I turned to the projector screen behind the stage.

Daniel pressed a button on his laptop, and the documents appeared on the large screen.

Gavin’s signature was clear, right next to a forged version of my own.

“You and Brooke forged my name to steal the assets,” I said.

The guests began to whisper, their eyes darting between Gavin and Brooke.

Brooke’s face turned white, her glass slipping from her fingers and shattering on the floor.

“This is a lie,” Brooke yelled, her voice cracking.

“Daniel has the bank routing numbers, Brooke,” I said. “Every dollar you took from the downtown restaurant went into your personal account.”

Gavin reached for my arm, his grip tight and cold on my wrist. “We need to talk about this in private, Emily.”

“Do not touch me,” I said, stepping back.

My mother rushed to the stage, her high heels clicking rapidly. “Emily, think of the family reputation. Your grandmother is gone.”

“She isn’t gone,” I said, looking directly at Helen. “She faked her death to protect these assets from people like you.”

Arthur took a step back, his eyes wide.

“And she left me more than just the restaurants,” I continued, staring at my sister.

Brooke took a step backward, her hand pressing against her stomach.

“She left me the records of everything you did, Brooke,” I said. “Including what you did seven years ago in the coastal clinic.”

Brooke froze, her lips parting but no sound coming out.

She looked at Gavin, then back at me, panic rising in her eyes.

The heavy double doors at the back of the ballroom suddenly groaned.

The brass locks clicked, and both doors swung inward.

The cold wind from the harbor rushed into the warm room, extinguishing the candles near the entrance.

A tall figure stood in the rain-soaked doorway.