Inheriting her beloved grandmother’s house, Claire pours her heart into its renovation for her mom. But the unexpected return of her estranged sister, Emma, after fourteen years, with a demand for a share of the inheritance, throws Claire’s plans into turmoil. What will she do now?

Hi, I’m Claire.

My life, though not the most exciting (wake up, code, eat, repeat), was predictable.

Being a software developer doesn’t exactly scream “adventure,” but hey, at least it pays the bills. That predictability, though?

Yeah, it got tossed out the window recently.

Now I’m dealing with something that’s got me equal parts confused and simmering with rage.

So, life recently threw me a curveball.

A good one, mind you, but one that came with a whole lot of unexpected baggage.

My grandma, Martha, passed away a few months back. I loved her so much, and we were incredibly close, practically attached at the hip throughout my childhood.

She spent her golden years in this charming little house, and while she was alive, she always dreamed of renovating that house.

When the will was read, guess who inherited it? Me.

It felt surreal, both exciting and bittersweet. Renovating that house, making it look like Martha’s dream come true, was a no-brainer.

I poured my heart and soul into it.

Three months of dust, late nights, and endless trips to the hardware store later, it was transformed.

It felt like a brand-new space but still held onto the spirit of the old house, just like Martha would’ve wanted.

I wasn’t planning on living there.

I wanted to give it to Mom so she could live there instead.

She’d been living in a tiny, rundown apartment since Dad left, and this was the perfect fresh start.

Seeing her face light up when she walked in for the first time made every late night and aching muscle worth it.

It was a Tuesday afternoon, a beautiful spring day that bathed the living room in a golden glow.

I was showing Mom a new antique lamp I’d found for the corner when a sharp rap on the door shattered the peaceful moment.

Mom’s smile faltered, replaced by a flicker of unease.

“Who could that be?” she murmured, her voice laced with apprehension.

I shrugged, a vague sense of curiosity tugging at me.

“Just one way to find out,” I replied, walking towards the door.

As I reached for the knob, a million thoughts raced through my head.