Chapter 2

Footsteps echoed from outside the door.

Edward walked in, carrying two bags of kids' supplements. The moment he saw the tense scene inside, his face instantly fell.

"Lucia, what are you doing?" Edward stepped in front of Charlotte, shielding her like it was second nature. "I told you last night. This is just for show. Do you really have to make things hard for a widow and her kid?"

I pointed at my grandma's room. The closet was turned upside down, and her old clothes were tossed everywhere.

"This is just for show?" I shot back at Edward. "She's about to toss out my grandma's bed."

Edward frowned and glanced over. "It's just some old clothes. Toss them and get new ones.

"There's nowhere to put Leo's desk, and that bed is really just in the way.

"Besides, your grandma's heading to the care center this afternoon anyway, so there's really no reason to keep it around."

My blood ran cold. "Who said she's going to the care center?"

"I did," Edward replied, looking at me like I was just being unreasonable. "If the residency investigator sees a confused old lady living here, how are we supposed to explain that?

"For Leo's future, your grandma will just have to tough it out for a few days."

He said it all in the calmest voice, but the words were downright cruel.

I suddenly laughed. "Edward, do you really think that just because you say it's for the kid, you can just walk all over everyone else?

"This house belongs to me, and my grandma is my family.

"I'm not letting her move out, and I'm not letting these two move in."

I pulled out my phone and called property management. "Building 3, Unit 201. Some strangers are trying to break into my place. Can you send someone over?"

Edward's face changed instantly. He snatched the phone from me and hung up. "Lucia! Are you out of your mind?

"If property management gets called and files a report, Leo's shot at getting into school is over!"

Charlotte started crying even harder. "Edward, forget it. I'll just take Leo back to my hometown. He doesn't have to go to school."

Edward's eyes blazed with fury.

He grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight that it felt like he was about to snap my bones. "The house is under Charlotte's name now.

"Legally, she's the one who owns this place.

"If you keep making a scene, I'll have the cops throw you out."

I stared at him, watching as he threw legal threats my way, all just to stand up for another woman.

Whatever warmth I had left inside me disappeared completely.

"Fine," I said, yanking my hand free. "If you want to play by the rules, I'll just head to the County Recorder's Office to file a lis pendens.

"Let's see if a transfer suspected of fraud can really secure her ownership of this house."

Edward froze.

I walked over to my grandma and took her cold hand. "Don't be scared, Grandma. I'll be right back. No one's going to kick you out."

Behind me, Edward gritted his teeth. "Lucia, you always have to drag everything into an ugly mess."

*****

The County Recorder's Office lobby was buzzing with noise, packed with people everywhere.

I sat at the recording counter, my palms sweating nervously.

The staff member finished going through the paperwork and frowned at me. "Mrs. Shaw, the power of attorney says 'full authority to handle all matters related to this property'. Literally, that includes transferring ownership."

My throat tightened.

Half a year ago, Edward said we needed to update some documents for the new title deed and handed me a stack of papers to sign.

At the time, my grandma had just gone missing once, and I was busy taking her to the doctor. I never suspected my husband for a second.

Who would've thought he was already paving the way for Charlotte back then?

"But Charlotte never paid me anything," I said, gritting my teeth. "This isn't a real sale. It's a sham deal."

The staff member nodded. "We can file the notice of lis pendens first to put a fifteen-day hold on the property.

"You need to file a lawsuit within those fifteen days, or this filing will expire automatically."

"I'll sue."

I didn't even hesitate as I signed my name.

*****

By the time I walked out of the County Recorder's Office with my receipt, the sky had already turned dark and gloomy.

The knot of worry in my stomach just kept getting tighter. I flagged down a cab and rushed straight back to the old house.

As soon as the cab stopped, I practically sprinted up the stairs.

But when I slipped my key into the lock, it wouldn't budge, no matter how hard I tried.

The lock had been changed.

There was a shiny new nameplate on the door, with "Charlotte Lane" and "Leo Lane" written on it.

My place had completely become someone else's.

I banged on the door. "Edward, open up. Charlotte, open the door!"

My voice was the only thing echoing down the hallway.

Mavis from next door poked her head out and sighed. "Lucia, stop knocking. There's no one inside."

I spun around. "Mavis, where's my grandma?"

"About an hour ago, Edward came with a few guys in uniforms and took her away.

"She was crying so hard, holding onto the doorframe and wouldn't let go.

"He said he was taking her to the hospital, so we didn't dare stop him."

My mind was reeling, my hands trembling as I dialed Edward's number.

He declined my call the first time.

He did it again the second time.

The third time, I just texted him: [Where did you take my grandma?]

It took ages before Edward finally texted back: [Southside Care Center.

[The residency investigator showed up for a surprise inspection this afternoon. I had no other option. I had to send your grandma away.

[It's just for two days. Once the check's done, I'll bring her back.

[Don't cause trouble. Charlotte's busy helping Leo prep for tomorrow's interview, and I've got my hands full.]

I stared at the screen, and suddenly, the whole thing was so ridiculous that I almost wanted to laugh.

He was sacrificing my grandma just to give Charlotte's kid a shot at a better future, and he still expected me to keep quiet and not make a scene.

I bolted downstairs and made a beeline for the Southside Care Center.