Security escorted her from the hospital while she screamed that I had set her up.

That afternoon, Daniel showed me a family group chat recovered from Claire’s company laptop, which she had failed to return.

My mother had written:

Keep refusing the babies until she becomes desperate.

Claire had replied:

Once she signs, we control the accounts.

My father had responded with a thumbs-up emoji.

They had not simply refused to help me.

They had planned the entire situation.

I instructed Daniel to arrange a family meeting at the house.

“Should I mention the investigators?” he asked.

I looked at my twins.

“No. Let them arrive believing they won.”

PART 3

One week later, Daniel drove me to the house in a wheelchair-accessible van. I wore a support brace beneath my coat. Daniel carried the documents.

My parents and Claire waited in the living room beneath the chandelier I had purchased.