"Security won't let them up, so they're... they're shouting. Saying you—" She hesitated. "Saying you defrauded your own uncle out of his property."

"There's a crowd gathering. What should I do?"

My grip tightened on the receiver. My gaze went cold.

No need to guess. Oliver's family had seen my messages—or heard through the grapevine. Now they were here to make a scene, destroy my reputation, force my hand.

"Let them."

My voice was ice.

"Don't stop them. Let them scream all they want."

"And call the police. Tell them we have people causing a disturbance and disrupting business operations."

"Oh—and make sure the security footage is saved."

I hung up, straightened my blazer, and headed for the elevator.

You want to hand me your face on a silver platter? Fine. I'll slap it for you.

The elevator doors slid open.

There they were—Oliver, Vivien, and Jarvis—sprawled across the lobby floor, putting on a full theatrical performance.

Vivien slapped her thighs, wailing at the top of her lungs:

"There's no justice in this world! A niece swindling her own uncle out of his home!"

"My poor father-in-law barely cold in the ground, and this ingrate swallows the entire inheritance!"

"Everyone, come look! This is your precious Director Finch! She's a monster in human skin!"

A crowd had formed—colleagues, clients, all of them whispering and pointing.

The moment Jarvis spotted me, he sprang to his feet and jabbed a finger in my face.

"Hailey! Finally decided to show yourself!"

"What gives you the right to hog all eight apartments? Grandpa left those for the family—my dad deserves his share!"

"You're not leaving this building until you explain yourself and hand them over!"

"Let's see how long you keep your fancy director title after this!"

I stood at the edge of the crowd, watching the three of them make absolute fools of themselves.

Then I pulled out my phone, opened the photo I'd prepared, and held it up where they could see.

"Uncle Oliver. Jarvis. You can stop now."

"Black ink on white paper. Official notary seal. Can you read it?"

"Grandpa's will is crystal clear: 'Should the second son's family disregard familial bonds out of greed, all properties shall go solely to the eldest grandchild, Hailey Finch.'"

"You know what triggered that clause? The moment you tried to extort $50,000 from me. The moment you cursed me when I refused."

"These eight apartments? You lost them yourselves."