The next morning, I hired Rachel Stein, an aggressive estate attorney in Manhattan. After reviewing the documents Mason provided, she confirmed my worst fears. My mother had left me majority ownership in Cole Home Designs, but my father had concealed the trust and continued operating as though everything belonged to him.

Rachel also uncovered a release document prepared for my signature. It claimed I was emotionally unstable and voluntarily giving up my rights. Looking at the paperwork while staring at the bruise on my face made the situation impossible to ignore.

When Dad called demanding to know where I was, Rachel answered instead. She informed him that all future discussions regarding my inheritance and the company would go through her office. The confidence disappeared from his voice almost instantly.

By the end of the day, Vanessa’s desperate texts began flooding in. She accused me of ruining everything, but each message only confirmed what Rachel already suspected—they were terrified their secret was unraveling-