**PART 3**
By Sunday, they’d moved out.
Dad rented a room above a mechanic’s garage after his business lender uncovered his misrepresentation of household assets. Diane sold jewelry to pay legal retainers. Mason’s startup lost its sole investor once the fraud report surfaced. Claire’s law school suspended her pending review. Lily blocked me online, then messaged three weeks later asking whether I’d at least continue paying her car insurance.
My reply contained one word.
No.
Six months later, I stood on a small hotel’s balcony in Florence, watching golden sunset light spread across the Arno River. I’d reserved one ticket, one room, and one peaceful week.
No arguments. No guilt. Nobody expecting me to pay for a vacation that excluded me.
My phone buzzed with another message from Dad.
We need to talk. Family shouldn’t end like this.
I gazed at the river and the glowing city beyond.
For years, I’d spent money trying to belong.
Now peace cost me nothing.
I deleted his message, raised my coffee, and smiled.
“Yeah,” I whispered. “OK.”
