Chapter 5: House Rules and Heart Shields
The lawyer frowned: "So the down payment was from Tyler’s savings, meaning the house isn’t in your name."
He spoke carefully, eyes apologetic. "We can fight for your share, but it’ll be tricky. Not impossible, but tricky."
I just stared, stunned. Did he plan this all along? Never intended for a future with me?
It felt like the floor dropped out from under me. Had I just been a placeholder? Was I just a means to an end?
So were all those years we hustled together, splitting a single DoorDash order, depending on each other—were they all a lie?
Every late-night pizza, every shared blanket, every whispered dream. I wanted to scream, to rewind time and do it all over again.
“Enough, let’s just go. With this crowd, there’s no way she’ll get pushed around.”
Someone pumped their fist. The crowd rallied, voices rising. "We’ve got your back, Maya!"
“Alright then, everyone in the truck—let’s roll!”
The streamer counted down, the lawyer grabbed his briefcase, and the golden retriever barked, tail wagging. I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the crowd behind me. For the first time in a long time, I felt ready. This was it. My moment. We were going to get my life back—one box at a time.













