Chapter 1 - FREEZE EVERY ACCOUNT
Margaret Parker was already on her knees when David walked through the front door.
One hand pressed against her chest.
The other reached weakly toward Vanessa’s ankle.
“Please…”
Vanessa looked down at her with disgust.
She wore a white golf outfit, a white visor, spotless shoes, and the expression of someone annoyed by a delayed tee time.
“Please… call an ambulance.”
Vanessa yanked her leg free.
Then kicked Margaret hard in the upper shoulder.
Margaret’s body jerked backward.
She fell onto her side.
“Pathetic.”
Vanessa stepped around her.
Picked up her designer golf bag.
“I have a golf match.”
That was when David entered.
He saw his mother on the floor.
Saw Vanessa walking toward the door.
And ran.
“Mom!”
He dropped beside Margaret and supported her shoulders.
Her face was gray.
Sweat stood along her forehead.
“David…”
“What happened?”
Margaret lifted one trembling hand.
Pointed at Vanessa.
David looked up.
Vanessa had stopped near the foyer.
“She’s being dramatic.”
David stared.
“What?”
“She does this every time she wants attention.”
Margaret struggled for air.
“My chest…”
David pulled out his phone.
“Calling 911.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“I told her I’d call when I got back.”
David looked at her slowly.
“When you got back from golf?”
“She’s had chest pain before.”
He stood.
Walked toward her.
Then slapped her.
Vanessa’s head jerked sideways.
Her golf bag dropped.
“You left her like this?”
She touched her reddened cheek.
“David—”
He pointed toward Margaret.
“Can’t you act like a daughter-in-law for one day?”
“David, I—”
He pulled out his phone again.
Not for the ambulance this time.
He called his chief of staff, Marcus Lee.
“Freeze every household card Vanessa is authorized on.”
Vanessa went pale.
David continued.
“Pause the family-office discretionary account. Lock the club expense card. Anything she can access through me—freeze it pending review.”
“You can’t do that!”
David stared.
“I just did.”
Then he turned away from her.
Back toward Margaret.
Because unlike Vanessa, he understood something immediately.
May you like
Money could wait.
A woman clutching her chest could not.
