Ava's POV
The doorbell rang at nine in the morning.
I was in the kitchen wearing one of Marcus’s shirts underneath a light scarf.
Faint bruises from the night before still marked my hips and the insides of my thighs. Marcus was pouring coffee when the sound cut through the house.
He set the pot down and looked at me.
“Stay quiet. Let me handle it.”
I nodded and moved into the hallway where I could still hear but stay out of sight.
Marcus opened the front door. A familiar voice carried inside.
“Mr. Marcus Hale. I apologize for the early hour. There are final documents regarding the estate that require signatures today. The court wants everything settled by the end of the week.”
The family lawyer. Mr. Lang. He had handled Mom’s will and the guardianship papers from the beginning.
