Page 97 of What Goes Around

Sure.

“I’ll fix it,” she said briskly, already stepping backward. “I’ll add the missing paperwork and bring everything to you tomorrow. It’ll be much simpler that way.”

Then, before I could say anything else, she turned sharply and walked down the hallway, the papers clutched in her fist.

I watched her disappear around the corner.

The next morning she came with a folder pressed to her chest.

“Ashley, I fixed the mistake. It’ll only take a second, sweetheart.”

She stepped inside before I could answer.

I closed my laptop. “May I read it first?”

Her smile faltered, just slightly.

“You don’t trust your own mother?” she said, wounded.

I held out my hand. “Let me see them.”

She opened the folder and sifted through the papers until she pulled out only a few pages, three, maybe four, and handed them over.

“These are the ones you need to sign,” she said. “The rest is just informational.”

I skimmed the first page. Then the second.

These ones looked legitimate: insurance continuation forms, policy updates, nothing obviously damning.

Which meant she hadn’t slipped the real traps in.

Not this time.

She must’ve realized I wasn’t signing anything blindly anymore.

“I’ll read these over tonight,” I said.

“Ashley, really—there’s no need to make this complicated.”

“I’m not,” I said. “I’m just reading.”

“Of course,” she said lightly. “But please don’t delay. It’s important.”

She stood there for another second, watching me like she was calculating whether to push or retreat. Then she smoothed her expression and left.

I waited until her footsteps faded down the hall before opening my drawer and sliding the papers inside.

Unsigned.

I would never sign anything that came from these people.

Later that night Marissa summoned us downstairs.

She stood at the dining table with three glossy binders spread open like she was planning a royal coronation instead of a joint graduation party.

“Okay, girls,” she said, clapping her hands together once. “Let’s finalize everything.”

Apple slid into the chair beside her, already scrolling through her phone. I took the seat across from them.