“What is he talking about?” Scott asked.

“Is that document real?”

“It is very real, Mr. Collins,” Jerome said.

“And because you attempted to shield your inheritance from the court, the trust administrator has frozen the entire estate.”

Kayla turned to Scott, her eyes wide with sudden realization.

“What do you mean, frozen?” she asked.

“You said we were getting the house.”

“You said we would have the money for the nursery by next week.”

“Be quiet, Kayla,” Scott snapped, his voice cracking under the pressure.

“Don’t tell me to be quiet,” she hissed.

“I am not raising a baby in a rented apartment while you handle your debts.”

I watched them argue across the table.

The anger I had carried for months suddenly felt heavy and useless.

I looked at Scott and realized I felt nothing but a quiet, hollow pity.

His greed had blinded him to every trap he had set for himself.

“We have a settlement agreement prepared,” Jerome said, sliding a fresh stack of papers forward.

“It gives Avery the suburban home, the joint savings account, and her retirement funds intact.”