

She slipped her arm through mine and rested her head on my shoulder. "Babe, we’re finally getting our own place. You’ve worked so hard!"

Her words made my heart flutter, memories of two years of sacrifice flashing before my eyes. For a moment, I let myself believe this was all for us.

The sales consultant—young, sharp, and perfectly polished—laid a thick contract on the table. "This community currently has a special offer: the down payment can be as low as 5%, and there are extra benefits. Mr. Carter, you’ve come at just the right time."

Natalie’s mom perked up. "Really? That means the down payment is much less?"

"Yes, if you sign now, not only is the down payment lower, but the monthly mortgage will be much more manageable," the consultant replied, flipping the contract open.

"This is a special promotion from the developer to boost sales—only available this month."

Derek bounced impatiently. "Then sign quickly, don’t hesitate!"

I put on my best thoughtful face, picked up the contract, and frowned. "There are so many terms in this contract, I can’t really make sense of them. Natalie, you have a higher education than I do—take a look."

Natalie took it, her chin high. After a quick glance, she said, "It’s mainly about the down payment, monthly payment, and loan term, right?"

The consultant nodded. "Yes, Ms. Carter."

She slid over another form. "With the current special policy, this apartment only requires a 5% down payment—$30,000. The rest can be financed with a bank loan."

Natalie’s mom turned to me. "Jason, didn’t you say the down payment was almost ready? This amount is okay, right?"

I rubbed my hands together, nerves showing. "Mrs. Carter, I did save up quite a bit these past few years, but I might still be a little short. But I have a friend who works for this developer—he said he could pull some strings for us, get us an internal special deal."

The consultant chimed in, "Yes, Mr. Carter does have such a connection. We can apply for a ‘Homeownership Assistance Plan’ for you, so the down payment can be paid in installments, as long as it’s made up within three months."

Natalie squeezed my hand, her excitement barely contained. "Babe, why didn’t you tell me earlier? That’s such a good policy!"

I looked sheepish. "I wanted to surprise you."

Her mom urged, "Then sign the contract quickly—don’t let such a good apartment slip away!"

The consultant flipped to the main page. "Here, we need to confirm the main borrower—the person whose name will be on the deed."

Before I could answer, Natalie’s mom jumped in: "Of course it should be in our Natalie’s name. Jason, you don’t mind, do you?"

I smiled, not hesitating. "No problem, Mrs. Carter. Natalie and I are about to get married anyway. It doesn’t matter whose name it’s in."

Her mom’s smile turned approving, like she’d just closed a deal. The consultant handed Natalie the pen. "Then Miss Carter, please sign here."

Her mom’s attitude thawed a little. "Jason is really reliable—he knows how to take care of Natalie."

Natalie signed everything without a second glance. The sales manager came over to shake our hands, beaming. "Congratulations, Miss Carter and Mr. Carter! You’ll be able to move in in three months!"

She handed us a branded tote bag with some chocolate bars and a keychain, like we’d just won a prize at the county fair. It all felt like a dream, but everyone around me looked so proud and sure.