“The amount has already been calculated.”

Dad shut the folder. “We will not sign.”

Elias answered calmly. “Then we file the claim and seek the full value, interest, and costs.”

“You think a court will believe her over us?”

“We have certified records.” The certainty left Dad’s face. He looked once more at the sports-car invoice. All my life he had controlled every room by deciding which facts deserved attention.

Now the facts were printed on pages he could not interrupt.