Chapter 4

The comments section was buzzing.

Vanessa's aunt Margaret had written: "What a thoughtful daughter, taking her mother on vacation!"

Her cousin Rachel chimed in: "Now that's a good woman. Unlike certain people who get married and suddenly forget all about family."

Vanessa replied to Rachel: "Some people only think about themselves. The best thing is to ignore them until they learn some manners."

Owen sent a voice note.

"What the hell is wrong with that family? You paid for the honeymoon, they invited themselves, and now they're taking shots at you online?"

"They're not spending my money anymore," I wrote.

"What?"

"I froze the cards and changed my return flight. At this point, Vanessa's probably putting the trip on credit."

He responded with a flood of laughing emojis.

"About damn time! You've finally stopped letting them walk all over you."

I set my phone down and sipped my coffee.

A new message came in from Lucas.

"Mr. Byrne, that buyer I mentioned can pay cash. He has an attorney who can speed up the closing. He wants to tour the place and sign today."

"Go ahead. The keypad code is six zeros."

"You won't be there?"

"No. If he wants it, I'll meet him at your office to sign."

"Perfect!"

Less than thirty minutes later, Lucas called.

"He loves it! Barely even negotiated. As long as his attorney can rush the transfer, he can wire the deposit today."

"I'll be right over."

I grabbed my bag and left the hotel.

The buyer was an unassuming middle-aged man in a plain shirt.

"Mr. Byrne, I like the location, and I don't want to waste your time," he said. "All cash. We sign today, I wire the deposit, and my lawyer handles the expedited closing first thing tomorrow. Deal?"

"Deal."

Lucas printed the contract. I signed, initialed the pages, and completed the required identity verification.

The deposit hit my account almost immediately.

"Pleasure doing business," the buyer said, holding out his hand.

"Likewise."

I'd barely stepped out of the agency when my phone rang from an unknown number.

I answered.

"You're evil, Elliot!" Tyler shrieked so loudly I had to move the phone away from my ear.

"You canceled my authorized-user credit card too!

"I was paying at the boutique, and it got declined. There were like fifteen people behind me! Do you know how embarrassing that was?"

"The account is in my name," I said. "Not your sister's."

"So what? Vanessa said what's yours belongs to us!

"Turn it back on, or I'll throw every piece of your crappy clothing out when I get home!"

I watched traffic slide past the curb.

"Go ahead."

"You think I won't?"

"Do whatever you want. But your free ride is over."

I hung up.

A minute later, Vanessa called again. This time she was calling from the inn's front desk.

"Elliot, what exactly are you trying to do?" Her voice was low, but she was clearly furious.

"Are you trying to humiliate my mom and brother in front of everyone?

"Do you know how long Tyler cried in that store?

"You're his brother-in-law! You couldn't even buy him a watch? Do you have a heart?"

I stopped at a crosswalk as the light changed.

"Vanessa," I said, "you'd better hope your credit limit is high enough to buy the three of you tickets home."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you won't get another cent from me."

I ended the call.