So this had never been about tradition.
It was a raid.
I looked at Adrian. “Did you know about this?”
“No.”
“Did you know they were coming?”
His silence answered.
I nodded once.
It hurt, but pain was useful when it made the truth impossible to ignore.
Veronica recovered quickly. “Families combine assets. That is normal.”
“No,” I said. “Predators call theft normal when everyone around them is too frightened to object.”
Her brother stepped toward me. “Watch your tone.”
I pulled out my phone.
He stopped.
“I’ve been recording since rule two.”
Veronica’s expression changed, and every face around the room suddenly went blank.
I continued. “And that folder contains evidence that members of your family intended to pressure me into transferring individually owned assets after marriage.”
Veronica scoffed. “Call whoever you want.”
I smiled.
“I already did.”
Through the front windows, three black sedans entered the driveway.
