Chapter 5
PART 5:
The next morning, Scott dressed like a man going to a victory party.
Kayla arrived in a red dress under a cream coat, holding a designer bag Scott had bought with estate money he was not supposed to touch.
Avery wore white.
Not because she was pretending to be pure.
Because she was done grieving in dark colors.
Scott walked into the living room and placed the papers down.
Then he made his mistake.
He said it clearly.
In front of Kayla.
In front of the house camera Eleanor had installed years earlier.
In front of the open phone line Carter had already documented with consent from Avery’s side.
“This house is mine now.”
That sentence did more than insult Avery.
It triggered the condition.
Avery signed.
Scott thought the ink ended their marriage.
It actually ended his inheritance.
Now Attorney Carter stood in the living room, opening his briefcase.
Scott stepped toward him.
“What the hell is going on?”
Carter removed a copy of the will.
“You were advised to read the trust conditions, Mr. Collins.”
Scott pointed at Avery.
“She signed the divorce papers. She waived everything.”
“No,” Carter said. “She signed your divorce proposal. She acknowledged your attempt to remove her from the residence. She confirmed, in writing, that you initiated this separation while transferring estate benefits to another romantic partner.”
Kayla’s face tightened.
Scott looked between them.
“You can’t do that.”
“I’m not doing anything,” Carter said. “Your grandmother did.”
He placed the highlighted page on the table.
Scott grabbed it.
His eyes ran across the paragraph.
Then he read it again.
His lips parted.
“No.”
Avery watched the moment the number disappeared from his mind.
Seven million.
The house.
The car.
The life.
Gone.
Carter continued, calm and professional.
“As of this morning, all trust distributions to you are suspended. The trustee has initiated breach proceedings. The Collins residence is not yours to transfer, sell, or occupy at your discretion.”
Scott’s jaw clenched.
“That’s my grandmother’s house.”
Carter looked at him.
“It was. And she trusted Avery to protect it.”
Kayla’s voice came out thin.
“Scott?”
He snapped at her. “Shut up.”
That one word changed her face.
For the first time, Kayla didn’t look victorious.
May you like
She looked trapped beside the man she had helped become cruel.
👉 And when Carter opened the next document, Kayla realized Scott’s lies had dragged her into something much bigger than an affair.
