They Wanted Family Drama And I Wanted A Property Deed Chapter 04
Marge’s gaze flickered away.
Then Sophia jumped in. “Lena, don’t bully Marge. She works so hard taking care of me.”
“Well, well.”
“That just means I need to look harder. She works hard taking care of you, spends the Harts’ money, and eats into my inheritance share.”
Bennett nearly choked on his water.
Catherine stared at me in disbelief. “Why is everything about money with you?”
I took a beat.
“Because so far, that’s the only value you’ve shown me.”
The next morning, my breakfast from Eleanor’s Table arrived right on time.
Lobster ravioli, truffle pasta, honey-glazed brioche, and a warm cup of almond milk latte.
The delivery woman wore a clean white shirt and smiled brightly. “Lena, Eleanor said you probably didn’t eat well last night. This should hold you over. She’s sending the chef over for lunch.”
Sophia stood at the top of the stairs. She looked like she’d swallowed a bug.
Bennett eyed the cart and sneered, “You’ve been here one day and you’re already putting on a show. You really think this is a hotel?”
I picked up a piece of lobster ravioli and took a bite. The juice was so good it actually improved my mood.
“Hotels at least ask if you’re comfortable. Your place doesn’t even come close.”
Richard came downstairs, his face darkened. “Lena, what is this? Strangers coming and going. What’s wrong with you?”
I swallowed my food. “A normal person who was raised with actual love. I don’t make myself small.”
Catherine looked at the fancy dishes on the cart, a complicated look on her face. “Your adoptive parents always spoiled you like this?”
“Yep,” I said with a smile. “That’s why I’m stable and healthy. I don’t need tears to feel seen.”
Sophia went pale.
Catherine immediately had her back. “Get off her back.”
I didn’t bother explaining.
After breakfast, I went upstairs to grab my bag. That’s when I noticed a suitcase sitting outside the storage room door.
Inside: a few cheap changes of clothes and a thin blanket.
Marge stood nearby, her voice flat. “Lena, I took care of your things. Mrs. Hart said you’ll stay here for now. We’ll figure something out in a few days.”
I looked at her. “Who told you to touch my stuff?”
Marge frowned. “I was trying to help. No good deed goes unpunished, I guess.”
I opened the suitcase. Inside, the clothes were a wrinkled mess. The folder I’d tucked in the side pocket had been opened.
I smiled.
That smile made Marge visibly nervous. “What are you laughing at?”
“Your amateur hour,” I said, picking up the folder. “Before you go through someone’s luggage, maybe check the camera blind spots?”
Her face dropped instantly.
Sophia hurried out of her room. “Lena, stop terrorizing Marge. She was just trying to help you unpack.”
I nodded. “Help by going through my files?”
Bennett walked over, his face icy. “Lena, do you have to pick a fight every single day?”
I handed him the folder. “Here. You tell me what she went through.”
Bennett opened it reluctantly.
The next second, his face went slack.
Inside: a letter of attorney authorization, an asset list, and an offer to purchase the lot next to the Hart Estate.
Richard and Catherine hurried over at the noise.
I took the folder back, my voice calm. “Since the Harts don’t have a proper room for me, I had my dad contact the neighbor last night.”
Catherine blinked. “The neighbor?”
“Yeah,” I nodded. “That house is cleaner than this one. Less tacky too. I’m buying it. For myself.”
Richard exploded. “This is insane! You just got back to the Harts, and now you want to move out? What will people think?”
I looked up at him. “What will people think when they find out you shoved your biological daughter in a storage closet?”
Sophia’s eyes welled up. “Lena, is this still about my room? I can really move—”
“Don’t,” I cut her off. “You stay in yours. I’ll buy mine. Kids from the Tri-State Area don’t fight over things. We just buy them.”
Bennett snorted. “Easy to say. You have any idea how much the house next door costs?”
Before I could answer, the doorbell rang.
The butler hurried in, his expression strange. “Sir, the neighbor is here. Plus a real estate agent and a lawyer.”
Richard’s face fell.
The living room door opened, and a group of people walked in.
