I felt a cold anger wash over me.

“Do not speak about my mother,” I said.

My voice was very quiet, but she shrank back slightly into the cushions.

“Vance,” I said, “please explain what happens next to her.”

Vance stepped forward, holding his leather briefcase.

“Linda,” Vance said, “your son Ethan will be charged with grand larceny and financial fraud.”

“We are filing for a fault-based divorce on Monday,” he continued.

“Sophia will be seeking a complete unequal distribution of the marital estate,” he said.

“Which means what?” Linda asked, her voice cracking.

“It means Ethan will get nothing,” Vance said. “No alimony, no share of this house, and no access to any funds.”

Linda looked from Vance to me.

“You can’t do that,” she whispered. “He built this life with you.”

“He tried to steal my mother’s legacy to pay for your other son’s gambling debts,” I said.

“He has nothing left,” I added. “And neither do you.”

Linda stood up, her purse clutched tightly in her hands.

“This isn’t over,” she said.

“Actually, it is,” I said.

I walked to the front door and opened it.