Olivia and Chloe appeared behind him, both irritated. “If this is about the car—” Olivia snapped, “we’re using it for work. Madeline doesn’t need—”
Claire held up a folder. “Actually, this is about fraud.”
All three siblings froze.
Madeline blinked. “Fraud?”
Claire opened the file. “Last year, your husband had you sign a document transferring partial ownership of the SUV—and several of your father’s monetary gifts—into the Bennett family trust.”
Madeline’s breath caught. Ryan had lied. Pretended it was an insurance form.
Jonathan stepped closer. “You exploited my daughter’s trust. And you let your sisters bully her while she carried your children across the city in the cold.”
Ryan’s face twisted. “You can’t prove anything.”
“That’s the thing,” Ethan said, pulling out a stack of printed emails. “We can.”
Chloe panicked. “Ryan, you said—”
“Shut up,” he hissed.
Claire placed the final document on the table. “Madeline has two choices: press charges, or sign this agreement returning everything that belongs to her—including the SUV—and legally removing your access to her assets.”
Madeline felt her heart pound. She looked at her kids, then at her father—steady, patient, waiting for her decision.