“So, are you ready to hand over the keys?” she asked. “It’s better if we do this without lawyers. Family should settle things quietly.”
I almost smiled. “I agree,” I said, pulling a folder from my bag. “That’s why I brought these.”
I laid the documents on the hood of her car. First, the real will—signed, notarized, flawless. Then the deed, showing Daniel and me as sole owners. Finally, Alex’s birth certificate, glaringly blank in the father’s section.
Her face paled as she skimmed the papers. “That doesn’t prove anything,” she muttered.
“It proves everything,” I replied. “Daniel left me the house. All of it. And as for Alex—unless you have a paternity test, you have nothing but lies.”
Emma’s voice cracked. “He told me he’d take care of me. He said—”
“No,” I cut in sharply. “He didn’t. Because Daniel never lied to me. You forged a will, Emma. That’s a crime. If I go to the police, you could lose more than your reputation.”
Her eyes flickered with panic. For the first time, the arrogance slipped. She hugged Alex tighter, trembling. “I just…I just wanted security. You don’t know how hard it is raising a child alone.”
My heart ached in spite of the betrayal. She was still my sister, still family. But she had crossed a line that could never fully be mended.
“You wanted security,” I said softly. “So you tried to steal mine. You disgraced Daniel, and you humiliated me in front of everyone. I won’t forget that.”
