The original poster kept bashing her brother-in-law.

“He’s constantly asking for a care package from home. Does he think the stuff is free?

“Sometimes, he texts my husband late at night. How old is he anyway? He should have some boundaries. Some nerve.”

I frowned.

Teresa sent me some local treats once, but before the parcel arrived, I got a call from Cass.

She said, “I’m going to be blunt, Miles. Can’t you see what you’re doing here?

“We are here, denying ourselves of good things, but you’re hogging all the goodies from Mom.”

After the call, I wired a thousand bucks to Teresa.

When the package arrived, I nearly burst out laughing.

I thought I’d be spoiled, hence the phone call, but it was barely two pounds of anything worthwhile.

The late-night texting sparked yet another fight between Cass and me.

I came across an article about influenza and sent a reminder text to Sebastian to take our aging parents for their flu shots.

Cass saw the message and went off on me via voice message.

“Are you insane to text Sebastian this late at night?

“Look at the time. Come on. Show some consideration.”

We got into a huge fight and didn’t speak for a long time after that.

My eyes furrowed tighter as I read on.

The car pulled up just outside the neighborhood.

After paying for the fare, I carried my luggage to the apartment complex and headed straight up.

I pressed my thumb against the fingerprint scanner, but the door wouldn’t unlock.

Pausing for a second, I tried again.

My attempt failed once more.

I punched in the code I knew by heart. It was a combination of my birthday and my mom’s, but it came up as an error.

The smart lock blinked red, keeping me out of my own home.

The sinking feeling in my gut grew stronger by the second.

I tried Alexander’s number, but my call went unanswered.

Then, I called my mother. It took several rings, but she eventually picked up.

“Was the door code changed, Mom?”

The line went quiet for a bit before Teresa’s embarrassed voice came on.

“Huh?

“Oh, oh…. Yes, it was changed. Cass mentioned that the previous code was too easy to guess, so she changed it.

“Why have you gone home? Didn’t I book you a room at the hotel?”

“What’s the new code?”

Dismissing her questions, I went straight to the point.

“Um… Cass set the code. I’m not too sure myself. Why don’t you wait until I get back?”

“Mom.” I cut her off, my voice serene.

“I’m outside the apartment right now. Just tell me the code.

“Otherwise, I might have to call the locksmith right now.”

She stammered, probably picking up on my tone.

“Why do you have to be difficult?

“Fine. I’ll send you a text right now.”

A text message arrived once the call ended. The notification showed four digits—0105.

It was Alexander’s birthday.

Smiling to myself, I entered the numbers.

The door opened with a click.

The heat in the apartment was on full blast, a sharp contrast to the cold outside.

I checked the shoe rack for my house slippers, but they were nowhere to be found.

Even the two pairs of sneakers I had kept there were abandoned in the corner, gathering dust.

With my luggage in tow, I stepped inside.

While passing the master bedroom, I noticed something about the rug at the door.

It was decided that the master bedroom was reserved for my parents.

Since I worked out of town, I was happy with the smaller bedroom.

The other bedroom was supposed to be a temporary space for Alexander and Cass.

As it stood, the décor of the master bedroom wasn’t in my parents’ taste.

My bedroom was down the hallway, at the very end.

As I drew close, my heart pounded out of my chest.

I opened the door and froze.

My cozy oak bed was gone.

It was replaced by built-in cabinets in an off-white finish.

Every trace of my life, from books, awards, to pictures, was missing.

The space was now furnished with clothes, bags, and shoes.

My room in the apartment I had paid for had been converted into Cass’ walk-in closet.

Blood rushed to my head, and my ears rang.

As it turned out, I was the unwelcome brother-in-law in the post.

The post was about me.

I stood there, shaking with chills while burning with rage. My grip on reality was slipping fast.

Just then, the sound of the door clicking echoed in the air.

Cass strutted in in her heels, a brand-new designer bag slung over her shoulder.

The smile on her face went stiff when she saw me.

Her voice was shrill. “How did you get in?

“Where are your manners? How can you enter a home without the owner’s permission?”

My voice was icy.

“This is my home. Why can’t I come in?”

Cass scoffed. “Your home? You’re just my husband’s brother. Don’t try to act like you own the place. Take a look at the mirror and ask if you belong here.

“Stop overstepping. It’s pathetic, really.”

She ditched her bag on the floor before making her way toward me. She blocked the entrance of her walk-in closet.

It was as if she were guarding a vault.

She looked me up and down, the disdain in her eyes apparent.

“Didn’t Mom book you a hotel? Why are you hanging around someone else’s home?

“Check your outfit. I doubt your clothes cost more than a hundred bucks altogether. Don’t bring your frugality in here.”

Frugality?

My gaze fell on her down jacket. I recalled buying the exact same one for Teresa.

Cass wouldn’t even be in this complex building, talking to me if it weren’t for my money.

I took a step forward, inching closer toward her.

“My name is on the title deed. So, tell me. Whose place is this?”

Cass grimaced and raised her voice.

“Cut the crap!

“This place was promised to your brother and me at our wedding. Alexander is the oldest, so the family home goes to him. Alexander and I are the rightful owners of this apartment. Who are you to tell me what to do?”

“Promised to you?”

I smirked in rage.

“Are you suffering from amnesia or playing dumb, Cass?

“I let you stay in this apartment because we are family. Have you or Alexander contributed even a penny?”

With my words striking a nerve in her, Cass turned red in the face.

“Show some respect!

“So what if you paid for the place? You’re part of the family, so providing for us is the least you can do!

“Mom and Dad agreed to give me the room. You’re just a nobody.”

“I’m just a nobody?”

I repeated her insult, rage building in my chest.

“I’ll show you who’s the nobody here.”

Not wasting another breath on her, I shoved her aside.

I stepped into what used to be my bedroom and pulled out my phone to film everything from the wardrobe, the dressing table, to the scattered shoes on the floor, and her cosmetics on the ledge.

With a shriek, Cass lunged to snatch the phone out of my hands.

“You have no right to take a video.

“You’re invading my privacy! Get out of here!”

I stepped aside to dodge her, causing her to stumble back, nearly falling. She became even more hysterical.

Just then, the front door swung open.

My parents and Alexander were back.

Taking in the mess and Cass’ tearful eyes, Alexander furrowed his brows.

“What did you do? Why do you have to come home and get on Cass’ nerves?”

Teresa pulled a face. “Didn’t I tell you to head straight to the hotel? Why do you have to pick a fight at home?”

Thomas gave me a tug on the sleeve.

“Miles, why the fighting when you get back? Can’t you be civil?”

This was my family.

Without even getting to the bottom of the matter, they had already decided that I was at fault.

Alexander spoke matter-of-factly, “You aren’t back for a few days a year anyway. What’s wrong with Cass using an unused space for her clothes?”

“We are family. Why must you be petty with me?

“Besides, Cass is expecting. She’s the pride of the family now. You shouldn’t upset her. Hurry up and apologize to her now.”

My parents stood there, not finding anything wrong with what Alexander had said.

Taking a deep breath, I couldn’t shake off the sheer absurdity of the matter.

The years of hurt and anger I held against my family reached a boiling point.

I smirked. “You want me to apologize to her?

“Dream on.”

I turned to my parents.

“Alexander has always been your favorite.

“He would always have the best while I was stuck with his hand-me-downs.

“You’d scrimp and save for his dreams to be an artist, but you told me it was a waste of money for me to learn the piano when I expressed interest.

“You threw him a party for getting into a community college, but you made me take out a student loan for an Ivy League acceptance.”

My voice cracked.

Still, I didn’t stop there.

“Even when he started working, you felt bad enough to fund his lifestyle because his monthly wages of three grand weren’t enough.

“You demanded that I pay for his wedding.

“I worked myself to the bone in Port Coastal, too terrified to get sick or quit just to provide for you. I just wanted a home to come back to, and this is what I get in return?”

My voice shook.

I wasn’t naïve to overlook their favoritism.

The fear simply held me back. By calling them out on their behavior, I wouldn’t have a home to return to.

I stuck my head in the sand and plugged my ears, thinking that by feigning ignorance, we could still play one happy family.

That way, I would have a place to belong to.

Yet, they cared nothing about my sacrifices.

“I spent every penny of my savings on this apartment, and it became a gift to Alexander and Cass. I can’t even have a room to myself. Why do I have to stay in a hotel when I come back?

“Mom, Dad, you had never planned to let me through the door, right?

Bombarded by my grilling, Teresa turned pale, and her lips quivered.

“H-How can you say that about us? We raised you—”

“Raised you?”

I laughed as tears streamed down my face.

“Sure, you raised me.

“In return, I deserved to be bled dry to help Alexander. I’m not worthy to even have a room to tuck myself in, right?”

“That’s enough!” Thomas slammed the table.

“You’ve gone too far! A few years of school and some money sure got to your head. What makes you think you can talk down to your parents?

“You don’t make the rules in this house. If you’re going to keep up with that attitude, you can leave right now.”

With the family on her side, Cass grew a spine and folded her arms with a smirk.

“Hear that? Why don’t you just start your own family and get your own place?

“Don’t try to act like you’re all that here. It’s pathetic.”

Alexander shot me a look of disappointment and disgust.

“When have you become so petty, Miles? You weren’t like this when you were a child.

“Just say that you’re sorry and head to your hotel. We can then move on, and you’ll still be my brother.”

The family of four stood as one, on a united front against me.

Their unity was perfect yet stinging.

The one last spark of hope and love I had for the family was gone.

It was all for the best.

With everything out in the open, I felt lighter than ever.

Wiping the tears off my face, I didn’t look at either of them. I whipped out my phone and dialed a number.

“Mr. Froot? How are you? I’m the owner of a unit in Azure Heights. I want to put my apartment on the market.

“That’s right. It’s an urgent sale. The sooner, the better.”