Chapter 1

After we got the keys to our new house, my husband, David Harper, hurried to put everyone on the building access list.

I assumed he would put me first. But his parents, his brother Michael Harper and his wife, and a few other relatives all got in.

When my turn came, he said, "The slots are full. You'll have to wait."

His mother, Linda Harper, chimed in with a smirk, "A daughter-in-law isn't really part of the family, after all."

I didn't argue. I picked up my suitcase and said, "Who needs to get in anyway?"

They were still waiting for me to beg to be let in. Then, the property management revoked every single person's access. That was when it dawned on them. The only name on the deed was mine.

*****

On the day we got the keys to our new house, my mom called three times to remind me to pay attention to all the details during the walkthrough.

Before I could even call her back, David was already standing in the property management lobby.

He had a stack of papers in his hand and was waiting in line at the access registration desk.

I walked over quickly. "Why didn't you wait for me?"

He didn't even turn around. "Take your time. I'm just getting the access set up."

The registration required fingerprints and facial scans. Each unit could register up to eight people.

I stood beside him and watched. The first one he registered was himself.

Next, he pulled out his phone and made a call. "Mom, come over with Dad. Get your access done."

I froze for a second. His parents lived in the old part of town, a 40-minute drive from this neighborhood.

"They don't even live here. Why do they need access?" I asked.

David shot me a look. "They can come whenever they want. Do I need to run that by you?"

I said nothing.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived.

Linda walked in, wearing a floral cardigan, grinning as she walked in. "Wow, this lobby is really something."

His dad, Richard Harper, followed behind, carrying a bag of oranges.

After his parents had their fingerprints done, Linda tugged David's arm. "David, why don't you put Michael and Leah in too? It'll be easier when they drop by on weekends."

David didn't even pause. "Sure. Have them send me their IDs."

I stood by, gripping the folder with the property deed, squeezing it so hard that the cover started to wrinkle. "David, Michael doesn't even live here."

Linda chimed in, "We're all family. Adding their names doesn't cost a thing."

David was on his phone, not bothering to look up. "Yeah, Mom's got a point."

His brother, Michael Harper, went in. Then, Michael's wife, Leah Harper. Then, his aunt Susan Turner and her son. Then, his uncle Kevin Harper's daughter.

Name after name filled the registration list. I felt my hands go cold. "David," I called out.

He replied, "Yeah?"

"What about me?" I asked.

He finally looked up at me, glanced at the list, and frowned. "The slots are full."

I thought I misheard. "What?"

"Eight slots, all filled. You'll have to wait. I'll ask the property management later if we can squeeze in another." His tone was casual, like he was talking about what to have for dinner.

I stared at the registration list. David, Richard, Linda, Michael, Leah, Susan and her son, and Kevin's daughter. Eight names. Mine wasn't there.

Linda leaned in for a look and smiled. That smile, I would never forget it.

She patted my hand, her voice light and airy. "A daughter-in-law isn't really part of the family, after all. Waiting a bit won't hurt."

The lobby had air conditioning, set to 77°F. But I felt cold all over.

I looked at David. He was chatting with the property staff about renovations. He hadn't heard what Linda said. Or he had and just let it slide.

I crouched down and pulled up the handle of my suitcase. It was the one I had packed for the move, filled with my clothes and toiletries.

"What are you doing?" Linda's smile froze on her face.

I stood up and walked toward the door, suitcase in hand.

"Hey, where are you going?" David finally turned around.

"Not part of the family? Then I'm not walking through that door." My voice was flat.

Linda curled her lip. "Quite a temper. No idea where she gets that from."

David took a few steps after me. "Don't make a scene. People are watching."

I didn't stop. I pushed open the glass doors of the lobby, and the sunlight outside stung my eyes.

As I walked out the main gate of the complex, I heard Linda's voice behind me. "Let her go. She'll be back in a couple of days."

I gripped the suitcase handle tighter. She was wrong.

The down payment was 160,000 dollars. My parents scraped it together by selling their old house back home.

The monthly mortgage was 2,100 dollars, and it was automatically deducted from my paycheck every month.

The deed had only one name on it. Mine.