Then she fully understood the mysterious $9,600 transfer described as “Initial payment, family agreement.” It wasn’t simple theft. They’d been fabricating a legal story to pressure her later—perhaps to claim she’d accepted a family debt, a commitment, a partnership—a lie that would be useful for wedging Suzanne into her real estate.

The realization made her sick to her stomach. She remembered how many times Derek had told her they should “formalize” the idea that his family had also contributed to the apartment’s value.

She remembered Mrs. Greer suggesting that, if Skylar ever died unexpectedly, the only fair thing would be for the house to go to Derek and Suzanne, because they were her real family now.

She remembered Derek’s insistence that they didn’t need children “for now,” while Suzanne kept saying a woman without children became selfish with her money.

It had all been planned. Skylar had just called it “family discomfort,” because the word danger had seemed too big for her own marriage.

The main criminal hearing took place five months later. Skylar no longer wore a medical bandage, but the burn had left a faint mark near her jaw—a pinkish shadow that some days was barely visible and other days stung slightly in the sun.