“Arden, listen to me carefully. This weekend is happening whether you like it or not. Your father has the spare key. We will be there Friday with the family. If that house is not ready, you are going to humiliate us in front of everyone, and I promise you will regret it. We gave you life. We gave you discipline. We taught you how to work. That house exists because of us. Do not test me.”
I played it twice.
Then I sent it to Soraya.
Her reply came back fast.
“Perfect. Still silent.”
Silence did something strange to my family.
It made them louder.
By Thursday afternoon, according to Elowen’s screenshots, my mother
had convinced herself I was planning to ruin the house before they arrived. My father believed I was bluffing. My brother believed I was selling the property behind their backs.
That last one interested me.
