“Sorry to interrupt, but we need to discuss the nursery demolition scheduled for tomorrow.”
Sophie stood up so quickly she stumbled. Eric caught her arm.
“You’re destroying the nursery?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
“It’s my house.” I shrugged. “I can do whatever I want with it.”
She reached for her phone with shaking hands. “I’m calling Mom.”
“Go ahead. Tell her how the sister she thinks is bitter and lonely actually owns your dream home. Tell her how your perfect husband is a thief and a gambler. Tell her everything.”
Instead of dialing, Sophie sank to the floor, crying. Eric shot me a concerned look.
“Maybe we should get her out of here.”
“Good idea.”
But as I moved to help her up, Sophie grabbed my arm.
“Please. We can fix this. All of it. I’ll leave Jaime. I’ll tell Mom and Dad the truth. Just… please don’t take our home.”
For a moment, I wavered. She looked so small, so broken. My little sister, the one I had protected since childhood.
Then I remembered finding her in my bed with Jaime. Remembered her pregnancy announcement at the venue where my wedding should have happened. Remembered every family dinner where she played the victim while I was cast as the villain.
“Your home?” I stepped back. “This was supposed to be my home with Jaime before you took that future and made it yours. Get out.”
When she did not move, I raised my voice. “Get out.”
Eric helped her up, guiding her toward the door. She paused in the doorway, one hand on her stomach.
“You know what’s worse than having something taken from you?” she asked quietly. “Becoming the kind of person who enjoys taking things from others.”
The door closed behind them with a final click. I stood in my gutted house, listening to Sophie’s car start up and drive away.
My phone buzzed. A text from the contractor.
Nursery demolition still on for tomorrow.
I stared at the message for a long moment, Sophie’s words echoing in my head. Then I typed back: Proceed as planned.
Because some wounds run too deep for mercy.
The morning of Sophie’s housewarming party dawned bright and clear. I watched from my bedroom window as the demolition equipment rolled up the driveway right on schedule.
My phone had not stopped buzzing since dawn. First Eric.
Are you sure about this?
Then Elelliana.
Sophie’s decorating the house right now. She has no idea.
Finally, my mother.
Please don’t do anything foolish today.
I did not respond to any of them.
At exactly noon, cars began arriving. Family. Friends. Colleagues. Sophie had invited everyone to witness her perfect life.
“Ready?” Eric asked, appearing beside me.
I straightened my blazer and grabbed the envelope from my desk. “Time to crash a party.”
We walked across the street just as Sophie was welcoming guests on the front porch. She froze when she saw me.
“You’re not supposed to be here.”
“Actually,” I said with a smile, “you’re not supposed to be here.”
The engine outside rumbled to life. Sophie spun around, her face draining of color as the renovation crew advanced toward the pristine front lawn.
“What’s happening?”
My mother pushed through the crowd. “Ivy, what have you done?”
I pulled the papers from my envelope. “I’m renovating my property.”
Jaime appeared, looking rumpled and panicked. “What do you mean, your property?”
Eric’s voice carried across the suddenly silent gathering. “She owns it. She bought it months ago.”