Chapter 1 - The Hospital Awakening
The steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound in the sterile recovery room.
Juny finally opened her eyes, her pale face looking small against the white hospital pillow.
She instinctively reached for her stomach, wincing as her fingers brushed the thick surgical bandages.
I gently grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles, fighting back tears of immense relief.
"You are safe now, sweetie," I whispered, smoothing the damp hair away from her forehead.
She looked around the empty room, her eyes searching for the rest of our family.
"Did Grandma and Aunt Davina go home to sleep?" she asked with a fragile voice.
My heart broke into a million pieces knowing they were currently drinking cocktails by the lake.
"They are resting, but I am right here with you," I lied, unable to crush her spirit.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling my attention away from my exhausted daughter.
It was an email from Miss Castellano, Grandma Augusta's notoriously strict estate attorney.
The subject line read that the trust execution documents were fully prepared and ready for my signature.
For fourteen years, my family had treated the beautiful Vermont lake house as their personal kingdom.
They never knew Augusta had quietly transferred the deed into an irrevocable trust for Juny before she died.
I typed a quick reply, instructing the lawyer to send the formal eviction notices to my mother immediately.
My phone buzzed again, but this time it was a text message from my sister, Davina.
She did not ask how Juny was recovering or if the surgery had been a success.
Instead, she sent a picture of a massive restaurant bill with my name aggressively circled in red ink.
"You ruined dinner and left before paying, so we expect you to cover this plus the boat rental," Davina wrote.
I stared at the screen, a new kind of absolute rage boiling deep inside my chest.
I was about to block her number when a second message accidentally slipped through.
"Holt says the wealthy buyers are arriving at the lake house tomorrow morning to finalize the sale," Davina texted.
I froze completely, my blood running as cold as ice in my veins.
They were illegally attempting to sell Juny's inheritance to cover Holt's massive, secret debts.
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Before I could even process this nightmare, a heavy knock echoed against the hospital room door.
Holt stepped into the room, reeking of expensive bourbon and carrying a thick leather briefcase.
