“That land was Dad’s sanctuary,” I said, my voice shaking slightly. “He wanted it kept exactly as it was.”

“He’s not here to keep it,” she said. “And we are.”

I looked down at the metal box, feeling a sudden, deep exhaustion.

“Dorian is trying to sell the mountain cabin too,” I said. “The one with the detached tool shed near the ridge.”

My mother stiffened slightly at the mention of the cabin.

“That property is prime real estate now,” she said. “A developer offered Dorian a very good price.”

“He can’t sell it,” I said. “The title is still in my name. Dad made sure of that.”

She took a step closer to me, her perfume washing over me, sweet and suffocating.

“You are going to ruin everything, Maren,” she whispered.

“I am protecting what is mine,” I said. “And what was Dad’s.”

“If you go to the authorities with this, you will destroy this family,” she said.

“Dorian destroyed it when he started forging signatures,” I said.

She reached out and grabbed my wrist, her grip surprisingly tight.