I stepped out first, then opened the door for Elena. “Stay close,” I told her gently. We walked through the foyer just as Beatrice raised a crystal glass in celebration.
The moment she saw us—Elena and Leo behind me—the glass slipped from her hand and shattered across the marble floor. The room fell silent.
“Raymond… what is she doing here?” she whispered, panic breaking through her composure.
“This estate belongs to the Caldwell Trust,” I said evenly. “And I am the sole trustee.” My legal counsel entered behind me, carrying the sealed folio that confirmed everything.
Beatrice tried to recover her voice, but it came out thin. “You can’t do this to me.” David handed her the formal notices, each page heavier than the last.
“As of today,” he said, “your residency and stipend are terminated. You have seventy-two hours to vacate the property-
