Not just lying to me.
Lying to her, too.
“There are also tax debts,” the lawyer added. “Unpaid maintenance fees. Legal claims from contractors.”
Lila shook her head slowly, like denial alone could undo it.
“No… he loved me. He wouldn’t—”
“He spent money on you that he didn’t have,” I said gently.
That landed harder than anything else.
“I don’t want it,” she snapped suddenly. “Fine. I refuse the inheritance.”
The lawyer nodded. “You may decline, but there may still be implications depending on prior financial benefit.”
She frowned. “What does that mean?”
I slid a second folder across the table.
“This,” I said.
Inside were receipts.
Luxury purchases. Transfers. Trips. Gifts.
Everything tied to accounts now under investigation.
The color drained from her face as she flipped through the pages.
“No,” she whispered. “Those were gifts.”
“Possibly,” the lawyer said. “But if purchased through misused or borrowed funds, creditors may attempt recovery.”
Her hands started shaking.
“You mean… they can take them back?”
I held her gaze.
“If they weren’t truly his to give… yes.”
For the first time, she looked small.
Not glamorous. Not victorious.
Just… exposed.
My mother-in-law began to cry softly.
Not for me.