Chapter 1 - WHAT NINE CALLS COST THEM
“No,” I said quietly. “I didn’t scare you.”
My mother stopped beside the bed.
My father stood behind her, still wearing the same plaid shirt I had seen in Lauren’s video.
“You scared yourselves.”
Mom frowned.
“Miranda, you’ve had a terrible day. Maybe this isn’t the time—”
“It was the time when I called nine times.”
Her face tightened.
Dad exhaled through his nose.
“We told you we were helping Lauren move.”
Julian Vance closed the folder in his hands.
That small sound changed the room.
My father finally noticed him properly.
“Who is this?”
“My attorney.”
Mom looked from Julian to me.
“Why is your estate lawyer here?”
I pressed the button that raised my hospital bed a few inches.
Every movement hurt.
But I wanted to look at them directly.
“Because while you were arranging Lauren’s throw pillows, I was changing my estate documents.”
Dad gave a short laugh.
Not because anything was funny.
Because he thought I was being dramatic.
“You called a lawyer over this?”
“Over twenty years of this.”
Mom’s mouth fell open.
Julian remained silent.
I continued.
“You’re no longer beneficiaries of my estate. Neither is Lauren.”
Mom stared at me.
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am.”
“The lake house?”
“Gone.”
“The education trusts?”
“Gone.”
Dad stepped forward.
“You promised those would be for the family.”
“I promised things to people I thought would show up when I needed them.”
His face hardened.
“Miranda, you survived.”
Julian looked at him sharply.
I felt something inside me go completely still.
“I survived despite the fact that none of you could be bothered to answer.”
Mom set her coffee down.
“You are punishing us because we helped your sister move?”
“No.”
I looked at Julian.
“Tell them the rest.”
Julian opened the folder again.
“Mrs. and Mr. Hale, Miranda also revoked every financial authorization previously granted to you.”
Dad’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
Julian saw it too.
Mom asked, “What financial authorization?”
Dad interrupted quickly.
“She’s medicated. This conversation is ridiculous.”
Julian ignored him.
“Mr. Hale, there’s another matter.”
My father froze.
Julian turned toward me.
“Miranda, while updating your documents, my office received an alert.”
“What kind of alert?”
“A credit inquiry connected to one of your dormant holding companies.”
I frowned.
“I haven’t used those companies in a year.”
“I know.”
Julian looked directly at my father.
“Someone else has.”
May you like
And suddenly Dad stopped looking angry.
He looked afraid.
