Chapter 3 - The Heist of the Heart
Ethan didn't believe me.
He straightened his suit.
"You're delusional, Ava."
"The house is in both our names."
"We signed the papers."
I smiled.
It was a cold, sharp smile.
"Did we?" I asked.
"My father is an attorney."
"He prepared the deed."
"The signature you saw?"
"It was a decoy."
Ethan’s face shifted.
Panic, finally.
"What do you mean?"
"The house belongs to my trust."
"You have no rights here."
Elena looked at him.
"You said you handled it!"
"You said we were safe!"
They started to argue.
Viciously.
Cruelly.
Their facade was gone.
The partners turned on each other.
"You were the one who suggested this!" Elena yelled.
"You were the one who wanted the money!" Ethan shot back.
The guests stood frozen.
My sister recorded it all.
"Keep talking," I said.
"Please."
"Tell me more about the fraud."
They stopped.
They looked at me.
Their eyes were full of malice.
"You think you won?" Ethan hissed.
He pulled a phone from his pocket.
"I have photos, Ava."
"Private photos."
"Videos."
"If I go down, you go with me."
I didn't flinch.
"I know."
"I expected that."
I pointed to my father.
"He found those, too."
"They're with the District Attorney."
Ethan’s face went white.
He looked at the door.
He tried to run.
But the front door opened.
Two officers stepped in.
They walked toward us.
"Ethan Vance?" one asked.
"And Elena Vance?"
"We have a warrant."
They didn't struggle.
They knew it was over.
They walked out.
Quietly.
Defeated.
My mother hugged me.
"Are you okay?"
I felt numb.
But I felt something else.
Freedom.
The nightmare was ending.
I looked at the garden.
The flowers still looked beautiful.
The house still felt like mine.
May you like
"I'm okay," I said.
"I'm finally okay."
