“Yes,” I said. “Did you know your home was transferred into her LLC?”
He shook his head slowly, as if the movement hurt. “No. No, I would never—”
“Then either the county made a miraculous mistake,” I said, “or someone filed paperwork you didn’t authorize.”
He looked at me, mouth slightly open. “Bonnie…”
“I’m not asking you to believe me because I’m your daughter,” I said. “I’m asking you to let me verify the facts.”
His hands trembled as he sat down. “How?”
“I have an attorney I trust,” I said. “Not one of your buddies from the club. Someone who doesn’t owe Victoria a smile at a gala.”
He blinked at that, and I saw the shame. The realization that our social circle was a net Victoria had been weaving for years.
Outside, I heard Victoria’s voice rise. “Paige, bring the bags!”
Then the sound of my front door handle rattling.
I stood. “Stay here,” I told my father.
I walked to the foyer and opened the door myself.
Victoria was on the porch, lips pressed tight. Paige stood behind her with a suitcase, eyes narrowed like she’d finally decided I was the villain in her story.
“Bonnie,” Victoria said, each syllable measured, “this is ridiculous. Let us in.”
I leaned against the doorframe. “No.”
Her smile returned, thin as paper. “You don’t get to say no.”
I took another sip of coffee. “Actually, I do. This house is titled solely in my name. You’re trespassing.”
Her eyes flashed. “Gerald is your father. He has rights.”
“He has no rights to my property,” I said. “And even if he did, he didn’t agree to this.”
Victoria’s nostrils flared. “You’re trying to turn him against me.”
“No,” I said. “You did that when you lied.”
For a second, the polished Charleston hostess slipped, and what showed underneath was something colder—anger sharpened by entitlement.
She stepped closer. “You think you’re so smart,” she hissed. “You think money makes you untouchable.”
I held her gaze. “I think the law makes me untouchable.”
Paige scoffed. “Wow. Power trip.”
I looked at Paige then, really looked. She was twenty-nine now, old enough to know better, young enough to still enjoy cruelty when it benefited her.
“Paige,” I said, “did your mom tell you this was your house now?”
Paige hesitated just a beat. “She said Dad wanted us together.”
“Did you hear him say that?” I asked.
Paige’s eyes darted toward the living room window, like she could see my father inside.