Page 169 of Priceless

“I suppose I should congratulate your… pack as well. Excuse me.” He left so quickly, Laura was left gaping after him.

I looked at her. “If you have something to say about my appearance, now would be the time.”

“Really? That’s what you’re going to do? You invited us, Ocean. We didn’t come here to be attacked, and I won’t stand by while you do it.”

“Fine.” I didn’t need to stand there with her trading insults. What I really needed was to get her into the smaller salon off the ballroom. “While you’re here, I found something you should see of my mother’s.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I discovered it not long after the rest of my things were delivered. She would want you to see it.” I gestured toward the salon, and after an unsure look at me, she went. I met Micah’s gaze across the room, and he nodded once. It was time.

We were the first ones in the room. Laura looked around in distaste. She’d always liked gaudier and more traditional design. Our home was far too light and sleek for her taste.

I thought it was perfect.

“Where is it?”

All the papers were spread on the coffee table. “There.”

“Ah, there you are,” Cameron said. My husbands entered the room with Frank in tow. Raina had been instructed to bring Joseph in later. One thing at a time.

Laura crossed her arms. “What is this, Ocean?”

“I didn’t lie. Take a look.” I glanced at my uncle. “Something of my mother’s.”

Huffing out a breath, she strode to the coffee table and started to look. Then, like Frank had earlier, she went pale. “Frank?”

He was at her side in a moment.

It was a strange sensation, watching someone’s world fall apart. But I couldn’t feel a shred of sympathy for them.

Aiden, the hacker, and my husbands’—my—lawyers figured out the entire paper trail. It was exactly like they’d suspected. After the trust had been passed over to Frank’s lawyer, he’d been paid off to help them change it. The Caldwell family lawyer still had copies, dated well before my mother’s death.

Hard to prove, since the originals had likely been destroyed.

Until my husbands threatened the lawyer with everything they had. Thanks to Aiden, it wasn’t hard. Where one crime was, more usually followed, and the man had a laundry list of crimes to his name. Exposing any one of them would end his career, the firm he was a partner of, and his life’s work.

We settled for his career and a signed confession.

My mother’s lawyer signed a statement too. It said that he’d been present for this version of the trust and when it happened. There wasn’t much more we needed.

“Where did you get this?” Frank asked. “This is absurd.”

“No,” I snapped. “What’s absurd is the two of you using this as a way to control and abuse me. Not that it should have ever happened, but for nine years past when it should have fucking ended.”

“Abuse you?” Laura looked like I’d struck her. “We only ever tried to do the best for you, Ocean. It’s not our fault you refused the help. That you’re lazy and entitled and unwilling to compromise.”

“Compromise.” I laughed. “That’s funny.”

Frank tossed the papers back on the table and shrugged. “You can’t prove any of this. No ink tests or anything.” His smile sickened me. “The real documents are long gone.”

The doors to the salon opened, and Raina practically dragged a man through the door. “What the hell are you dragging me in here for?” He snarled.

“Ah, our final guest,” Everett said. He was the first one of my husbands to speak.

“Wait,” I said in sudden recognition. “That’s Joseph?”

Everett looked at me. “You’ve met?”