“Grandma said that?”
Camille nodded.
“She knew exactly what she was doing.”
Mom’s reaction was immediate.
“Jasmine turned her against us.”
Patricia called from the sidewalk.
“No, Candace. Margaret had eyes.”
Dad spun toward her.
“This is private family business.”
Adrien looked around his property.
“Not if you’re shouting it here.”
Then he added calmly, “And unless Jasmine wants you here, you need to leave.”
Everyone looked at me.
My parents.
My sister.
The neighbors.
Adrien.
His team.
For once, no one else could make the decision.
Camille continued explaining that Grandma’s mental capacity had been documented when the will was finalized. The house had passed cleanly to me. The sale had been properly recorded.
Dad demanded proof.
Adrien offered to show him the wire record.
“Eight hundred seventy-five thousand dollars cleared four days ago.”
Mom shook her head.
“Using money to destroy a family.”
Adrien looked at her.
“The money didn’t do that.”
I watched Brianna staring at the house.
Her CEO owned the building.
Her new workspace was inside the property she had tried to take from me.
And I was still going to live there.
“There’s more,” I said.
Dad closed his eyes for a second.
“What now?”
“My lease includes a right of first refusal if Adrien ever decides to sell.”
Dad’s head snapped back toward me.
Camille explained.
“If the property is offered for sale, Jasmine gets the first opportunity to purchase it under the agreed process.”
Mom stared at me.
“That’s planning.”
“Long-term planning.”
Grandma had taught me plenty about that.
She used to tell me that emotional reactions passed, but good decisions kept working after you stopped being angry.
Adrien smiled slightly.
“Your grandmother sounds like she knew what she was doing.”
“She did.”
Brianna looked between us.
“So I’m supposed to work downstairs while you live upstairs?”
“Yes.”
“And if I refuse?”
“That’s your decision,” Adrien said. “But the assignment itself is legitimate.”
Vanessa added, “The property was selected for business reasons. Your personal history with it doesn’t change the assignment.”
Mom’s voice rose again.
“She has to work in a house she should have inherited?”
I turned toward her.
“Should have?”
Nobody answered.
“Based on what?”
Dad finally said, “Need.”
“No.”
I looked at Brianna.
“She wanted it. That’s different.”
Mom started toward me again.
Adrien stepped between us.
“Mrs. Holloway, it’s time to leave.”
Dad challenged him.
Adrien took out his phone and called for assistance with people refusing to leave private property.
That ended the argument quickly.
Mom grabbed Dad’s arm.
“We’re going.”
Then she looked back at me.
“You chose strangers over family.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“I chose myself over people who never chose me.”
Brianna stopped beside the car.
“When he gets tired of this little arrangement and you’re alone with no family, remember you did this.”
“I will.”
They left.
Mom cried on the way to the car.