“It wasn’t,” I said.
Robert went silent.
Ethan stared at me.
“What are you planning to do?”
“Nothing yet.”
At that moment, my phone buzzed.
An email from my attorney.
Footage received. Notice prepared.
I showed Ethan.
He read it twice.
Then looked at me.
“You knew something like this could happen?”
“I knew your mother disliked me. I didn’t expect her to hit me or go after Lily.”
His jaw tightened.
“She called our daughter trash.”
His voice cracked slightly.
That was the moment any hesitation left him.
“Do it.”
I typed one word to my attorney.
Proceed.
The following morning, Vanessa began calling.
I ignored the first four calls.
On the fifth, I answered.
“You’re insane!” she shouted. “Mom just received a thirty-day notice!”
“That’s correct.”
“You can’t throw her out of her own house!”
“It isn’t her house. And the occupancy agreement can be terminated when its conditions are violated.”
