Chapter 1 - The Ultimate Betrayal
Michael set the phone flat on the counter and looked into my eyes.
His jaw was tight, and the silence in the kitchen felt heavier than before.
"They think you are just a doormat," he said quietly.
I looked down at the glowing screen showing their secret group chat.
They had completely ignored my message about needing rest.
My mother had already assigned my own bed to herself.
They were treating my boundaries like a temporary temper tantrum.
Tears of pure frustration stung the corners of my eyes.
For years, I had poured my heart into making their holidays perfect.
I had sacrificed my sleep, my finances, and my peace of mind.
This was my reward for all those years of thankless service.
"I can't let them do this again, Michael," I whispered, my voice trembling.
"If they show up here, they will just force their way inside."
Michael pulled me into a hug and rested his chin on my head.
"Then we won't be here when they arrive," he stated firmly.
I pulled back and looked at him in total confusion.
"Where would we go?" I asked.
"We talked about moving closer to the coast next spring, right?" he replied.
I nodded slowly, not understanding how that helped us right now.
Michael picked up his laptop from the dining table and opened it.
"Let's list the house tomorrow morning," he said without a hint of hesitation.
My heart started hammering wildly against my ribs.
Selling the house right before Christmas sounded completely insane.
But as I looked at the soda stain Chris's kids had left on the rug, a wave of clarity hit me.
I didn't want this house if it meant it would forever be their free hotel.
"Call Dave," I said, referring to our friend who was a real estate agent.
Michael dialed Dave's number, even though it was past ten at night.
Dave answered on the third ring, sounding tired but alert.
After Michael explained the situation, Dave went completely silent.
"I actually have an investor looking for a turnkey property in your neighborhood," Dave finally said.
"He pays in cash, but he is incredibly demanding about closing timelines."
My breath hitched as I realized this was actually happening.
"How fast does he want to close?" Michael asked into the speakerphone.
Dave sighed heavily before delivering the news.
"If he likes the pictures, he will want the keys by next Friday."
Next Friday was exactly three days before my family planned to arrive.
"Tell him we have a deal," I said confidently.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated on the kitchen counter with a new text.
May you like
It was from my brother Chris.
"Change of plans, Em, we are leaving early and will be there on Wednesday," the message read.
