PART2

THE KNOCK AT THE DOOR

The first thing Brandon heard wasn’t the knock.

It was Amber’s voice.

Sharp. Panicked.

“Brandon… someone’s at the door. And they’re not leaving.”

He barely looked up from his screen. His office smelled like coffee and polished wood, the kind of space designed to make a man feel important.

“Then don’t answer it,” he said casually. “We’re not expecting anyone.”

There was a pause.

Then her voice came again—lower this time.

“You need to come home.”

Something in her tone made him stop typing.

Ten minutes later, Brandon pulled into the driveway of the house he believed was his.

Two black SUVs were parked outside.

Not neighbors.

Not friends.

Professionals.

A man in a gray suit stood near the front door, holding a folder. Calm. Patient. Like someone who had done this many times before.

Amber stood just inside, pale, arms wrapped tightly around herself.

“What’s going on?” Brandon asked, stepping out of the car.

The man turned toward him.

“Mr. Brandon Reeves?”

“Yeah. Who are you?”

The man handed him a document.

“My name is Daniel Harper. I represent the new owners of this property.”

Brandon let out a short laugh.

“Funny. Really funny. Who sent you?”

“No one sent me, sir. The property was sold this morning.”

Brandon’s smile didn’t disappear.

But it stopped being real.

“That’s impossible.”

Daniel didn’t argue.

He simply opened the folder and pointed.

“The property is owned by Redwood Capital LLC. The sole owner authorized the sale at 9:10 a.m. this morning. All documents are valid and filed.”

Brandon’s fingers tightened around the paper.

“That’s not possible,” he repeated, louder this time. “This is my house.”

Daniel’s expression didn’t change.

“Your name is not on the deed.”

Silence.

For the first time, something cracked.

Amber stepped forward.

“Brandon… what is he talking about?”

Brandon didn’t answer.

Because deep down…

He already knew.