Chapter 7 - The Folded Paper

I reached into the worn backpack.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Pulled out one folded property document.
Only halfway.
Enough for them to recognize it.
Not enough for anyone else to read.
Sheila's mouth opened.
My mother grabbed the doorframe.
Austin looked from the paper...
...to the house...
...then back to me.
He suddenly understood.
The building behind him might never have belonged to him at all.
I tucked the document back inside.
"You've been living very comfortably."
May you like
Nobody answered.
👉 The neighbors hadn't heard the truth yet—but someone else already had.