My mother said, “Your brother is coming with his two kids to live with us, so you need to leave, you parasite.” I replied, “You’re joking, right?” My mom laughed. “No, I’m serious.” I said nothing and walked away. The next morning / Chapter 14 / 20

Chapter 14 - The Settlement TableOn Tuesday morning—forty-eight hours before our deadline—we gathered in the large glass conference room at Vaughn & Associates.

Sitting on one side of the sleek wooden table were Sophie and myself, backed by three thick binders containing every invoice, tax document, and bank statement from the past three years.

Sitting across from us were my mother, my father, Derek, and their family attorney, a tired-looking man named Mr. Henderson who clearly realized he had no leverage left to play.

Derek sat with his arms crossed, staring out the window, his jaw clenched tight. My mother looked at the floor, refusing to make eye contact with anyone. Only my father sat upright, looking directly at me with a quiet, solemn acceptance.

Mr. Henderson cleared his throat and opened a blue folder.

"Ms. Vaughn," he began, addressing Sophie. "My clients recognize the validity of your client's equitable contributions to the property at 412 Maple Drive. However, as stated previously, liquidating thirty-eight thousand dollars in cash on short notice is impossible without refinancing."

"Then refinance," Sophie stated simply.

"We attempted to," Henderson admitted, casting a quick, frustrated glance at Derek. "Unfortunately, due to pending judgments attached to Mr. Derek Vance, the primary lenders will not approve a joint refinance if he resides on the property or holds any interest."

"That sounds like an internal family issue, Mr. Henderson," Sophie countered smoothly. "My client's partition motion goes before the judge on Thursday morning. If a certified cashier's check is not in our hands by 5:00 PM tomorrow, the receiver takes control of the listing."

My father suddenly spoke up, his voice firm and decisive. "We will pay it."

Eleanor snapped her head toward him. "Arthur, how?! We don't have—"

"I am taking a lump-sum distribution from my remaining pension reserve," Arthur announced, ignoring her entirely. "And I am taking out a small personal equity loan under my name alone."

He turned his gaze toward Derek.

"And Derek will be moving out of the primary suite and finding an apartment of his own by the end of the month," my father added, his tone leaving no room for argument. "He will pay rent for the guest room until he leaves, which will go directly toward servicing the loan."