Chapter 4

By the ninth day, I returned home from work to find Miranda camped out on the living room sofa once more.

Julia busied herself cooking a rich meal in the kitchen, filling the whole apartment with tempting aromas.

Frank slouched lazily on the couch, scrolling through his phone, while Miranda sat beside him, sorting fresh vegetables.

The three of them looked exactly like a happy, perfect little family unit.

I kicked off my shoes and stepped into the living area, and Miranda spoke up immediately without waiting for greetings, "Sit down for a moment, Susan. We need to talk."

Her tone left no room for negotiation; it was a firm announcement, not a polite request.

I settled onto the sofa quietly.

Frank set his phone aside and cleared his throat awkwardly. "Honey, here's the thing. Julia's still feeling under the weather lately, and she can't find a stable place to move into anytime soon.

"My mom and I talked it over, and we thought... maybe she could stay here long-term," he added.

I stared straight at him without blinking. "Long-term?"

"Yeah..." He avoided my gaze sheepishly. "She'll just be here long-term from now on. She can even chip in a little toward household costs to help out."

Julia carried her finished dishes out of the kitchen, set them on the dining table, and took a seat right next to Frank with a meek expression.

"Susan, I never mean to take advantage of you, honestly. I can pay a thousand dollars each month toward rent and bills," she murmured softly with her head bowed low.

A thousand dollars total.

For full access to a 950-square-foot luxury renovated apartment at Greenlake Garden Residences, unlimited use of my premium skincare collection, and exclusive rights to sleep soundly in my master bedroom.

Even renting a simple secondary bedroom within this neighborhood alone cost a minimum of 1500 dollars monthly.

"A thousand dollars to live in my master bedroom?" I questioned calmly.

Miranda cut in right away to smooth things over. "It doesn't strictly have to be the master room after all. The three of you can work out a fair rotating sleeping schedule however you see fit."

Rotating sleeping arrangements?

In a home I'd purchased entirely upfront with 1.25 million dollars, I was expected to take turns sharing my marital bedroom with my husband's first love.

I breathed slowly and steadily to keep my composure intact, then fixed my gaze firmly on Frank. "I only have one simple question for you."

"Go ahead," he said.

"Whose legal name appears solely on the property deed?" I asked.

Frank frowned with clear irritation. "Why bring this up again? The title's under your name, so what? Isn't this still our shared family home all the same?"

Miranda grew annoyed, too, glaring sharply in my direction. "Susan, why do you keep fixating obsessively on that deed paperwork nonstop? We're all family here. No need drawing such cold lines between yours and mine."

Julia jumped in right on cue, feigning guilt and hesitation. "Please, let's drop this argument. This is all my fault anyway. I'll pack my things and leave first thing tomorrow morning."

"Sit back down at once!" Miranda grabbed her arm firmly to stop her. "You aren't going anywhere at all."

She turned her furious stare back onto me without pause. "I'll lay everything plain for you, Susan. Frank approves of Julia staying here long-term, and so do I.

"What difference does one single objection from you even make in the end?"

Her voice stayed eerily calm as she spoke those cruel words, stating it as undeniable common sense—the sun rising in the east, water flowing downhill, my own opinions simply meaningless and irrelevant to everyone else.

I said, rising slowly to my feet, "Very well then. If the two of you agree wholeheartedly, that settles it."

With that, I headed straight back into the guest room, sat down on the hard mattress, and pulled up my private chat history with Rex once again.

I double-checked that fair cash offer of 1.35 million dollars one final time, then typed just two clear words and hit send: [Let's sign.]

Rex replied instantly without delay: [Tomorrow morning work for you?]

I replied: [Tomorrow morning is perfect.]

After I sent the message, I set my phone down on the nightstand.

From the living room outside, Miranda's voice drifted over warm and sweet toward Julia. "Tell me what soups you love most, dear. I'll simmer a fresh pot for you tomorrow."

I switched off all lights in the cramped guest room, letting darkness wrap around me completely.

A quiet smile appeared on my face, all the same.