Garrett nodded.He pushed open the door at the back of the waiting room and stepped into the inner office.The room was quiet and cool, with tall metal filing cabinets lining the walls. A broad desk sat near the window, its surface mostly clear except for a file folder beneath a brass lamp.Garrett had expected to meet a senior bureaucrat who held the final say over county auction files.Instead, the man sitting behind the desk, leaning back in a high-backed chair, was Richard Ross, Evelyn's father.Garrett froze in the doorway, his hand still resting on the brass handle.Richard slowly raised an eyebrow, his cold eyes locking onto Garrett. A silver nameplate sat on the corner of the desk.RICHARD ROSS — DIRECTOR OF COUNTY TAX ENFORCEMENT.The realization hit Garrett immediately.Richard wasn't merely someone with connections in local government. He was the director of the division responsible for property tax enforcement.He had the authority to oversee enforcement decisions and appr

Garrett pulled his car into the parking lot of a diner a few miles from his old house.The evening sky had turned a dark purple, and the streetlights were beginning to flicker along the avenue.He sat in the driver's seat with the engine off and dialed Victoria's number.She answered on the second attempt."Hey, Garrett," Victoria said. "I just spoke with our liaison in Singapore."Garrett shifted in his seat, tightening his grip on the steering wheel."Did Mr. Tan approve the appointment?"Victoria let out a cautious breath. "The request is on his desk, but we're still waiting for a response. I'm pushing them every hour, but I can't promise the money will reach your account before the auction on October 24.”Garrett stared at the glowing diner sign across the parking lot.Frustration rose in his chest, but he forced himself to remain calm. He didn't need another explanation of banking procedures. He needed a way to bridge the gap before the city sold his father's house."Is there any

While Garrett slept under a blanket at a highway rest stop, six miles away, the Ross family estate was brightly lit for the evening.Evelyn drove her brand-new metallic-gray Mercedes-Benz into the driveway.Theo had leased the luxury car for her two months earlier through one of his company's regional accounts. It had plush seats, custom interior lighting, and an engine that barely made a sound. Although she usually drove her reliable white Toyota Camry around town, she preferred taking the Mercedes Benz whenever she visited her parents or met influential people. It made her feel important, as though she belonged to a different world from ordinary people and had nothing in common with the broken man she had left behind.She turned off the engine and unbuckled Toby from his booster seat.The front door swung open before they reached the porch.Celine Ross stood in the doorway, wearing a cream-colored cardigan over a silk blouse. Her face lit up when she saw her grandson."Look at my ha

For three days, Garrett lived out of his car. He parked at quiet rest stops at night and moved between gas station parking lots during the day. He brushed his teeth in public restrooms, washed his face with cold water, and survived on canned soup, protein bars, and cheap coffee.He watched every dollar carefully. The hundred dollars Hugo had sent, along with the money he already had, was slowly running out.Each morning, he checked his phone for updates before doing anything else. Most of the time, there was nothing new. He would put the phone away, start the engine, and find somewhere to park where he could work without attracting attention.Yet Garrett never panicked. He spent his days making calls, reviewing case files on his laptop, and following up with Victoria about the Singapore verification process.On the second day, he stopped at a convenience store and stood in front of the hot food counter for several minutes. The smell of freshly cooked food made his stomach growl, but h

The auctioneer’s voice echoed clearly through the room. "We have thirty-five thousand dollars from bidder number 112. Do I hear thirty-six thousand?"Theo sat back in his chair, crossing his legs casually. He looked around the room, watching the other buyers. A few people flipped through their printed catalogs, but no one immediately raised a hand.One man near the window whispered something to his companion before shaking his head. Another examined the photograph of the property in his catalog, then closed it and placed it on his lap. The house was old, and the unpaid taxes made it a risky purchase for anyone who wasn't familiar with its history.Evelyn turned to Theo with a bright, relieved smile. The tight knot in her stomach was gone. Looking at the silent room, she felt certain that in a matter of seconds, Garrett’s childhood home would belong to Theo.She glanced toward the middle row, where Garrett sat alone. He looked nothing like the man she had once known. His clothes were c