part 3
PART 3
Gloria recovered before the others.
She always had.
She straightened her light blue dress and looked past Daniel toward the officers.
“This is a private family matter.”
Daniel did not blink.
“You slapped my wife.”
Gloria’s face hardened.
“She was hysterical.”
Audrey gave a small, bitter laugh.
The officer nearest the door stepped forward.
“Ma’am, we need everyone to stay where they are.”
Marcus raised both hands.
“This is ridiculous.”
“We were discussing paperwork.”
Claire Monroe, Daniel’s attorney, walked into the foyer and picked up the top page from the console table.
“A quitclaim deed is not casual paperwork.”
Tessa’s eyes shifted toward Marcus.
Marcus snapped, “Don’t say anything.”
Daniel heard it.
So did the officers.
Audrey stood behind Daniel, one hand against her bruised cheek.
Her voice was soft.
“They took my phone this morning.”
Daniel turned toward her.
“Who?”
Audrey looked at Tessa.
Tessa’s face went blank.
Claire picked up the phone from the table using a tissue.
“Officer, we may need this preserved.”
Gloria scoffed.
“Oh, please.”
“She was going to call Daniel and tell more lies.”
Audrey finally looked directly at Gloria.
“I was going to call my husband because you said if I didn’t sign, Marcus would file the transfer without me.”
Marcus pointed at her.
“That is not what I said.”
Daniel stepped toward him.
Marcus stepped back.
Daniel stopped himself before rage could ruin the evidence.
Claire noticed and gave him one brief nod.
The first officer photographed Audrey’s cheek.
The second photographed the documents.
The third asked Gloria to repeat why she believed Audrey needed to sign.
Gloria’s answer came too fast.
“Because this house belongs to my son.”
Daniel’s voice cut through the room.
“No.”
Gloria turned.
“It belongs to our marriage.”
Audrey looked at him then.
Not because of the law.
Because of the word our.
For months, Gloria had tried to convince her she was a temporary guest.
Daniel had just said in front of witnesses what Audrey had been fighting to remember.
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This was her home too.
Read the full story 👉 Gloria exposed her motive in front of police when she claimed the house belonged only to Daniel.
