She did not greet me, nor did she ask about Lily and Ethan.

“This is a family matter, and it needs to stay between us,” she continued.

“The court disagrees,” I said.

“The courts are going to ruin my son,” she snapped.

I looked out the window at the dark ocean.

The wind was cold, rattling the kitchen windowpane.

“Daniel ruined himself when he hid those assets, Patricia,” I said.

“He did what he had to do to protect Mercer Development,” she said.

I heard Vanessa crying softly in the background.

“Be quiet, Vanessa,” Patricia hissed away from the receiver.

Then she spoke back into the phone.

“I am sending a document to your personal email,” Patricia said.

“My lawyers handle all documents now,” I said.

“No,” Patricia said quickly. “Do not involve Robert Hayes. If he sees this, he will advise you against it.”

“Then I certainly won’t sign it,” I said.

“You have to,” she said. “It is a liability waiver.”

I sat down at the table, my hand resting near the old ledgers.

“A waiver for what?” I asked.