Part 2: My son h.i.t me 30 times in front of his wife… so the next morning, while he sat in his office, I sold the house he thought was his.

I sat down.

Then Helen continued.

"Gloria, there's another document."

My heart tightened.

"What?"

"A draft agreement between Ashcroft and Redcrest."

I waited.

"It describes a proposed acquisition of Cedarline's remaining real-estate portfolio."

My hands went numb.

"They wanted all of it."

"That's what the draft suggests."

I stared at the wall.

River Oaks had been only the beginning.

The three other properties were next.

Then the company.

Malcolm would control the finances.

Daniel would control the legal documents.

Trevor would provide the family connection.

And Kristen would help persuade everyone that I was too old, too confused, and too difficult to keep running Cedarline.

I slowly exhaled.

"They weren't waiting for me to die."

Helen was silent.

I continued.

"They were trying to make me irrelevant while I was still alive."

***

That afternoon, Detective Grant called again.

Her voice was urgent.

"Gloria, we need to speak."

I met her at the station.