“And Graham wants to buy my share for a fraction of that before I find out,” I said.

“It’s worse than that,” Alden whispered.

He rubbed his face with both hands, his shoulders sagging.

“He doesn’t want to buy you out anymore.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“He knows you won’t sign,” Alden said. “He knows you are stubborn, just like Eleanor was.”

He looked out the side window, watching the dark driveway.

“He is planning to bypass you entirely,” Alden said.

“How?” I asked. “I own fifty percent of this estate. He can’t sell a single square foot without my signature.”

Alden turned to look at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and regret.

“He has a document,” Alden said.

“What document?” I demanded.

“He’s been working on it with Celeste,” Alden said. “They found an old power of attorney form that your father signed years ago.”

My heart sank.

“My father died three years ago, Alden. That power of attorney expired the moment his heart stopped.”

“I know,” Alden said. “But they aren’t using your father’s.”