Patricia scrambled to her feet. “Eric Whitmore! After everything we sacrificed for you? You’re choosing this — this cold woman over your own mother?”

“You taught me to be terrified of conflict,” Eric said, stepping toward her, closing the distance. “You taught me to hide. I am done passing that generational poison down to my daughter.”

Richard puffed out his chest, stepping into Eric’s space. “You watch your tone, boy.”

For the first time in his life, Eric did not step back. “No, Dad. You watch yours,” he growled. “Melissa has every document, every fake lien, and the police report.

If you ever contact Grace without her permission, or if you ever spread another lie to the family about my wife, we won’t just evict you. We’ll bury you in court.”

The word we hung in the air.