Audrey rolled her eyes. “And the baby is her problem. We’re not servants.”

I touched Leo’s forehead. He was burning. “How long has he had a fever?”

Sophia tried to answer, but Eleanor cut her off. “Since yesterday. She was being dramatic.”

“His temperature was a hundred and four,” Sophia whispered. “They took my phone. They wouldn’t let me leave.”

Audrey laughed. “You always liked fragile women, Luke.”

I stared at them, forcing my breathing to stay slow. Rage makes people careless. Calm makes them talk.

“Why is Sophia on the floor?”

Eleanor smiled as if she’d already won. “Because this is my house, and she forgot her place.”

That was the mistake. The house had never been hers.

Three years earlier, I’d bought it through a military family trust after my grandfather died. Eleanor was allowed to stay under a temporary occupancy agreement.

She had no ownership, no lease, and no right to control anyone inside it.

During my deployment, Sophia’s messages had grown shorter. Then they stopped. Eleanor told me Sophia was exhausted and avoiding everyone. I pretended to believe her—while my commanding officer helped arrange an early return and a welfare investigation.