Chapter 7 - The Video
Chloe had filmed Dad walking into my office and posted it with a caption:
She moved into a mansion and sent lawyers after our family home. Dad went to beg her to stop.
In the comments, strangers called me greedy. Someone found my company’s website and left an angry message through our contact form.
I wanted to call Chloe and tell her exactly what Dad had asked me to sign. Nina advised me to keep the paperwork private while the lender reviewed the dispute. Marcus handled the messages coming into the office.
I wrote Chloe one text: Dad brought me a loan consent form today. Ask him about it before posting anything else.
She sent back a laughing emoji.
That evening, I drove past the Phoenix house. I stayed across the street, parked beneath the streetlights. Through my old bedroom window, I could see Chloe moving a lamp. For a moment, I remembered Mom standing at that same window, calling me inside before it got dark.
Dad came out to take the trash to the curb. He saw my car.
I lowered the window. He walked over.
“Chloe made that video on her own,” he said.
“Did you ask her to take it down?”
“I tried.”
I waited.
“She thinks you want to take our home.”
“It’s my home too, Dad. Mom made sure of that.”
He glanced back toward the front door. “I know.”
“Then why did you let Gwendolyn tell me to get out?”
His hands tightened around the trash can handle.
“I thought you’d refuse,” he said. “I thought we’d all cool off and talk the next day.”
“That was your plan?”
“I didn’t know you had somewhere else to go.”
I almost told him about the hillside house. I wanted him to understand I was okay. I wanted him to ask how I’d managed to buy it.
The front door opened. Gwendolyn stepped onto the porch, phone in hand.
May you like
“Samuel,” she called. “The lender wants us both on the call.”
Dad looked at me. Then he turned and went inside.
