Chapter 4

I opened the photo the property management sent me. There were a few lines of messy handwriting on the paper.

It basically said I agreed to give Linda and Emily permanent resident access.

At the bottom, it was signed with my name: Charlotte Summers.

The handwriting didn't resemble mine at all, but seeing it made me feel sick.

I handed my phone to Adam. "Your mom forged my signature. Take a good look."

Adam's face darkened. He didn't even ask Linda about it first.

He said, "Mom was panicking, that's all."

I stared at him. "So you knew?"

Adam looked away. "I didn't know. But even if she did, it's a keycard. Are you seriously going to blow this up?"

I felt the last piece of hope in me break apart. Turns out, they knew exactly where the line was. They didn't give a damn about my boundaries.

I took my phone back and turned, walking into my room.

Adam followed me. "Where are you going?"

I opened the closet and grabbed my bag with all my IDs. "To the property management office. Then I'm heading to the police station to add to the record."

Linda shrieked, "You seriously want to call the police?"

I turned to her. "Forging my signature, posing as the owner, tricking the property management into giving you access. What do you call that?"

Linda's face went completely pale.

Richard finally stood up. "Charlotte, don't go too far. You're pushing your elders into a corner."

I looked at him. "When you brought people into my house, into my bedroom, used my things, and forged my signature, did you ever stop to think about not pushing me to the edge?"

Richard's face twitched. "We're family. Who needs all these rules and regulations?"

I said, "From the moment you stopped treating me as family, the only thing left between us is the law."

I walked to the entryway to put on my shoes.

Adam blocked the door. "Charlotte, do you really have to make a scene tonight?"

I looked at him, standing in my way. "Move."

His voice was tight. "If you go to the property management office, how is my mom supposed to save face?"

I shot back, "And what about me? Emily used my lipstick, slept in my master bedroom, and got a keycard in my name. What do you all take me for?"

Adam's lips moved. "She didn't sleep in the master bedroom."

I suddenly laughed. "How do you know she won't end up sleeping there?"

His face went stiff. That pause said more than any answer could.

I didn't bother arguing with him anymore. I pulled out my phone and called the cop from earlier.

Adam immediately stepped aside.

As I walked out, I heard Linda wailing behind me. "Adam, look at her! She's out to destroy your mom."

Just before the elevator doors closed, I saw Adam standing there, his eyes full of panic and anger. But he didn't follow me out.

*****

When I got to the property management office, Grace Lane, Linda's sister, was sitting on the couch.

She had a red handbag in her hand, and a silver suitcase was parked right next to her.

I spotted it instantly. Those silver stilettos were sitting beside the suitcase, and the tag on it read "Emily Foster."

The lights in the property management office were bright and almost clinical.

Grace saw me, froze for a moment, then quickly shoved the handbag behind her.

The property manager stood up. "Ms. Summers, you're here."

I nodded. "Where's that authorization letter?"

The property manager handed me the paper.

I didn't take it.

I said, "Put it on the table. I'll take a photo for my records."

Grace's face darkened. "Charlotte, what's all this about?

"We're all family. Do you really have to treat us like we're criminals?"

I pulled out my phone and snapped a photo of the authorization letter, then took a picture of the suitcase. "Whose luggage is this?"

Grace immediately said, "That's mine."

I glanced at the tag on the suitcase. "Is your name Emily Foster?"

Grace's expression froze.

The property manager shot a look at the suitcase, too.

The room got awkward fast.

Grace forced a smile. "I'm helping Emily with her stuff. She's a girl, and she's got a lot of luggage. I was on my way."

I asked, "So, you happened to swing by the property office to get a permanent resident card for my place?"

She frowned. "Why are you being so blunt? Your mother-in-law is trying to be nice to her.

"Emily got back. She doesn't have any family here. Letting her stay at your place for a few days isn't a big deal."

I looked at her. "Every time you say 'just a few days,' you end up taking it for granted and making it permanent. I don't agree."

Grace's face fell. "You don't agree? What makes you think you can say no?

"Adam's your husband, and his friend needs a place to crash for a few days. Shouldn't you be a bit more understanding as his wife?"

I laughed. "If you're so generous, why don't you let her stay at your place?"

Grace was left speechless.

The property manager cleared his throat. "Ms. Summers, we've already put a hold on the process. This authorization letter does need your personal confirmation."

I said, "Not a hold. Please add a note to the owner records.

"No one is allowed to add keycard access without me being there to sign and show my ID. That includes my husband, Adam, and his parents."

The property manager nodded right away. "Got it. We'll make a note right now."

Grace got anxious. "How can you do that? Adam lives here too!"

I looked at her. "He can stay here, but that doesn't mean he gets to call the shots about my place.

"And it definitely doesn't mean you all can hand out my house like it's some kind of gift."

Grace's face turned pale. "That's pretty ruthless, Charlotte. You can't be so uptight about everything.

"If you piss off the Harper Family today, you think life's gonna be easy for you after this?"

I turned on the voice recorder on my phone and set it down on the table. "Care to repeat that?"

The moment Grace saw the screen, her expression changed. "Are you recording me?"

I said, "I've been recording since I walked in here. Since you all love making choices for me, I figured I'd better have some evidence."

Her hands were shaking with anger, but she didn't dare say another word.