Chapter 4
The very next day, Logan tagged Vivien and me.
“@Cashin @Vivien, why did you kick Mom out?”
He posted a photo of the suitcase.
Then he added, “Just because Mom gave Sienna and me five hundred thousand and only gave you two bucks, you’re throwing her out? Do you two even have a conscience?”
The group chat turned into a mob instantly.
“How could you treat your own mother like this?”
“You’re the oldest. Isn’t it your job to step up?”
“She still gave you two dollars. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?”
Sienna piled on.
“Cashin, Mom lived with you for seven years and her health just kept getting worse. The stress you caused probably made her sick. Doesn’t that make it your responsibility?”
I was shaking with rage, about to post all the evidence.
And then, just like that, Vivien and I were removed from the group chat.
My phone rang.
“You okay, babe?” Vivien asked, her voice steady as if none of this had touched her.
I slowly pulled myself together. “I’m fine. Don’t let what they said get to you.”
“I won’t,” she said. “I already had someone come change the locks.”
Mom had a key to our place.
Of course they had tried to bring her back.
Right after we hung up, my phone rang again.
Mom.
I took a breath and answered.
“Cashin, what is going on? Why won’t the door open?”
“Mom, since living with me was so hard on you, you can stay with Logan and Sienna from now on. I don’t care about the money anymore. And honestly, I’m done fighting for a place in this family.”
Logan exploded in the background. “After everything Mom did for you, you’re just cutting her off?”
“Not just Mom,” I said coldly. “You and Sienna are done with me too.”
Sienna’s voice cut in, sharp and shrill. “Oh, I see. You just want to dump Mom on us so you and your wife can live comfortably. Let me be very clear—that is not happening. If you blow up this family, don’t think for one second we’ll let you just walk away.”
I clenched my fists.
They had always known exactly how much work went into caring for an elderly parent.
They knew.
They had never once said thank you.
And now they had the nerve to accuse us.
“Fine,” I said. “Then none of us get to be comfortable.”
I hung up and buried myself in work.
Then my receptionist rushed in, panicked.
“Mr. Harper, your brother and sister are out front with your mom. They’re making a huge scene, saying you bully your siblings and abuse your mother. They’re demanding that you come out.”
I shot to my feet.