“You would not actually dare to take it, would you?” Tyler asked, though his voice had lost its aggressive edge and was now thin and pleading.
I looked at him calmly, not blinking.
“Do you want to test that theory?”
His entire demeanor collapsed, and he took a hesitant step toward me, using the favorite word of bullies who suddenly find themselves in a position of weakness.
“Lauren, please, we are family.”
I almost laughed at the irony of the situation.
Family was a word that never appeared in their vocabulary when they were busy belittling my career choices or mocking my modest lifestyle.
It never mattered when they made fun of my clothing, my apartment, or my decision to live a quiet life rather than a performative one.
Family only seemed to mean something when they needed a handout, a favor, or someone to remain silent while they continued to treat me like an outsider.
Uncle River finally broke his silence, his voice tired and heavy.
“Just how bad is this situation, Tyler?”
Tyler wouldn’t look at him, but I did not hesitate.
“It is serious enough that if I give the word to my legal team tomorrow, the foreclosure process on that estate will begin by sunset.”
Carolina gripped the back of a velvet armchair so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
“You cannot do this to our family, it would be social suicide.”
I looked at her with a calm detachment that hurt her far more than any shouting match ever could.