as he realized what the documents revealed. They were the official ownership papers of the villa, naming Emily as the sole owner. The villa didn’t belong to Richard; it never had. It was a gift from Emily’s late father, secured in her name long before she and Richard had even met.
The room fell silent, the atmosphere thick with disbelief. Michael’s eyes widened with a mix of relief and admiration, while Vanessa’s smug expression faltered, her confidence wilting under the weight of the revelation.
Richard’s mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. He was caught off guard, completely unprepared for this twist. “This… this can’t be right,” he stammered, his earlier arrogance replaced with uncertainty.
