MY MONEY PAID FOR THEIR VACATION—BUT MY MOTHER-IN-LAW SAID I WASN’T FAMILY

“Give me my phone, Leon.””

Patrice held out her hand, her gold bracelets sliding down her wrist.

Leon didn't move.

“I'm asking you a question, Mom. What paperwork?””

Patrice looked around the hotel lobby. A family standing near the luggage carts had stopped talking. The receptionist was pretending to study her computer screen.

“Not here,” Patrice whispered.

“Then where?””

“Somewhere private.””

Leon glanced at the screenshot again.

His mother's message was unmistakable.

Once Nadine pays for everything, we'll have Leon sign the paperwork. He's been talking about putting the house in both our names anyway. This vacation is the perfect time to get him to agree.

He looked at Camille.

“Did Marcus respond?””

Camille nodded.

“He said he'd bring the documents.””

“When?””

“Tomorrow, I think.””

Leon felt his stomach tighten.

“Tomorrow?””

Patrice snatched her handbag from the luggage cart.

“Your brother is helping me with something. That's all. You're making it sound like a crime.””

“Then explain it.””

Patrice lowered her voice.

“Your father left me with nothing. I've spent my entire life trying to make sure my children have something. Is it wrong for me to want security?””

Leon shook his head.

“Security from what?””

“From being forgotten.””

Camille folded her arms.

“Mom, this has nothing to do with being forgotten.””

Patrice turned toward her daughter.

“You have no idea what I've sacrificed.””

“I know exactly what you've sacrificed. But Nadine didn't deserve to be treated like that.””

Patrice's face hardened.

“Your brother has changed since he married her.””

Leon let out a frustrated breath.

“Can we stop talking about Nadine for one minute?””

“No,” Patrice snapped.

“Because everything comes back to her. She controls your money, your decisions, even where we go on vacation.””

Leon looked at her.

“She offered to pay for the rooms because you said you couldn't afford the trip.””

“I never asked her to pay for everything.””

“You asked me to convince her to organize it.””

“And she agreed!””

Leon looked down at the screenshot.

There was another message beneath the one Camille had shown him.

He zoomed in.

Patrice had written:

She won't question it if you tell her it's just estate planning. Get his signature before she starts asking questions.

Leon felt a cold sensation move through his chest.

“Mom, what does this mean?””

Patrice reached for the phone again.

“Stop reading private messages.””

“Why are you trying to get my signature without Nadine knowing?””

“Because Nadine has no business in our family property.””

The words came out before Patrice could stop herself.

Leon stared at her.

“Our family property?””

Patrice pressed her lips together.

Camille slowly lowered her phone.

“Mom, what property?””

Patrice turned away.

The receptionist finally spoke.

“Sir, I can offer two rooms for tonight if you'd like to proceed. I will need a payment method.””

Leon looked at the printed bill.

Then at his mother.

“Book two rooms. One for me and one for you and Camille.””

Patrice immediately objected.

“Why should I share with Camille?””

“Because I can't afford six rooms.””

“You can put it on your credit card.””

“I already tried.””

“You're embarrassing me.””

Leon almost laughed.

He was beginning to understand that embarrassment was the only consequence Patrice seemed to recognize.

He handed over his card again and asked the receptionist to charge only the two rooms.

This time, the smaller amount went through.

Patrice watched the transaction with a dissatisfied expression.

“Your wife should be paying for this.””

Leon turned toward her.

“My wife isn't here because you told her to leave.””

Patrice waved a hand.

“She'll get over it.””

“No, Mom. I don't think she will.””

The receptionist printed the revised reservation.

Leon collected the two key cards.

Camille took one.

Patrice reached for the other.

Leon held it back.

“Mom, before you get any more ideas, I need to know what Marcus is bringing tomorrow.””

Patrice looked at him for several seconds.

Then she leaned closer.

“Your brother is trying to help you protect your house.””

“My house?””

“Yes. You and Nadine bought that property together, didn't you?””

Leon nodded slowly.

They had purchased their home two years earlier. Nadine had contributed a substantial down payment from savings she had accumulated before marriage. Leon had paid part of the closing costs and contributed to the mortgage.

Both names were on the deed.

“What does that have to do with you?””

Patrice's eyes narrowed.

“Your brother explained that there may be a way to make sure the house stays in the family if something happens.””

“By putting your name on it?””

“Why not? I'm your mother.””

Leon looked at Camille.

His sister's expression told him she had suspected something.

He turned back.

“I'm not signing anything tomorrow.””

Patrice's face changed.

“You haven't even seen the documents.””

“I don't need to.””

“Leon, don't be foolish.””

“I'm going upstairs.””

He walked toward the elevators.

Camille followed.

Patrice remained near the reception desk, clutching her handbag.

As the elevator doors began closing, Leon heard her voice.

“Don't forget who raised you!””

The doors shut.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Camille looked at him.

“You know Nadine paid the deposit on the house, right?””

Leon turned.

“Of course I know.””

“No, I mean almost all of it.””

He frowned.

“What are you talking about?””

Camille hesitated.

“Mom told Marcus that Nadine had a large amount of money saved before she married you. She thinks if the house becomes a family asset, she can protect it.””

Leon stared at his sister.

“Why would she think Nadine's money belongs to her?””

Camille looked down.

“Because Mom thinks everything you have belongs to her family.””

The elevator reached their floor.

Leon stepped out, but his mind remained downstairs.

He unlocked his hotel room and dropped his wallet on the desk.

Then he opened his phone.

He searched for Nadine's contact.

He wanted to tell her everything.

But before he could call, a notification appeared.

It was an email from their mortgage company.