She referred to it as Gavin’s mansion, introduced me at parties as the woman lucky enough to live there, and repeatedly asked why the title had not been moved into a family holding company.

I had refused.

Three weeks before Willa’s birth, Lauren had found a draft deed in an email chain suggesting someone was attempting to make that transfer without my genuine approval.

I had hoped it was a misunderstanding.

Now I knew how dangerous hope could become when it was used to avoid reading the evidence.

PART 4

Gavin appeared outside the nursery with a folded piece of paper.

He knocked twice and entered before I answered.