“Either give your bedroom to your younger sister, or pack your things and get out!”

"You didn't know because you didn't care to look, Dad," I said, stepping down from the terrace, stopping three feet away from where he knelt on the ground.

Gwendolyn rushed to Arthur’s side, but her eyes were darting around the estate, calculation still running through her greedy mind.

"Paige... look, we’re family," Gwendolyn said, trying to force a warm, motherly smile that looked sickening on her face. "We made a mistake! We were just stressed about the house renovations! You have this massive mansion—there are six guest suites here! We can move in with you! We can leave the old house behind and live together as a family!"

I stared at Gwendolyn, amazed by the absolute absurdity of her delusion.

"Move in with me?" I chuckled softly. "Gwendolyn, you dumped my mother's antique desk into the garbage three days ago. You called me a free-loader in front of contractors. You took my bedroom so your daughter could store her shoes."

"I was just trying to manage the household!" Gwendolyn lied desperately.

"Marcus," I said, turning to my uncle. "Read them the settlement terms."

Uncle Marcus pulled a single sheet of paper from his coat pocket and read aloud with cold authority:

"Item one: Arthur Elliot will execute a full legal waiver surrendering all remaining claims to the Eleanor Vance Trust and the Scottsdale property.

Item two: The Scottsdale estate will be placed on the market immediately by Aura Real Estate, with 100 percent of the net proceeds transferred into a perpetual foundation in Eleanor Vance’s name.

Item three: In exchange for Arthur’s full cooperation and immediate divorce filing against Gwendolyn Vance, Aura Holdings will absorb Arthur’s corporate firm debt of $400,000 and grant him a modest one-bedroom rental unit in Mesa for the remainder of his life."

Gwendolyn screamed in horror. "Divorce?! What are you talking about?! Arthur, don't listen to them!"

"Item four," Marcus continued, ignoring her scream. "Gwendolyn and Chloe Vance are issued an absolute civil restraining order. They have two hours to surrender all credit cards tied to Arthur’s business accounts. Failure to sign will result in immediate criminal prosecution for bank fraud and corporate embezzlement based on the financial audit conducted by Aura Holdings."

"You can't do this to us!" Chloe sobbed, grabbing her mother’s arm. "Mom, do something!"

Gwendolyn turned to Arthur, grabbing his shirt collar, shaking him wildly. "Arthur! Tell them no! You’re my husband! You have to protect us!"

Arthur looked up from the ground. He looked at Gwendolyn’s panicked, selfish face—a face that had manipulated him, isolated him from his daughter, and bankrupted his business. Then he looked at me, standing tall, independent, and completely unshakeable in the afternoon sun.

Arthur slowly reached up, unclasped Gwendolyn’s hands from his collar, and pushed her away.

"Sign the papers, Marcus," Arthur whispered, his voice trembling with heartbreak and finality. "I’ll sign everything."