They Gave Me the Service Entrance, I Built My Own Palace

Chapter 5: They Gave Away My Home

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I stood at the curb waiting for a car, rain dripping from the ends of my hair.

The shoe box had gone soft and warped, and my heels were already rubbing my skin raw.

Then my phone flashed with an Instagram notification.

Sloane had posted a new story.

In the photo, the bridal suite was filled with champagne and white roses. She was wearing the sapphire bracelet and leaning against Grant, while Eli stood beside them, holding up her cake.

The caption was just one sentence:

“They said I’ll never have to worry about not having a place. Having family is the best.”

That was my suite, my fiancé, and the brother I had once believed would always be on my side.

I closed the app, but the car I’d called was snatched by someone else before I could get to it.

The driver pulled away, splashing muddy water all over me.

I didn’t even have the energy to be angry.

My phone buzzed again.

This time, it was from the Mercer family’s lawyer.

“Grant, per your and Mr. Navarro’s request, the draft lifetime residential use agreement for Ms. Sloane is attached. Please confirm and forward to Ms. Bennett for signature.”

A few seconds later, another email arrived.

“Apologies, the previous email was sent in error. Please disregard and delete.”

I opened the attachment.

The property address in the agreement was the Lighthouse Hill house my mother had left me.

Grant and Eli had promised Sloane the rear cottage for her lifetime, rent-free.

Utilities, repairs, and property taxes would all be the owner’s responsibility.

Mine.

That house was the last thing my mother had left me.

They hadn’t even asked.

They had just given it away on my behalf.

Rain spattered the screen, blurring the words “lifetime use” into a watery smear.

Standing there with the soaked shoe box in my hand, a single thought crystallized with absolute clarity.