I kept my voice steady while answering, “If anyone plans to step inside they should remove their shoes first.”
Deborah glanced past me and said with suspicion, “Where are the furnishings Patrick said you already bought?”
Melissa leaned sideways trying to see deeper into the house before muttering, “Is this some strange joke?”
Patrick’s patience vanished as he said loudly, “Natalie stop these games and let us inside.”
Instead of moving I pointed toward the envelope and said, “Read it.”
He tore it off the wall and ripped it open impatiently.
Inside he found three documents.
The first paper was a copy of the property deed and closing statement showing only my name as the legal owner.
The second document listed every suspicious bank transfer he had made, highlighted and totaled in red ink.
The third document was a letter from my attorney explaining that Patrick’s financial access had been revoked and warning that entering the property without permission would be treated as trespassing.
Patrick read the pages with trembling hands.
“This is ridiculous,” he said. “You cannot do this.”
“I already have,” I replied calmly.