Chapter 1
When I got back to my villa on the weekend, I found the lock code had been changed. There was a note taped to the door: "No moochers or freeloading dogs allowed inside."
Paula Harvey, my housekeeper, opened the door, but it was her daughter sprawled out on the couch, legs propped up, shooting me a dirty look.
"Can't you read? Still mooching off my family? Don't you have any shame?" she sneered.
What was even crazier was that Paula lowered her voice, pleading with me, "My daughter doesn't know I'm the housekeeper. When she comes over for the weekend, could you stay at the house in the suburbs for now?"
I stood outside the door and called the cops.
I thought the drama was over, but on Memorial Day, when I went out to the suburban villa to honor my parents, I opened the door and found the whole place trashed.
Classmates gathered around Paula's daughter, showering her with compliments.
"Katherine, your mom's like the richest woman in town. This villa she gave you is so luxurious."
*****
It was a Saturday afternoon, and the sunlight was almost blinding.
I stood in front of my villa, dragging my suitcase behind me.
I reached out and tapped in the code on the keypad.
Two beeps sounded, and the red light blinked.
The code was wrong.
I tried the code again.
It was still wrong.
The lock code had been changed.
I looked at the front door.
There was a piece of paper taped to the handle.
It was stuck down with wide tape.
Scrawled in big black marker were the words: No moochers or freeloading dogs allowed inside.
The words were scrawled so fiercely the ink bled through the page.
I ripped the paper off the door.
I crumpled it up and threw it on the floor.
I knocked hard on the door.
I heard slippers scuffing against the floor inside.
The door opened.
Paula stood in the doorway.
She was wearing a fresh set of silk pajamas.
That was the set I'd sent out for dry cleaning just last week.
She looked pale, gripping the doorframe so tight her knuckles were white.
She stood in the doorway, blocking my view inside.
"Sir... why did you come back?" she asked nervously.
I said, "This is my house."
I peered over her shoulder into the living room.
The living room was a complete mess.
My vase was gone.
The couch cushions had been thrown all over the floor.
A girl was sprawled right in the center of the couch.
She was rocking a pair of limited-edition kicks, her feet propped up on the coffee table.
She had her phone in hand, and the sound from TikTok was blaring so loud it could shake the walls.
She heard the noise, gave me a quick, dismissive look.
She lifted her chin high, looking all smug.
She rolled her eyes with obvious disdain.
"Can't you read?" she sneered.
She jerked her thumb toward the door.
"Still squatting in my house? Seriously, do you even know what shame is?"
I had no idea who this girl was.
But I recognized that face.
It was Paula's precious daughter, Katherine Paula, the one she always bragged about.
I looked at Paula.
"Care to explain?"
Paula shut the door and pulled me over to the side by the entrance.
She lowered her voice, almost begging.
"Please, I'm begging you, try to understand.
"This is Katherine, my daughter.
"She doesn't know I'm the housekeeper.
"She thinks I'm some distant relative of the family, and that this house is actually mine."
Paula kept wringing her hands, her eyes darting around nervously.
"She's staying for the weekend, so would you mind crashing at the house in the suburbs for now?
"Just two days, she'll be gone by Monday.
"Please, don't blow my cover."
I looked at the door.
This was the place my parents left behind for me, the only home I had.
And now, my housekeeper was kicking me out.
I took out my phone.
Paula lunged at me, trying to grab it from my hand.
"No! Please, I'm begging you," she cried.
I sidestepped her and called the cops.
As soon as the call connected, I said into the phone, "8 Splendor Garden. Someone's broken into my house, changed the locks, and won't let me in."
I hung up.
I shot Paula a cold look and said, "Go open the door, or you can wait for the cops to bust it open."
Ten minutes later, the wail of sirens cut through the air.
Red and blue lights flashed, shattering the afternoon calm.
The cops walked into the living room.
Katherine was still on the couch, watching TikTok videos.
When she saw the cops walk in, she froze for a second.
Then she stood up, pointing at Paula.
She asked, "Hey officer, who is this person?
"How did our housekeeper let a nutcase in?"
Paula looked down, unable to meet her daughter's eyes.
The older cop looked at me.
"ID," he said.
I handed it over.
"Title deed," he asked.
"It's in the safe. My parents left me this place. I'm their only heir," I said.
The cop checked my ID.
Name: Leila Reed.
Address: 8 Splendor Garden.
The cop turned to Paula.
"Are you the owner?" he asked.
Paula was trembling, her hands twisting nervously.
"I... I'm just the housekeeper," she stammered.
Katherine looked like she'd just been struck by lightning.
"Housekeeper?" She let out a scream, her voice cutting through the room.
"Mom, didn't you say you were loaded?
"Didn't you say this villa was a gift from Aunt?"