Chapter 6 - The Changed Locks
It took them three agonizing days to scrape together enough money from distant relatives to book five cramped, middle-seat economy tickets back to Chicago.
They were exhausted, jet-lagged, wearing the same clothes for 48 hours, and boiling with absolute, volcanic rage. Throughout the entire flight, Dad and Diane plotted exactly how they were going to punish me. They were going to throw my belongings into the street. They were going to demand I sign over my savings. They were going to ruin my life.
An Uber dropped them off in front of the massive suburban house.
Dad stormed furiously up the front steps, perfectly prepared to kick the door open and scream my name until his throat bled.
He shoved his key into the front door lock. It wouldn't turn.
He aggressively rattled the handle. It was completely locked. He tried a different key. Nothing.
“Ethan!” Dad roared, slamming his fist against the heavy wooden door. “Open this door right now! I swear to God, I am going to make you regret the day you were born!”
Mason and Claire stood on the porch, glaring at the windows, entirely expecting me to cower inside.
But I wasn't inside.
Diane suddenly gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. She wasn't looking at the door. She was looking at the large, pristine white envelope securely taped to the front window.
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Printed across the front in bold, black letters were three words: Notice of Eviction.
👉 Dad ripped the envelope off the window, and the darkest, most unforgivable secret of his life was finally exposed.
