This was no longer one foolish assumption.
They had already begun exercising authority over my property.
Then I searched old messages.
In October, Ashley had asked whether Jason’s emergency key still worked.
I had said yes.
For emergencies.
For visits.
Nothing more.
When I asked Jason whether anything had already been moved inside, he admitted there were boxes.
The children’s clothes.
Kitchen items.
Belongings for Ashley’s sister.
Belongings for Ashley’s mother.
The official move had not happened.
But in their minds, it already had.
Daniel advised me to act before anyone established residence.
He prepared a formal notice stating clearly:
Nobody had permission to move in.
The renovations did not create ownership rights.
Anything already inside could only be collected by appointment.
I sent it to Ashley.
Her answer came instantly.
WE SPENT $38,000.
I replied once.
“I did not authorize that expenditure.”
Then Daniel and I drove to inspect the house.
The remodeled kitchen was beautiful.
That almost made it worse.
Under different circumstances, I might have loved it.
But every cabinet reminded me that somebody else had been making decisions about my home.
