“You switched those chairs.”

I took a slow drink of water.

“Did I?”

“You embarrassed my wife.”

I glanced at Elena beside me.

She still didn’t understand why Vanessa’s dress had ripped.

I intended to keep it that way until I knew exactly how far this situation went.

“Interesting choice of words,” I said.

Daniel leaned toward me.

“You’re going to apologize.”

“No.”

His expression changed immediately.

Daniel was accustomed to me giving in whenever Elena begged me not to argue with him.

This time, I wasn’t interested.

Vanessa eventually returned wearing another dress.

She had changed clothes, but the fury on her face hadn’t disappeared.

During dinner, she suddenly picked up the microphone.

“Families can be complicated,” she began sweetly.

People turned toward her.

“Some relatives support your success.”

She paused.

“Others become jealous when their children move forward in life.”

Several guests glanced in our direction.

Daniel stared down at his plate.

Vanessa continued.

“Fortunately, Daniel and I are beginning a new chapter.”

She smiled.

“We’ll be moving into the Ridgemont house next month, and Daniel’s father has generously agreed to transfer the property to us.”

Elena immediately turned toward me.

I felt my expression harden.

I had agreed to let Daniel and Vanessa live at Ridgemont for one year.

I had never agreed to give them ownership.

Then Vanessa continued.

“And Daniel’s company will soon expand into the entire Westbridge building.”

That was when everything changed.

The Westbridge negotiation was confidential.

Only three people knew the space might become available.

Daniel.

My lawyer.

And me.

Vanessa should not have known anything about it.

Unless someone had been going through private documents.

I quietly excused myself and called my attorney, Marcus Hale.

“Stop everything scheduled for Monday.”

He paused.

“What specifically?”

“The Ridgemont paperwork. Daniel’s upcoming trust distribution. And the Westbridge lease.”

Marcus became quiet.

“You think something happened?”

“I think my son has forgotten who owns everything he’s promising away.”

Twenty minutes later, Marcus sent me the security records from my home office.

Daniel’s access code had opened my private study three nights earlier.

Elena and I had been out to dinner that evening.

Then Marcus sent the video.

Daniel entered first.

Vanessa followed.

She moved directly toward my desk and began photographing documents.

Trust statements.

Property information.

Preliminary transaction records.

Even paperwork connected to Hawthorne Hall.

They weren’t simply planning to embarrass Elena.

They were studying my assets.

Marcus then checked recent inquiries Daniel had made regarding his trust.

Two weeks earlier, Daniel had asked whether marriage could somehow accelerate his inheritance if something happened to both of his parents.

At the time, Marcus had assumed it was an awkward estate-planning question.

Now it sounded much more disturbing.

I forwarded every security clip to a separate private account.

Then I returned to the ballroom.

Vanessa was laughing with one arm wrapped around Daniel.

When she saw me, she raised her champagne glass.

“To new beginnings.”

I smiled.

“To consequences.”

Her smile weakened.

Around nine thirty, the MC announced the parent dances.

Daniel approached Elena and extended his hand.

The gesture looked less loving than obligatory.

Before Elena could stand, I touched her arm.

“Not tonight.”

Daniel frowned.

“Dad, don’t start something.”

“I’m not starting anything.”

I looked toward the entrance.

Marcus had just entered the ballroom carrying a slim black folder.

“I’m ending it.”

I asked the band to stop playing.

Conversation slowly disappeared.

Guests began turning toward me.

Daniel looked from Marcus to me.