“Open the gate, Madison. Don’t make this more difficult than it has to be. Mom only needs the guest wing until things settle down.”
I stared at the message.
He had just signed divorce papers acknowledging that the house belonged to me.
Yet he was asking me to let his mother move in.
Not requesting.
Expecting.
I typed a response.
“I’ll see you at the gate.”
Then I called Victoria.
She answered after the second ring.
“How are you feeling?”
“My former mother-in-law is outside my house.”
There was a pause.
“Doing what?”
“Moving in.”
“Excuse me?”
“Two moving trucks. Brandon’s trying the keypad. Vanessa’s recording. Patricia’s apparently organizing the furniture.”
Victoria was silent.
Then I heard her exhale.
“Are you certain there are two trucks?”
“Unfortunately.”
“Good.”
I blinked.
“Good?”
“Madison, remember what we discussed yesterday?”
I straightened in my seat.
“Yes.”
“Then don’t argue with them. Don’t unlock anything. Keep the security footage recording.”
“Victoria—”
“And whatever Patricia says about ownership, let her say it.”
