The rain tapped against the leaded glass windows of the Waverly Lane house.

Inside, the smell of damp oak and old floor wax hung heavy in the air.

Ethan stood by the brick fireplace, his knuckles white as he gripped a rolled-up piece of paper.

Megan sat on the edge of the faded velvet sofa, her eyes darting between us.

“It’s over, Lauren,” Ethan said, stepping forward.

The floorboards groaned under his heavy leather boots.

“We have the paperwork showing joint ownership of this property. You need to pack your things and leave.”

I looked at my sister, whose fingers were twisting the hem of her yellow wool cardigan.

She looked smaller in the dim light of the living room, refusing to look me in the eye.

“Is this what you want, Megan?” I asked.

“You’re really going along with his lies?”

Megan swallowed hard, her shoulders tensing.

“Ethan said it’s the only way to save the family estate,” she whispered.

“He said Aunt Claire wanted the trust structured for both of us.”

I reached into my leather bag and pulled out a crisp, notary-stamped document.

The paper crackled loudly in the quiet room.

“The trust was dissolved last month,” I said, placing the document on the mahogany coffee table.

“This is the sole deed to Waverly Lane, recorded yesterday morning.”

“My name is the only one on it.”

Ethan snatched the document, his face turning a blotchy red as his eyes scanned the lines.

“This is impossible,” he muttered, his thumb smudging the blue ink of the notary seal.

“The signatures on the transfer from last week—”

“Were forged, Ethan,” I interrupted.

“And the notary you used is already being investigated by the county clerk.”

Megan stood up, her face pale.

She looked at Ethan as if seeing him for the first time.

“Ethan, you told me we had the rights to this place,” she said, her voice shaking.

“You said the signature was real.”

“Shut up, Megan,” Ethan snapped, tossing my deed back onto the table.

He glared at me, his fists clenching at his sides.

“This isn’t over, Lauren. This house belongs to the family, not just you.”