“This apartment would be worth more if Lucas invested in it,” she said pointedly.
Lucas nodded. “We could knock down a wall. Maybe refinance.”
I reminded them that major changes required the owner’s approval.
Evelyn scoffed. “Don’t be silly. This is Lucas’s home now.”
Then came the real demand.
One evening, Evelyn placed a folder on the table. Inside were loan forms, renovation quotes, and a document titled Property Ownership Adjustment.
“You should add Lucas’s name to the apartment,” she said lightly. “That’s what a supportive wife does.”
Lucas didn’t look surprised.
My chest tightened. “Why?” I asked.
“So we’re secure,” he said. “And so my mother knows I’m not being taken advantage of.”
Taken advantage of.
That night, I locked myself in the bedroom and stared at the ceiling. The realization came sharply: they didn’t see me as a partner. They saw me as something standing in the way.
By morning, I had made a choice.
I wouldn’t reveal the truth yet.
If I did, they’d adjust their behavior. And I needed to know how far they were willing to go.
Over the next weeks, I watched.
