“What the hell did you do?”

I took a slow sip of my coffee and looked out the window.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said.

“The estate,” he screamed, his voice cracking.

“They froze everything.

The bank just called me.

The pre-approval for the townhouse is gone.

The dealership is threatening to report the car stolen if the wire transfer doesn’t clear by noon today.”

I felt a quiet, steady wave of relief wash over me.

“That sounds like your problem, Scott,” I said.

“They said there’s an administrative hold,” he stammered, his voice rising in panic.

“Because of a filing.

A filing from your lawyer.

Avery, tell me you didn’t do this.”

“Jerome is a very thorough attorney,” I said.

“You’re ruining my life!” he yelled.

“Kayla is having a panic attack.

The nursery boutique cancelled our delivery.

We have nothing!”

“You have each other,” I said.

I pressed the red button on my screen and ended the call.

My phone rang again instantly.

I did not answer it.

I set the phone face down on the wooden table and walked to the kitchen sink.