PART 3
Eric stared at the lawyer.
“Wait. Ava owns the mansion?”
“She controls the trust that owns the mansion,” Callahan said. “Including property rights, preservation funds, and authority over occupancy.”
My father slammed his palm on the table.
“This is absurd. My father would never leave my house to her.”
Callahan turned another page.
“He didn’t.”
My father froze.
“Your mother did.”
For the first time in my life, my father looked afraid.
Not angry.
Afraid.
Then Callahan removed a sealed envelope from the binder.
“Eleanor Morgan wrote a letter to be read only if Richard attempted to coerce, threaten, or physically intimidate Ava during estate proceedings.”
My cheek was still burning from the slap.
Every eye turned to me.
Callahan asked,
“Lieutenant Morgan, do you want it read aloud?”
I thought of my mother.
Her tired smile.
The bruises she called kitchen accidents.
The way she used to whisper outside my bedroom,
“You are not what he says you are.”
I swallowed.
“Yes.”
Mr. Callahan opened the letter.
May you like
His voice softened.
“My dearest Ava, if this letter is being read, then your father has done what I feared he would do.”
