CHAPTER 2: THE TRUE OWNER

No one moved.

No one even breathed.

My mother's face had turned ghostly white.

"What... what nonsense is this?" she finally stammered.

Robert Miller calmly laid the documents across the dining table.

"It's not nonsense, Mrs. Brooks. It's your late husband's final estate plan."

Chloe lunged toward the papers.

"There has to be some mistake!"

Robert gently closed the folder before she could touch it.

"There is no mistake."

He adjusted his glasses.

"Three years ago, Mr. Brooks transferred the deed of this property solely to his eldest daughter, Hannah Brooks."

Every head slowly turned toward me.

I felt just as shocked as everyone else.

"I... I never signed anything."

"You didn't need to."

Robert smiled kindly.

"Your father established the transfer through a living trust. Ownership became effective immediately after his passing."

My mother's knees nearly buckled.

"No..."

Robert continued.

"He left your wife the investment accounts, retirement funds, and monthly income from his businesses."

My mother blinked.

"And Chloe?"

Robert opened another page.

"She received one vehicle and a college investment account."

Chloe's mouth fell open.

"That's impossible!"

"It isn't."

Robert's voice never rose.

"Your father also left a handwritten letter explaining exactly why."

Silence swallowed the room.

Robert unfolded the letter.

"'If you're hearing this,'"

he began,

"'then I've already lost my battle.'"

My throat tightened.

Dad's handwriting.

His words.

"'Hannah never asked me for money. She built her own life. She never stayed because she wanted something from me.'"

He paused.

Then continued.

"'The house belongs to Hannah because she understands what a home truly is.'"

I felt tears filling my eyes.

Robert looked toward Chloe.

"'Chloe has asked me for money more times than I can count.'"

My sister's face burned crimson.

"'If she wants a future, she'll have to earn one.'"

Then Robert looked directly at my mother.

His voice softened.

"'And to my wife... I pray you remember that love cannot be measured by who stays closest to the house.'"

No one spoke.

Dad had seen everything.

Long before any of us had.

Then Robert closed the letter.

"As of six weeks ago..."

He looked at me.

"...Miss Hannah Brooks is the sole legal owner of this property."

The room erupted.

Chloe screamed.

My mother burst into tears.

Jason quietly slipped out the front door without saying a word.

Coward.

For the second time that evening...

Someone walked out.

Only this time...

It wasn't me.