Tessa’s face reddened slightly—a clear sign I’d struck a nerve. She couldn’t stand losing all that money, especially not to me. Over the years, she’d played the role of a saint—showering me with affection and acting like the perfect mother figure. For a while, I’d even believed her, thought I could forgive her and Logan for what they’d done to my parents.

But now? The truth hit me like a punch to the gut: Tessa’s kindness had always come with strings. Her ...