“You own what?” I asked.
The silence cut sharply.
Mr. Meyers opened his leather folder. “Mrs. Carter also inherited a liquid estate valued at approximately twenty-four million dollars and controlling interest in Whitmore Tower, located in Midtown Manhattan.”
Vanessa’s lips parted.
Daniel stared at me as if I had turned into a stranger without changing clothes.
“What?” he whispered.
I did not answer. I walked past both of them, unlocked the front door, and brought my children inside. My suitcases were sitting in the hallway, poorly packed, with sweaters shoved beneath my shoes. Vanessa had even tossed Lily’s handmade Mother’s Day card into an open side pocket.
That was when something inside me hardened.
I pulled out my phone and called Daniel’s mother.
“Emily?” Patricia answered warmly. “Is everything all right?”
“No,” I said, watching Daniel hurry into the house behind me. “Your son brought his mistress to my home with divorce papers. He packed my bags and tried to keep the children.”
A long silence followed.
Then Patricia said, “Put me on speaker.”
Daniel froze when his mother’s voice filled the hallway.
“Daniel Andrew Carter,” she said, “you fool.”
Vanessa crossed her arms. “This family drama is not my problem.”
