He Put Our Wedding House in His Ex's Name

On the other end of the line, Stewart's voice went soft and coaxing.

"Okay, okay, just hold on a second. Let me finish this with Lucy first."

Then his tone flipped a full one-eighty.

"Lucy Pruitt, are you done throwing your little tantrum? Transfer the money to the account already, don't waste everyone's time."

I asked, cold. "Are you still with Melinda right now?"

Stewart admitted it without a shred of shame. "Yeah, Mel's right here beside me. So what?"

"So what?" I laughed, furious.

"She's sitting in a VIP lounge sipping coffee, and you're over here acting like your hair's on fire?"

"She just crashed into low blood sugar because we didn't get the house! I'm taking care of a sick person here!"

His excuse was clumsy and ridiculous. "Can you not be so petty about this?"

"I'm petty?" The shout finally tore out of me. "Stewart! You are out of your mind!"

"Lucy, keep your voice down!" He seemed afraid the people around him would hear.

"I'm coming over right now. You get the house sorted, and I'll take you to buy any designer bag you want, call it an apology, okay?"

I thought about the down payment, how I wouldn't even spring for a twenty-dollar takeout order, how I ate the lunch I packed every single day.

And he, so lightly, dangled a handbag at me, like it could cancel out millions in betrayal and lies.

Ding.

Another text from the bank.

The transfer window closes in 15 minutes. Please complete your facial-recognition authorization immediately.

Stewart clearly heard the alert tone through the phone.

His voice turned frantic in an instant.

"You hear that! Lucy! Authorize it now! You want every relative and friend we have laughing at our family?"

I said into the phone, mocking.

"Stewart, you only care that you'll look like a fool for not getting the house. You don't care at all how monstrous you look, playing your fiancée's whole family for idiots?"

"Lucy, don't say that, Stew only did it for me—"

Melinda's fake, wounded little voice slipped back in.

Before she could finish, Stewart cut her off, snarling.

"Lucy, let me tell you something! Over a little bit of money, you have to nickel and dime, wreck two families' relationship, are you sick in the head?"

The bank app's pop-up jumped onto the screen, pushing me to complete the final step.

I hung up, tuning out Stewart's insane roaring on the line completely.

A few minutes later my front door slammed open.

Stewart charged across the room and lunged for my phone.

"How long are you going to drag this out? Now! Right now! Transfer the money! Facial recognition!"

He jabbed a finger at the watch on his wrist, face twisted, screaming at me.

"The bank's about to close! If you don't transfer the money, someone else is going to snatch this school-district spot! Can you carry that responsibility?"

I took a step back and looked at him, cold.

Melinda cowered behind him like a startled little rabbit, all fragile and helpless.

"Mr. and Mrs. Pruitt!" Seeing I wouldn't budge, Stewart wheeled around to pressure my parents.

"You two talk some sense into Lucy! Don't let her wreck the peace between our families over a little money! How are we supposed to be in-laws after this!"

He was treating my parents like an ATM he could work however he pleased.

"A little money?" I finally spoke, cold.

"Stewart, in your eyes, my parents' life savings are just a little money, just a number, is that it?"

"I said I'd pay it back!" He cut me off, impatient, still pushing. "Quit stalling! Just do the recognition!"