Daniel chose his mother after she hu:mi:liated me at dinner. I walked out without fighting back because at noon, I was returning with proof that their beloved mansion was legally mine.

“The lender froze the wire,” she said. “The title company has referred the forged deed for fraud review.”

Daniel reached toward the documents, but I pulled them back.

“You let your mother dump food on me because you wanted video of me losing control.”

He said nothing.

Patricia shouted, “You walked into this family with nothing!”

I looked around the dining room, at the portraits and silver she had spent years using as proof that she was above me.

“No, Patricia. I walked in thinking this was your home. That