Andrés threw the paper down. “This is insane. You’re making a marriage problem into a legal problem.”

“No,” I said. “You made a legal problem when you started treating my daughter’s home like your mother’s dining room, and my daughter like unpaid staff.”

Doña Rebeca stood again. “She is spoiled. She needs discipline.”

Valeria flinched at the word. I saw Salgado see it. I saw the notary see it. I saw one security guard glance down at her bare feet and then away, because even strangers sometimes have more shame than family.

Salgado closed the folder.

“Mr. Andrés, your temporary occupancy permission is being suspended pending formal review by the trustee.”