Raelynn had to admit—Renee’s tactics were impressive. The lengths she was willing to go for those shares… truly admirable. Raelynn could only sigh in amazement. In a small, somewhat run-down apartment complex, Julie was organizing their belongings. This was the smallest property she owned—the larger, more valuable ones had already been sold. At least this place was move-in ready, with furniture and appliances already in place. They could settle in right away. But compared to the Gray residence, this place was tiny. The living room wasn’t even as big as their old bedrooms. And the bedrooms? One bed, one wardrobe, and a small desk—after that, there was barely any room to move. Julie and Rosie had bought properties with their own money. Julie had purchased this one as an investment, betting on a nearby development project that was supposed to increase property values. That project had failed, leaving the property unsold. She had never imagined she would end up living here. The others stood silently, struggling to accept the reality of their new home. Susie frowned as she stared at her assigned room. "This room is way too small! How am I supposed to live like this?" At the Gray residence, she had an entire wall lined with glass display cases for her treasured collectibles. Forget displaying them—there wasn’t even enough space to turn around comfortably. Rosie wasn’t much happier. Her room was even smaller, and the lighting was terrible. But her own property was still an unfinished unit—completely unlivable. Raelynn said nothing, but the deep crease in her brow made her feelings clear.She had grown up in a wealthy family. The Mercers had once been one of the top families in South City. As the only daughter, she had been pampered her entire life. When had she ever lived in a place this small? But right now, they were lucky to even have a roof over their heads. Julie, still organizing her things, spoke up flatly. "Arthur’s room in the Gray residence was smaller than this." At those words, the room fell into silence. Even in that massive mansion, Arthur had been forced to live in a cramped storage room. For eight years. Their rooms might be small now, but compared to the space Arthur had been locked away in, they were practically luxurious. Was this karma? A punishment for their past ignorance? As they busied themselves with unpacking, Raelynn’s phone suddenly vibrated. She glanced at the screen—her face instantly went pale. Julie noticed the change in her expression and felt a bad premonition. "What’s wrong?" The others gathered around. Raelynn slowly set her phone down, her fingers trembling. "My lawyer just dropped my case." "What?" Susie asked in shock. "Why?" Raelynn’s brows furrowed in thought. This lawyer had been a long-time trusted partner. For him to suddenly back out? There was no doubt—this had to be John’s doing.Forcing herself to stay calm, Raelynn immediately started calling other lawyers. One by one, she was rejected. By the time she put her phone down, her hands were ice-cold. Not a single top lawyer in South City was willing to take her case. Without legal representation, there was no way she could force John to leave empty-handed. Hell, she might not even be able to secure half of their assets. Without that money, what would happen to the rest of her life? Raelynn sat numbly on the couch, her mind in turmoil. Julie quickly tried to reassure her. "Mom, it’s okay. Even if you don’t get the shares, you still have us. We’re all working now. We’ll take care of you. Once things settle down, we’ll buy a bigger house. This is just temporary, alright?" Raelynn looked up at her three daughters. Had she really… become a burden to them? Then, suddenly, something clicked in her mind. She shot up from her seat. "No! This doesn’t make sense!" The three girls looked at her in confusion. "What doesn’t?" Raelynn muttered to herself, "John has nothing left but those shares. How the hell did he get every top lawyer in South City to refuse my case?" Julie’s expression also darkened as she realized the same thing. John wasn’t what he used to be. And he had burned so many bridges that his reputation was in the gutter. So why were the lawyers backing him over her?