That night, I set the last piece of bait.

I told them my company needed official proof of assets registered solely in my name within seventy-two hours, or the payout would be frozen indefinitely under a tax audit.

My mother hesitated, but Tara — fixated on her dream spa — pushed until she agreed.

Chapter 4 — The Papers They Signed

Early the next morning we drove together to a notary’s office.

Tara signed a gift deed transferring the house back to me, since the property had been registered in her name. My mother signed the authorizations moving every investment account into my primary bank account.

The notary read each condition aloud, confirmed they understood it, and watched them sign of their own free will.