Chapter 2

Over the next week I made a few trips to the agent and signed a stack of contracts.

Steve, apparently determined to teach me a lesson, didn't show his face once.

My mother, though, would send the occasional voice message.

"Aria, quit while you're ahead! Stop this!"

"Grow up, and stop thinking you're so important!"

"What did I do to deserve raising you, you ungrateful girl!"

I ignored every one of them and went on with my life.

On the seventh day, my mother suddenly called me back over.

The moment I walked in, I found the place full of people.

My mother, my father, Steve, a whole crowd of aunts, Steve's girlfriend, her parents, and a few young people I didn't recognize.

My mother bustled over.

"Don't bother with your shoes, come right in, come right in, too many people today to fuss about it."

Steve came shuffling toward me in my slippers and dropped his voice.

"Aria, I've got my future in-laws and all the relatives here today so they can see the marital home."

"Don't go blabbing. I've been telling them this place is mine."

"Just sit off to the side and keep quiet. Don't embarrass me."

His girlfriend was drifting around the living room on her mother's arm, and the future mother-in-law looked left and right, her brow creasing.

"The location's not bad, and the light's decent, but the decor's a little dated. The floor color's too old-fashioned, and the wallpaper's peeling at the edges."

The future father-in-law strolled into the kitchen with his hands behind his back, pulled open a cabinet door, glanced inside, and shook his head.

"The furniture won't do either. That couch looks like something out of a secondhand market, and there are scratches on the coffee table. You'll have to replace it all before the wedding."

Steve hurried to placate him with a smile.

"Right, right, my sister borrowed the place for a while, and that's just her taste. I'll redo the whole thing later, don't you worry."

The future mother-in-law rapped her knuckles on the bathroom tile.

"When the time comes, tear it out and start over. This isn't the place to cut corners."

Steve nodded again and again.

"Absolutely, tear it all out, tear it all out."

The future father-in-law took out his phone, scrolled through it, and turned to Steve.

"I know a renovation crew, quick, clean work. I'll have them come by tomorrow to take a look. Whatever walls need to come down, the plumbing and wiring that need redoing, get it started early."

The future mother-in-law chimed in.

"Yes, yes, get it done early, don't drag it out, this old decor stresses me out just looking at it. Tomorrow start by ripping out that ugly ceiling trim in the living room, and toss the kitchen cabinets while you're at it."

Steve thumped his chest and promised.

"Sure, whatever you say, we'll start tearing it out tomorrow. Not a day wasted."

The group finished their tour and sat down in the living room, everyone talking at once.

My mother cheerfully poured water and handed out fruit, while my father sat in the corner of the couch, head down over his tea.

Steve came over to me and shot me a look.

"Sis, don't go jumping into the conversation."

My mother sidled up too and added under her breath.

"Just play along. We're all family. You can only be happy once your brother is."

My phone screen lit up. I glanced at it. A text from Corey, the agent.

"Aria, the sale money's already in your account. The buyer takes possession tomorrow. The deal was fully furnished with appliances included, so don't move anything, okay?"

I put my phone away and gave Steve a genuine, heartfelt smile.

"Mm."