Chapter 2 - The Audit of Cactus Wren Drive
By 8:30 AM the next day, the desert sun was already beating down hard against the tinted glass of my car as I pulled into a shaded lot three blocks away from my old childhood home.
I didn't want to arrive unannounced just yet. First, I needed to see how thoroughly Gwendolyn and Chloe were enjoying their conquest.
From my vantage point across the street, the house looked deceptively peaceful. A delivery truck was idling near the curb, and two large cardboard moving boxes—the kind used for shipping bulky studio equipment—sat near the front porch. Through the open living room window, I could see Chloe flitting past in a bright yellow crop top, holding a phone in selfie mode as she livestreamed her morning routine.
“So, guys, big reveal today!” her voice drifted faintly across the quiet cul-de-sac. “My toxic older sister finally packed her bags and left, so I officially took over the master suite! Total vibes upgrade!”
I didn't blink. I simply watched the screen of my laptop resting on the passenger seat, where Marcus had just forwarded a preliminary title search and a notice of immediate occupancy inspection.
"They're treating it like a permanent state acquisition," I murmured to myself.
My phone buzzed. It was an encrypted text from Marcus.
All paperwork is locked and loaded, Paige. Sheriff’s civil division is prepped to accompany us for the lockout order if Samuel refuses to acknowledge the trust deed. Are you absolutely certain you want to trigger the default clause immediately? There’s no turning back once we file.
I looked back at the house. I remembered the sound of Samuel’s voice from the night before, dismissing my departure with a tired sigh: “Don't make this dramatic.”
He had chosen his side. He had chosen the path of least resistance, trading his daughter's dignity for a quiet dinner table with Gwendolyn.
May you like
File it, Marcus, I typed back. Let's go home.
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