A bottle of champagne had already been opened.
Claire smiled.
“I knew you would come to your senses.”
My mother folded her arms.
“You owe us an apology.”
“For what?”
“For humiliating us. Your father had to return the car.”
My father pointed at the wheelchair.
“Family helps family, Mara. You cannot cut people off whenever you feel hurt.”
Daniel placed three folders on the table.
“The first terminates your occupancy agreement,” he said. “You have thirty days to leave.”
My mother’s expression collapsed.
“Our property?”
“Mara’s company owns it.”
Daniel opened the second folder.
“The second documents unauthorized charges, false invoices, and salary paid to Claire for work she never performed. We are seeking repayment of four hundred and twelve thousand dollars.”
Claire dropped her glass.
It shattered against the floor.
“The third concerns the forged power of attorney, fraudulent loan application, and counterfeit notarization.”
Two investigators stepped into the room from the hallway.
