Chapter 2: The Unraveling
The following forty-eight hours were a masterclass in human fragility.
My mother and sister spent the first few hours in total denial, claiming the lawyer was a plant, a liar, or that my father was suffering from dementia when he signed the papers. But Robert Miller was relentless. He sat at the dining table, a cup of tea in his hand, and calmly dismantled every argument they made. He produced bank records, notarized documents, and video footage of my father’s mental competency assessment from the day of the signing.
"He knew exactly what he was doing," Robert said, watching my mother’s composure crack. "He knew that if the house remained in the estate, it would be mismanaged. He wanted it to be in Hannah's hands."
As the reality set in, the dynamic of the house shifted violently. Chloe, who had been strutting around like she owned the place, was suddenly forced to face the fact that she was a guest—and an unwelcome one at that.
"Hannah," Chloe said, cornering me in the kitchen while Mom was busy calling every relative in the address book to spin a narrative where I was the villain. "You can't kick us out. We have nowhere to go."
"You have five minutes away, Chloe," I said, citing her own excuse. "And you have your designer bags. I’m sure you’ll be fine."
"You’re being cold!" she hissed.
"I’m being a landlord," I corrected.
The most painful part, however, was Jason. He didn't leave. He lingered. He tried to "comfort" me, offering to handle the eviction process so I wouldn't have to be the "bad guy."
"I can do it, Han," he said, rubbing my shoulders. "I can kick them out for you. You’re too soft."
"Jason," I said, turning to face him. "Why are you still here?"
"What? I’m your boyfriend. I’m here for you."
"You didn't say a word when my mother slapped me," I said, my voice ice-cold. "You sat there, eating dinner, while my sister mocked me. You didn't care about me then. You care about the real estate."
"That’s not fair—"
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"Get your things," I said. "And please, leave by tonight."
The look of genuine shock on his face was the first satisfying thing I had experienced in weeks. He realized, with sudden, terrifying clarity, that the "charity case" had turned into the landlord, and he had absolutely no leverage.
