Richard picked up the paper, his arrogant smirk melting into pure panic as he read Caroline’s counter-suit for legal fees and fraud. He looked at Eric.

“Son, you aren’t going to let her do this.”

Eric stared at the floor.

Suddenly Patricia let out a high-pitched, warbling cry. She dropped her butter knife, clutched her chest with both hands, and slid out of her chair onto the hardwood, gasping wildly for air.

“My heart!” she shrieked. “Eric, my heart! The stress is killing me!”

Richard dropped to his knees, screaming. “Look what you’ve done! You’re killing her! Eric, call 911! We can’t move her! She needs to stay here!”