“Marcus,” I said as soon as he picked up, keeping my eyes fixed on Victoria’s fading smile. “I need an emergency injunction for unlawful detainer and real property destruction. I also need you to contact the local sheriff’s department right now. I am standing in my lake house, and three individuals have broken in, hired unauthorized contractors to alter the structure, and are currently destroying my personal belongings.”

Victoria’s posture stiffened. My mother’s mouth dropped open in complete disbelief. “Bella! Put that phone down right now! How dare you speak to us like that? We are your family!”

“You were my family,” I replied, ending the call and stepping back toward the front door. “Now you are defendants.”

I walked out to my car, locked the doors from the inside, and parked across the driveway, effectively blocking the commercial moving truck from leaving the premises. Through the windshield, I watched as panic finally began to replace the arrogance inside my home. Victoria ran to the window, motioning wildly for me to move my car, while my mother paced back and forth on the ruined porch, dialing her phone in a flurry of nervous energy. My father simply sat on the tailgate of the moving truck, head in his hands, finally realizing the scale of the disaster they had brought upon themselves.

Ten minutes later, the distinct blue and red lights of two county sheriff cruisers reflected off the quiet waters of the lake, illuminating the truth they had tried so hard to tear down.