I recognized the signature too.

And I knew immediately that it was fake.

My father mistook my silence for fear.

“You thought marrying a rich man made you untouchable,” he said. “But Ethan’s dead. You don’t have a husband anymore. You don’t have power. And apparently, you don’t even have a house.”

Vanessa stepped closer and looked at my pregnant stomach.

“Maybe motherhood will finally teach you some humility.”

Another contraction tightened through me.

I breathed slowly.

I didn’t cry.

I didn’t argue.

Instead, I reached into my coat pocket and called one saved number.

A woman answered almost immediately.

“Claire?”

“It’s happening.”

There was a brief pause.

Then my attorney, Maya Chen, asked,

“Is your father currently inside the property?”

“Yes.”

“Has he presented the forged trust paperwork?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Richard frowned.

Maya continued.

“Do not sign anything. Do not leave the property.”

Then her voice became colder.

“And Claire?”

“Yes?”

“The federal investigators are three minutes away.”

PART 2

My father actually laughed when I ended the call.

“Federal investigators?”

He shook his head.

“You always did love drama.”

Vanessa rolled her eyes.

“Can somebody call her an ambulance after she gets off the property?”

I leaned against one of the stone columns outside, breathing through another contraction.

“The ambulance is already coming.”