Chapter 10 - THE HOUSE FOR SALE
"How do you sell a house you don't own?" I asked.
Maya turned her laptop toward me.
"With forged documents and a buyer who doesn't look too closely."
Daniel had already contacted a private investor named Grant Bell. The spreadsheet listed a meeting for December 28.
Robert laughed without humor. "He planned to sell my house before he even knew I'd given it to Emily."
Maya nodded. "Which means he may still try."
We filed an emergency notice with the county recorder and notified the title company. Then I changed every lock. Every turn of the screwdriver felt like a decision.
At sunset, Daniel arrived.
He tried his key.
It didn't work.
Then he pounded on the door.
"Emily! Open up!"
I stood behind the glass with Robert and Maya.
"This is my home!" he shouted.
I opened the door two inches, security chain still on.
"No. It isn't."
His face twisted. "I'm your husband."
"Not for long."
I handed him a folder through the gap.
Divorce petition.
Temporary property notice.
Demand for preservation of financial records.
He looked down at the papers, then back at me.
"You filed already?"
"This morning."
"You think Dad's money makes you powerful?"
"No. Evidence does."
He leaned close to the gap. "You have no idea what I can prove about you."
"Try me."
He smiled.
That smile made my stomach tighten.
"Check your work email."
Then he walked away.
I opened my laptop inside.
There were six unread messages from my hospital administrator.
The subject line on the first one read: URGENT - PATIENT COMPLAINT AND INTERNAL REVIEW.
Someone had accused me of stealing prescription medication from a patient.
Attached was a security image.
May you like
It showed a woman in scrubs entering a medication room.
The woman's face looked exactly like mine.
