I received the keys to the mansion I inherited, and my husband’s family came in choosing rooms as if I didn’t matter anymore until I held up the papers and said something that wiped the smiles off their faces.

“I didn’t buy it to live here with eight people and lose my privacy,” Maya said while holding the folder to her chest.

“I bought it as an investment, and it is going to be rented out to a corporate tenant starting next month.”

The blow landed in the middle of the room like a heavy flowerpot shattering on the floor. Bridget shouted that it couldn’t be true, but Maya stood her ground.

“Did you bring us all this way just to humiliate us in front of everyone?” Martha demanded.

“I didn’t bring you here; Austin did,” Maya corrected her.

For the first time in his life, Austin was left without a single word to say in his defense. His father-in-law, Bill, finally spoke up in a grave voice about how a marriage shouldn’t work with such selfishness.

“Young lady, if you were blessed with this house, the least you can do is think about your family.”

Maya turned toward him and said she thought about her own family, specifically her mother who worked for thirty years so she would never depend on anyone.

“What exactly did you sign?” Austin asked suddenly, his expression changing as he realized he didn’t know the full story.