The beach house held precious memories of her late husband, Nile, with whom she had spent six summers restoring it. When she arrived, she discovered that Cullen and Blythe had already moved their belongings inside. Her bedroom had been taken over, and Nile’s cherished photograph had been hidden in a drawer. Furious at their disrespect, she hired a locksmith, replaced every exterior lock, and placed the couple’s possessions outside before informing them of her decision.
Days later, wedding photographs revealed something even more disturbing. The couple’s cake featured a miniature replica of her beach house, while guests had been told she was too sick to attend. Blythe’s parents also believed the property had already been transferred to the newlyweds. When her lawyer’s envelope appeared to have been secretly opened, she began suspecting that Cullen had been making plans involving documents she had never authorized him to use.
Twelve days later, Cullen and Blythe returned from their honeymoon expecting a celebration at the beach house. Dozens of guests had been invited to witness the supposed transfer of ownership. Instead, Cullen found his luggage on the lawn and his mother waiting on the porch. He angrily demanded the keys, insisting that he had already seen the signed deed. Without raising her voice, she reached into her handbag, produced a cream-colored envelope, and began revealing the document that would challenge everything he had claimed.
