Victoria slightly apart from both of them, arms crossed, jaw tight, her attention jerking between the door and her phone.
I took one breath and went in.
The room went silent.
Robert’s head snapped up. When he saw me, fear flashed first. Then desperation. Then rage beneath both.
“Evelyn,” he said too loudly. “Thank God you’re okay. We were so worried.”
I did not answer.
I sat across from him.
Grandfather on my left. Dorothy on my right. Morrison at the head of the table.
“Let’s begin,” Morrison said.
He opened a folder.
“We are here today to formally address the estate of Dr. William Harrison and the verified identity of his sole surviving heir, Evelyn Marie Harrison.”
“This is absurd,” Robert cut in. “She’s not his heir. She’s my daughter.”
“She is not your daughter,” Morrison said, voice sharp as a blade. “She is the biological daughter of Daniel Harrison and Sarah Mitchell Harrison, both deceased. DNA testing confirmed this three days ago.”
He slid documents across the table.
“Evelyn Harrison is Dr. William Harrison’s only legitimate grandchild. Under the terms of the will, she is sole beneficiary of the entire estate.”
Robert’s face went blank white.
“How much?”
“Forty-seven million dollars.”
The number landed like an explosion.
Victoria’s phone clattered against the tabletop.
Sandra made a strangled sound.
Robert sat frozen, mouth opening and closing.
“That’s… impossible. I’m his son. I should—”
“You forfeited every claim twenty-five years ago,” Grandfather said for the first time.
His voice was quiet, controlled, lethal.
“The moment you stole my granddaughter. The moment you lied about her death. The moment you took her inheritance and spent it on yourself.”
“I didn’t—”
“Don’t.”
Grandfather’s hand came down hard on the table.
