Chapter 3
On the fifth day of Julia's stay, she moved the antique pen holder left to me by my grandmother right off my vanity counter.
"This takes up way too much space. I put it away inside the cabinet for you," she said casually.
Her tone sounded so natural, as if she were simply tidying up my room out of kindness.
I searched everywhere for that precious heirloom afterward.
Nothing turned up in the cabinets, the guest room, or even the kitchen.
I finally found it tossed carelessly inside a storage bin out on the balcony, mixed in with worn old slippers and expired dish soap.
A small chip marked its delicate ceramic edge now.
I wiped it clean gently, tucked it securely inside my handbag, and kept it close by my side every single day—to work and back home again.
By the sixth day, even my bathroom toiletries had been rearranged without a word.
My towel hung forgotten on a hook behind the bathroom door, while Julia's fresh towel dominated the prime spot on the central rack.
My shampoo bottle got pushed all the way to the bottom shelf of the cabinet, yet hers sat front and center within easy reach.
It was Rene Furterer shampoo, priced at 148 dollars a bottle.
I'd seen it stocked at local supermarkets countless times, but could never bring myself to splurge on such luxury hair care.
Julia went through bottle after bottle without a second thought.
Frank bought them for her, no questions asked.
I knew the truth the moment I spotted his online order history: three full bottles shipped free, with a sweet note attached: [Baby, I remembered how much you loved this brand.]
When shopping for my own shampoo all these years, Frank only ever grabbed cheap Head & Shoulders promotional bundles from discount aisles.
On the seventh night, Julia relaxed on the living room sofa, wearing my premium facial masks.
My SK-II sheet masks, the iconic Facial Treatment ones that cost 300 dollars for a box of six.
I rationed them strictly, allowing myself just one mask per week.
Julia used one fresh sheet every single day without restraint.
After seven full days under her careless use, my entire box was already empty.
Frank sat right beside her, glued to his video game screen the whole time.
"Frank," I called out from the hallway entrance of the living room.
"Hmm?" He never bothered glancing up at me.
"My mask," I said.
"What mask?" he asked.
"The SK-II ones."
"Oh." He barely acknowledged my words, still focused entirely on his game. "Just buy another box once those run out."
Julia peeled the used mask off her face neatly and tossed it into the trash bin, putting on an act of sincere remorse. "I'm so sorry, Susan. I truly didn't realize how expensive those were."
Her apology sounded genuine enough to fool anyone listening.
"I'll grab you a brand-new box tomorrow, I promise," she added.
"No need," I replied flatly.
I retreated straight to the guest bedroom and shut the door tight behind me.
Opening my phone notes app, I tallied up every single expense she'd wasted of mine: 158 dollars for luxury hand cream, 340 dollars for high-end facial cleanser, 300 dollars for designer skincare masks.
Not to mention extra utility bills, groceries, and seasonings she'd consumed freely all week long.
Over just seven days, a stranger had lived rent-free in my home, occupying my master bedroom, draining my luxury skincare products, wearing my private silk loungewear, and receiving fancy gifts from my own husband nonstop.
A new message popped up from Rex moments later.
[I had a crew check out Greenlake Garden Residences thoroughly. A 950-square-foot fully renovated unit sells around 1.3 million on the current market. I'll offer a straightforward cash price of 1.35 million flat. Take all the time you need, and sign whenever you're ready.]
Fifty thousand over standard market value.
That was just how reliable and fair Rex always was.
I saved the screenshot securely, powered off my phone, and lay back on the narrow twin hard mattress, staring blankly up at the ceiling.
Loud laughter drifted over from the master bedroom next door. Julia was giggling happily, with Frank joining right in.
The pair laughed together comfortably on my bed, inside my apartment.
I rolled onto my side and closed my eyes quietly.
The end was drawing near soon enough.