“The second owner listed at formation,” Patricia said, her voice steady over the speaker, “is not Damon Reyes.” The side room went so quiet I could hear the muffled string quartet still playing in the ballroom beyond the door. “The second fifty percent,” she continued, “is held by the Bennett Family Trust. Your parents’ trust, Nadia. Damon’s name does not appear anywhere in the original operating agreement.” Damon’s phone lowered slowly in his hand. His mother turned to look at him, confused, still clutching her folded tissue.

“That’s impossible,” Damon said, but his voice had lost its courtroom polish. “I’m the sole member. The records show…” Patricia cut him off gently. “The records you’re holding, Damon, are from an amendment filed eight months after closing. An amendment Nadia never signed. The original formation documents, the ones lodged with the state, list Nadia and the trust. Someone attempted to replace them later.” She paused. “And the closing attorney flagged it at the time. Would you like me to read what he put in the file?”