“Hey, sis,” Ashley announced, her voice bright and brittle. “This house is in my name now. Mom and dad want you to move out this week so I can sell it. I already have a buyer.”
My father stepped forward, holding a stack of papers with a suspiciously fake-looking seal. “There was an error in the will, Emily. We had it corrected. Ownership has been transferred to Ashley to make things easier. This is the most reasonable solution.”
I looked at the forged documents, at their confident faces, and a thin smile touched my lips. “Really?” My voice was quiet, betraying no surprise.
“Yes, really,” Ashley pressed, a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes at my calm demeanor. “I’ll hire movers. Everything will go smoothly.”
I said nothing more. I let them believe they had won. As they drove away, leaving the scent of exhaust hanging in the salty air, I felt a strange sense of peace. The real game was just beginning.
Inside, I sent a short message to my attorney, Daniel: They came, just as we expected. Prepare for the next step.