On my first night inside the $4.8 million Malibu beach house I bought with my own money, my mother-in-law called and said, “We’re moving in tomorrow, Marcus said it’s fine, and if you don’t like it, you can find somewhere else.”

“Eleanor Drexler has no ownership claim to said property. She obtained the address through misrepresentation to my staff.”

Even Marcus’ business partners started calling David.

“We heard about Eleanor’s behavior. If you need character witnesses regarding Josephine’s professional reputation versus Eleanor’s pattern of deception, we’re available.”

The most surprising ally came from Patricia Worthington, chair of Eleanor’s own charity committee.

“Josephine, I’ve watched Eleanor bully you for years. I have recordings from three committee meetings where she claimed credit for donations you made anonymously. Would those help?”

“Send everything to David,” I said.

By October 17th, I had 15 affidavits, three hours of recorded evidence, and a federal fraud case number.

Eleanor, meanwhile, kept posting on social media about her beach house and the “truth” she’d reveal at the gala. Marcus finally texted:

“Mom’s lost her mind. She won’t listen to me.”