Booted Without Notice

"Jinx, get out of here!" my nephew, Bolton, blurted out even though he had only just started learning to talk. Then, he pointed at me and shouted, "Sell her for money. Sell her for money!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Rick smacked his son's hand and frowned. "How could you talk to your aunt like that?"

Bolton immediately started crying.

Abby and my parents rushed over. Then, she shouted, "What's going on? Why are you picking on my son?"

I brushed her off and turned to Rick. "So, where am I staying tonight?" I asked.

Abby wasn't done. She pointed her finger inches from my face and snapped, "I don't care where you go—just get out!"

"Enough!" Rick shouted, then looked at me. "Why don't you stay at a hotel tonight? I'll book a nice room for you."

"Why?" I laughed bitterly. "It's my house. Why can't I stay here?"

The air grew heavy with tension. Rick looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite read.

"Jinx! Jinx!" Bolton's adorable face streaked with tears but still spitting out words that stung.

Mom scooped him up and cooed, "Don't cry, Boltie. I'll kick her out."

Rick kept looking at me. His lips parted several times as if he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.

On the other hand, Abby lifted her chin and stared at me with smug satisfaction. Her expression was practically gloating.

Without saying a word, I grabbed my suitcase and turned to leave. However, Dad stopped me. "Wait. You can stay but on one condition."

He continued, "You're already 30 years old and still single. Mr. Strom is a good man. I've already accepted his money, so get ready."

I couldn't help but laugh, though I was more annoyed than anything. "You mean Mason Strom, the 52-year-old with a limp, who drinks, gambles, and is a total womanizer? That's your idea of a 'good man'?"

I added, "If you're going to sell me off, at least do it properly."

Dad's face darkened, and he glared at me. "Your company went bankrupt, and you're not getting any younger. What other options do you have?"

He continued, "I've already accepted his money. It's going toward Boltie's down payment. We can't return it, so whether you like it or not, you're marrying him."

Abby smirked at me. "Women have to get married eventually. Not everyone has the brains for business, you know?"

I couldn't help but laugh—though it was more out of frustration. "Yes. I went bankrupt. But you all have money, right?"

As soon as I said that, Abby's face turned pale. She exploded, "Money? We don't have any money left. Don't you know your creditors came looking for you? They've been hounding us."

I gave her a wry smile. "Oh, really? Well, that must be a burden for you."

The latest Torbes rankings were released yesterday, and my company—specializing in AI and aerospace—had climbed to the top. What was once a small startup was now the number one.

I am now the wealthiest person in the world. Now, I was in high demand. Everyone wanted to meet me, and my schedule was flooded with meeting requests. With all that I had accomplished, how could I have any creditors?

"Didn't you all win a million-dollar lottery? How do you have no money to pay them back?"

As soon as I mentioned it, Abby snapped, "No wonder you came back. Looks like you came for the money after all."

"Rebecca!" she shrieked. "You're nothing but a useless, money-draining burden. Don't even think about touching that money."

Dad approached me and shouted, "Did your company go under? Is that why you're trying to take this money to cover your losses?"

Rick looked furious. "Becca, why are you so ignorant? How can you spend money like that? You don't even know how to run a business."

Mom grabbed my arm and squeezed it so hard that I winced. "You're going to Mason's house tonight. The sooner you get married, the sooner we won't have to worry about you.

"And let me be clear—that one million dollars is for Boltie. He carried the Jonson name. Only he can pass on the family line."

"Let me go!" I shook off her hand and looked at my family members. "So, because I have no money and can't carry on the family name, you're just going to sell me off?"

I pointed at Abby. "And her? Just because she gave you a grandson, she gets to take over my house and tell me to get out?"

"Yes!" Mom snapped. "You're a woman, and you're broke. What else can you do?"

I nodded. My gaze swept from Dad to Rick, then to Abby's smug face.

I snapped, "Fine! Then, let's cut ties. After all, the Jonsons have an heir now."

I turned to leave, but Dad blocked my path. "If you walk out that door, I'll break your legs. You're marrying Mason, and that's final," he said.

His cold words echoed in my ears. I pushed him aside, but Rick stepped forward and stretched his hand to block me.

"Are you going to stop me too, Rick?"