“Emily, where’s the silver crossover I bought you?” Aunt Clara asked at dinner. Before I could answer, my mother smiled. “Her brother needed it more.”

one last chance to return it willingly.

Now, during Aunt Clara’s birthday dinner, Mother had openly admitted everything.

Clara set down her fork.

“Did Emily agree to give Jason the vehicle?”

Mom laughed uneasily.

“Clara, it’s a family arrangement.”

“That wasn’t my question.”

I stared at my plate.

“No,” I whispered. “I didn’t agree.”

Clara stood.

Then retrieved her phone.

“Jason,” she said coldly, “you have thirty minutes to bring that car here.”

Mother gasped.

But Clara wasn’t finished.

“After tonight, we’re going to discuss everything else you’ve taken from