Jenna moved beside my son’s birthday cake, waving both hands like she was suddenly in charge

Thursday evening arrived with a heavy downpour that turned the neighborhood streets into slick, reflective mirrors. I had just put Oliver to bed after a long session of helping him build a massive Lego spaceship, and I was sitting at the kitchen island reviewing final proofs for the *Aura Cosmetics* project when a violent, frantic pounding echoed from my front door.

*Bang. Bang. Bang.*

It wasn't a normal knock. It was the frantic, desperate drumming of someone who had completely lost control.

I frowned, glancing at the clock on the microwave. It was past nine o’clock. My heart gave a brief, protective thud as I thought of Oliver sleeping upstairs, but the annoyance quickly overpowered the worry. I walked down the dim hallway, unlocked the deadbolt, and pulled the door open.

Jenna stood on the porch, completely soaked, her hair plastered to her face, makeup running in dark streaks down her cheeks. Rick stood behind her in the shadows of the porch light, hands shoved deep into his jacket pockets, looking thoroughly miserable.

"Jenna? What the hell are you doing here at this hour?" I demanded, blocking the doorway with my body. "Do you have any idea what time it is? Oliver is sleeping."

"We got the notice, Nate!" Jenna sobbed hysterically, trying to push past me into the house. I didn't budge an inch, keeping my feet planted firmly on the entryway rug. "The formal eviction notice! The sheriff is going to lock us out by Monday morning! We’re going to be living out of our car with Lily!"

"Stop screaming," I hissed, glancing up the stairwell to make sure Oliver hadn't woken up. "And stop trying to force your way into my home. We talked about this. Your financial situation is not my emergency."

"You have the money!" Jenna shrieked, her voice cracking with raw desperation and furious entitlement. "I know you do! You just landed that big design contract with *Aura Cosmetics*—Mom told me Marcus bragged about it! You're sitting pretty in your nice house while your own niece is about to sleep on the pavement!"

I stared at my sister, a cold, hard realization washing over me. Not only was my mother feeding Jenna private information about my business and finances, but Jenna genuinely believed my hard work was a communal piggy bank she had a legal right to raid.

"My mother has no business discussing my clients or my income with you," I said, my voice dropping into a dangerous, icy register. "And you have some nerve showing up here, screaming like a lunatic, demanding the fruits of my labor after what you did to my son."

"It was just a cake!" Jenna screamed, rain dripping off her nose as she pointed a trembling finger at my chest. "You're ruining our lives over a stupid piece of cake!"

"No, Jenna," I said clearly, looking straight into her wild, bloodshot eyes. "I’m not ruining your life. You ruined your own life through years of fiscal irresponsibility, weaponized incompetence, and complete disregard for anyone other than yourself. I am simply refusing to clean up the mess anymore."

Rick finally stepped forward, grabbing Jenna's arm. "Jenna... come on. Let's go. This isn't working."

"Shut up, Rick! You're useless!" she snapped, violently shaking him off. She looked back at me, her face contorting into pure venom. "You're a selfish, heartless bastard, Nate. When Mom dies, don't expect me to ever speak to you again. We are done."