Victoria had always hated that.
“I’ve made sure you’ll never set foot there again,” Victoria continued. “Your father signed it over to me last month. It’s mine now. And I am done allowing your jealousy and your negativity to infect this family.”
Alexandra did not move.
For three full seconds, there was nothing but the sound of Victoria breathing on the other end and the faint hum of the refrigerator behind Alexandra.
Then Alexandra said, very quietly, “The house isn’t yours to ban me from.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Victoria’s voice dropped into condescension so thick it was almost sweet. “This is exactly what I mean. You still think everything your mother touched belongs to you.”
Alexandra’s jaw tensed.
Her mother. Evelyn Parker. Even dead, even more than a decade gone, Evelyn remained the one name Victoria could never say without turning it into an accusation.
“You’re just like her,” Victoria said. “Always acting noble while making everyone else miserable. Always convinced the past should bow down to you. But your father has finally moved on. We all have. It’s time you did too.”
Alexandra closed her eyes for a moment.
