He pulled out another blue folder, identical to the one on the table.

He opened it and placed a fresh, clean document on the wood.

“What is that?” I asked.

“The real original will,” Arthur said with a small, sad smile.

I looked at the torn pieces on the table.

“And those?” I asked.

“A high-quality duplicate,” Arthur said. “I suspected your father might react violently.”

“I needed him to show his true colors on the recording,” he added.

“Thank you, Arthur,” I said.

“Do not thank me, Ava,” he said. “Your grandmother wanted you to have your future.”

“I am just doing my job to ensure her wishes are respected,” he said.

He picked up the torn pieces of the duplicate and put them into a plastic bag.

He handed the bag to the remaining officer who had stayed behind to collect evidence.

“This will be used in court,” Arthur told the officer.

The officer nodded and left the room.

Now, only Arthur, Brandon, and I remained in the house.

Brandon was sitting on the bottom step of the grand staircase, his head in his hands.