“It’s not your property,” Alex repeated, lifting the envelope. “Legally, it belongs to me. You’ve been living here under assumptions my grandfather never approved.”
Richard sneered. “You expect me to believe that old man left everything to a kid who ran away?”
Alex felt the familiar sting of guilt. “I didn’t run. I left because I couldn’t watch this family drown. After Dad died, everything fell apart. Grandfather understood that.”
Helen’s eyes glistened. “Why didn’t you call? Not once.”
“Because I was ashamed,” Alex whispered. “I thought disappearing would make it easier for everyone.”
Richard stepped between them. “Enough emotional crap. Papers or not, this house is ours now.”
“No,” Alex said, “it isn’t. And if you want to debate that, you can do it with my lawyer. He’s already on his way.”
The sound of a car stopping at the curb punctuated his words. A tall man in a gray suit stepped out, carrying a briefcase. “Mr. Morgan,” he said with a polite nod. “As requested.”
