The beach house was the place I associated with my mother. After she died, father insisted the property was his responsibility, while Camille, his wife, acted as though she had inherited everything. I tried to avoid arguments, believing the house would remain in family. Instead, Camille began making decisions without me, changing things and taking control. When I questioned her, she laughed and told me I was being sentimental about a house that belonged to my father. I had no idea she was preparing to take something bigger.

Then father claimed he would transfer the beach house. Camille celebrated, while I was left outside the locked property. I called Delphine, who had handled mother’s affairs, but she told me to wait until she checked records. The next evening, my phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number. It was from a title company. The sentence made my stomach drop.