“What are you trying to do, Mom?” I asked.

“If I present this evidence of fraud to the federal prosecutor tomorrow morning, the entire estate will be frozen,” Helen said.

“Every bank account associated with the Cumberland Avenue estate will be locked by court order.”

“Every restaurant in our empire will be closed by lunch tomorrow.”

She smiled, a cold, thin line that did not reach her eyes.

“You will have your proof against Gavin, Emily,” Helen said.

“But you will own absolutely nothing when the state gets finished with the assets.”

“The court battles over a fraudulent estate will drag on for a decade.”

“You will be bankrupt before the first trial even begins.”

I looked from Helen to the wet laptop in my hands.

If the assets were frozen, Daniel and I could not pay the kitchen staff or the suppliers.

The restaurants would fail within weeks.

“You would ruin your own family’s legacy just to save Gavin?” I asked.

“Gavin is irrelevant,” Helen said, not even looking at him.

“But I will not let this old woman walk back into our lives and take what is mine.”