I went downstairs to breakfast, but peace lasted only minutes.
“Emma! There you are!”
My mother rushed across the restaurant followed by my father, Ryan, and Chloe. They had tracked my location through the family phone plan.
My mother hugged me dramatically.
“We were so worried about you last night!”
My father sat down like he owned the place.
“We always believed in you,” he said proudly. “Sometimes tough love is necessary. Kicking you out motivated you.”
Ryan got straight to the point.
He slid a contract across the table.
“My real estate fund needs liquidity,” he said. “Invest $15 million. Keep the wealth in the family.”
I stared at him.
“You threw me out last night so you could turn my home into an office. And now you want fifteen million?”
Ryan rolled his eyes.
“You’ve got $46 million. Think of it as paying the family back.”
I looked at them.
“No.”
The smiles disappeared instantly.
My mother gasped.
“How selfish can you be?”
Ryan leaned forward, his voice turning threatening.
“You built that software using a laptop Dad bought you in college. Legally we own half of your company. Sign the contract or we’ll sue you.”
I studied him calmly.
Then I ripped the contract in half.
“My answer is still no.”