CHAPTER 2: THE HOUSE THEY NEVER OWNED
CHAPTER 2: THE HOUSE THEY NEVER OWNED
The living room fell silent.
Tiffany frowned.
"What do you mean impossible?"
Victor adjusted his glasses.
"This property cannot legally be sold, transferred, or occupied without Mrs. Bishop's approval."
My son laughed.
"That's ridiculous."
Victor handed him a document.
The laughter disappeared instantly.
I watched his face lose color.
Then more color.
Then all of it.
"What is this?"
Victor turned toward me.
"Your late husband established a family trust."
I blinked.
"A trust?"
The lawyer nodded.
"The property is owned by the trust."
Tiffany grabbed the papers.
Her eyes widened.
Then widened again.
"This says..."
She stopped talking.
Victor finished the sentence for her.
"Mrs. Bishop is the sole trustee."
My son looked stunned.
"No."
"Yes."
Tiffany flipped through the pages frantically.
"There has to be a mistake."
"There isn't."
I sat down slowly.
Because honestly?
I was just as shocked as they were.
My husband had never mentioned any of this.
Victor smiled gently.
"He wanted it that way."
My pulse quickened.
"Why?"
The lawyer hesitated.
Then opened another envelope.
A letter.
My husband's handwriting.
Even after eight years, I recognized it instantly.
Tears filled my eyes.
Victor handed it to me.
I unfolded the paper carefully.
The first line made me stop breathing.
"If you're reading this, our son has disappointed me."
The room froze.
My son looked horrified.
I continued reading.
"I love him, but I know his weaknesses."
"If he ever allows greed to come before family, protect yourself."
My hands trembled.
Tiffany looked furious.
My son looked ashamed.
Good.
For the first time all day, he should.
Then Victor cleared his throat.
"There is another matter."
Everyone looked up.
The lawyer opened a second file.
A much thicker file.
His expression turned serious.
"Someone has been taking money from the trust."
My son went pale.
And suddenly...
May you like
I knew exactly who.
END OF CHAPTER 2
