MY DAUGHTER TOOK THE $8-MILLION MANSION WHILE I FACED A BROKEN FARM — BUT THE SCENE BEHIND THAT CREAKING DOOR DESTROYED EVERYTHING.

Chloe's perfect smile faltered. "Declined? Don't be ridiculous. Run it again."

"I have, ma'am. Three times. It’s returning a code 04—Hold and Seize."

Before Chloe could berate the man, Derek rushed over, his face pale and slick with sweat. He was clutching his smartphone as if it had burned him.

"Chloe," he hissed, grabbing her elbow and dragging her into the empty library. "We have a problem."

"Derek, let go of me! The caterer is being an idiot."

"It's not the caterer!" Derek yelled, his pristine facade cracking. "I just tried to wire the down payment for the new yacht. The transfer bounced. I called the private banker. The accounts are frozen. All of them."

Chloe stared at him, her heart skipping a beat. "What do you mean, frozen? By who?"

"By a federal injunction," a voice said from the doorway.

Chloe and Derek spun around. Standing in the doorway of the library, dressed in a sharp, impeccably tailored navy suit, was Harrison Cole. And right behind him was me.

"Mother?" Chloe gasped, stepping back. "What are you doing here? This is a private event!"

"This is a crime scene," I corrected her, stepping into the room that had been my sanctuary for thirty years. I looked at the daughter I had raised, feeling absolute disgust at the sight of her expensive jewelry and smug face.

"I don't know how you got past security, Evelyn, but you need to leave," Derek puffed out his chest, trying to look intimidating.

Harrison Cole stepped forward, holding a thick legal binder. "Derek Vance, Chloe Vance. As of 2:00 PM today, a federal judge has granted an emergency freeze on all assets tied to the Vance Estate, pending a criminal investigation into the forgery of Arthur Vance's last will and testament."