“Your parents deeded this property to you as an absolute gift, five years ago?”

“Yes,” I said, and I explained how it had happened.

“My father was in a bitter legal dispute with his sister over my grandparents’ estate.

He wanted to shield this asset from any claim, so he and my mother transferred it directly into my name.

They considered me the responsible child.

They signed it before a public notary.

They didn’t retain a life estate, or any formal reservation of usufruct.

Legally, they’ve just been living there, all this time, with my permission.” Adrian set the paper down and looked at me.