Mr. Hartley immediately instructed Dad not to sign another document until everything had been independently reviewed. Gloria tried laughing off the situation, claiming she had only been protecting the family. When Dad asked why she had secretly visited his attorney about transferring the mansion, however, she couldn’t provide a clear answer. Instead, she attacked me. Gloria accused me of manipulating my father, controlling money that belonged to everyone, and trying to destroy their marriage because I was jealous of Vanessa. I let her finish before reminding her that the frozen accounts were connected to funds established by my mother and governed by specific legal restrictions.

Dad slowly lowered himself into the chair beside my desk. Suddenly, he looked much older than I remembered. “I should have protected you,” he whispered. Those words hurt more than Gloria’s insults because I had waited years to hear them. The following morning, Mr. Hartley arrived with an independent property specialist and copies of the estate documents. Together, we examined ownership records, account restrictions, and the paperwork Gloria had convinced Dad to sign. Several documents required further investigation, but one fact was immediately clear: no transfer of the mansion could proceed until the legal issues were resolved. Gloria’s attempt to take control had been stopped.