His tailored suit was wrinkled, and his eyes were bloodshot.

“Maren,” he sneered, a tight, desperate smile twitching on his lips.

“You’re trespassing on private property.”

“Not yours,” Sheriff Miller said, stepping into the room behind me with his hand on his holster.

“Step back, Mr. Pike.”

Dorian raised his hands slowly, but he did not step away from the desk.

“Elena is the sole trustee,” Dorian said, pointing a finger at my mother.

“She has the legal right to manage these assets as she sees fit.”

“And she has chosen to authorize the sale.”

“I didn’t want to,” Elena whispered, her voice cracking as she looked at me.

“Quiet, Elena!” Dorian snapped.

“She’s lying to save her own skin,” Brielle whimpered from the corner, her fingers digging into her leather bag.

“Mom, tell them you wanted this.”

“Shut up, Brielle,” I said without looking at her.

Voss stepped forward, placing the cream-colored document on the desk directly in front of my mother.

He handed her a black ink pen.

“Mrs. Pike,” Voss said, his voice calm and steady.

“The state land registry has flagged the emergency transfer.”