After returning home from a 9-month deployment, I found all my belongings stuffed into trash bags inside my own house

this,” she said. “You’ve always been like this. Selfish.”

Richard let the accusation stand.

I reached into my pocket, tapped my phone, and stopped the recording.

The room went silent.

Evelyn sat straighter.

Chloe stared.

Vance’s jaw tightened.

“We need to talk.”

I set my keys on the table and turned toward them.

“I handled the paperwork,” I said.

Richard’s jaw tightened.

“Don’t say that like it’s nothing,” he snapped. “This developer is threatening to sue us for fraud. Deployment pay. Use it.”

I held his gaze.

“Use it for