Chapter 3

The silence in my studio apartment was deafening. I sat at the small writing desk I'd managed to fit into the corner, my fingers tracing the familiar wood grain as I stared at my reflection in the window. The neon lights from the street below cast harsh shadows across my face, making me look like a stranger.

Four blocks away, I could still hear the faint sounds of celebration drifting from the Sullivan house. They were probably planning their new life, dividing up imaginary millions like children splitting Halloween candy. The thought should have made me bitter, but instead, I felt oddly detached, as if I were watching someone else's tragedy unfold.

My phone buzzed with a text from my sister: *Heard about the divorce. You okay?*

I typed back: *I'm fine.* The lie came easily now.

Another buzz. This time it was a photo forwarded from a mutual friend—Rebecca standing in front of an enormous white dress display, her arms spread wide as if embracing her future. The caption read: *Getting ready for the wedding of the century!*

I set the phone aside and returned to staring at my reflection. The woman looking back at me had hollow eyes and sharp cheekbones that hadn't been there a week ago. I'd barely eaten since signing those papers.

---

The next morning, I decided to torture myself. I drove past the most exclusive bridal boutique in Portland, the one that catered to society wives and tech heiresses. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, I could see Rebecca holding court among a sea of white silk and tulle.

She was gesturing animatedly to a woman with a clipboard—clearly the wedding planner. Even from my car, I could see the woman's eyes widen as Rebecca pointed to an elaborate floral arrangement in the display window.

"Two hundred thousand for flowers," I heard Rebecca say as I cracked my window. "Jake says money's no object now."

The wedding planner's smile was professional but strained. "That's quite an investment, Mrs. Torres. We'll need a significant deposit to secure the vendors."

"Of course," Rebecca replied, waving her hand dismissively. "Jake's handling all the financial arrangements. He's worth ten million now, you know."

I watched Rebecca select a gown that cost more than most people's cars, her fingers caressing the beaded bodice with the reverence of someone touching a holy relic. The shop assistant rushed to accommodate her every whim, clearly impressed by her casual mention of Jake's supposed fortune.

"I want everything to be perfect," Rebecca said, her voice carrying through the open door. "This is my fairy tale come true."

I drove away before I could witness any more of her performance. The irony wasn't lost on me—while I was learning to live with less, she was planning to live like a queen on money that didn't exist.

---

Back in my studio, I tried to distract myself by unpacking my grandmother's jewelry box. Each piece held a memory—the pearl earrings she'd worn to my high school graduation, the cameo brooch that had belonged to her mother. I slipped her simple wedding ring onto my finger, the weight of it comforting and familiar.

A sharp knock at the door interrupted my melancholy. I wasn't expecting anyone. Through the peephole, I saw a middle-aged man in a gray suit, holding a leather portfolio.

"Ms. Mitchell?" he asked when I opened the door. "I'm Arthur Vance from the Portland City Planning Department. I tried calling, but your phone went straight to voicemail."

My heart skipped. "Is this about the house? My grandmother's house?"

"May I come in?" His expression was serious, professional. "We need to discuss the property acquisition."

I stepped aside, suddenly self-conscious about my sparse living space. He took in the single desk, the unmade bed, the suitcase still half-packed in the corner.

"Please, sit," I said, gesturing to the only chair.

He remained standing, opening his portfolio with practiced efficiency. "Ms. Mitchell, I'm here to inform you that your property on Hawthorne Boulevard has been designated as a historic landmark. The city has voted to acquire it for urban development preservation."

My stomach clenched. "You're taking my grandmother's house?"

"We're purchasing it," he corrected gently. "The compensation has been set at fifty million dollars."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I sat down heavily on the edge of my bed, the room spinning around me.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"Fifty million dollars," he repeated, pulling out official documents. "The historical significance, combined with the prime location and development potential, makes it one of the most valuable acquisitions in Portland's history."

I stared at him, my mind refusing to process what I was hearing. Fifty million. While Jake was bragging about his ten million in lottery winnings—money that didn't even exist—I was sitting on a fortune five times larger.

"When?" I whispered.

"The paperwork can be processed within the week," Arthur said, his voice kind but businesslike. "You'll receive full compensation upon signing."

As he left, I stood at my window, watching him disappear down the street. In the distance, I could still see the warm glow of lights from the Sullivan house, where they were probably still celebrating their imaginary windfall.

I touched my grandmother's ring, feeling its familiar weight. She'd always said that good things came to those who waited, that patience was a virtue.

Maybe she'd been right after all.