“Mom, don’t stop me.” Those five words turned my blood to ice.

By three o'clock that afternoon, I was back at my apartment, sitting on the sofa while Lily drew pictures at the coffee table.

A sudden, sharp knock echoed off the front door.

I froze.

I looked through the peephole. Standing in the dimly lit hallway was my mother. She looked completely unhinged. Her tailored beige jacket was rumpled, her hair was escaping her sleek bun, and her makeup was smeared.

I unlocked the door, opening it just three inches, keeping the heavy security chain in place.

“Claire!” Mom gasped, her voice shrill and desperate. “Claire, open the door! You have to talk to Graham! The police are at Vanessa’s apartment right now!”

“Good,” I said coldly.

“Are you insane?!” Mom shrieked, pressing her face close to the opening. “They are going to arrest your sister! They’re talking about state prison, Claire! State prison! Do you have any idea what that will do to our family?”

“You ruined our family four years ago, Mom,” I said, my voice dangerously steady. “When you hid Dad’s will and stole Lily’s medical money.”

Mom’s face paled, but her desperation instantly turned into vicious anger.

“Your father was out of his mind when he wrote that will!” she spat. “You were just a schoolteacher! What did you need two million dollars for? Vanessa had social status! She was building a life in Newport high society!”

“Lily needed it to walk!” I yelled, my composure finally breaking.

The sound of my voice made my mother step back slightly.

“My eight-year-old daughter couldn't walk without crying for two years!” I shouted through the door, tears spilling down my face. “And you gave her money to Vanessa so she could buy diamond necklaces and hire caterers for a fake wedding!”

“Claire, please,” Mom sobbed, completely switching tactics, dropping to her knees in the hallway. “I’m your mother! You can’t do this to us! Just tell the DA it was an agreement! Tell them you gave us permission!”

“No,” I said.

“Claire!”