Mom’s Fake Fairness: The Fixed Family Draw Chapter 04

Mom’s Fake Fairness: The Fixed Family Draw Chapter 04 Obligations

I stared at her. My mom was apologizing?-I hadn’t seen that coming.

I didn’t say anything and just waited, because I knew that wasn’t the end of it.

Sure enough, she reached(behind her and pulled out a manila envelope.

“To show you I mean it, I’ve made a decision.” She set the envelope on the table. “Our house? It’s old, but it’s in one of the best school districts in the area, and word is the whole block is getting bought out for redevelopment soon. We’re talking at least ten million dollars.”

Ten million dollars. James’s eyes lit up instantly and Lily swallowed.

“I want to settle this the right way, once and for all,” Mom continued. She opened the envelope and took out what looked like a notarized document template, along with two small folded slips.

“Two draws. One says house, one says parents. Whoever draws house gets the full payout when the buyout comes through. Whoever draws parents takes care of me and your father for the rest of our lives.” She set them on the table with a satisfied nod. “How is it? Completely fair.”

I glanced at James. He was trying to keep a straight face but couldn’t quite hide the smirk at the corner of his mouth.

I played along, furrowing my brow like I was genuinely conflicted.

“This feels kind of rushed. And if I actually draw the house, you’d really hand over the money? No backing put?”

Dad spoke up from his corner, which surprised me/He was the quiet type, the kind of man who could sit through an entire dinner without saying ten words.

‘It’s notarized,” he said. “Sign it today and it holds up. No one can back out.”

So the whole family was in on it.

I took a deep breath and reached for the two slips with a trembling hand. “Fine. Whateyer I draw, I’ll live

with it.”

Before my fingers even landed, James snatched the left one.

“I’m taking this one!”

Mom watched him and let a small, quiet smile cross her lips.

“Alright, that leaves the other one for Riley. Go ahead and open them. Let fate decide.”

James could barely contain himself. He tore his open and pulled out a red slip of paper.

“House.”

He shot out of his chair. “I got the house! Yes!” He kissed the little slip of paper, actually kissed it, and Lily

threw her arms around him.

“Oh my God, congrats!”

Mom let out a long breath, like she’d been holding it for days. Then she looked at me, and her expression went flat.

“Go ahead and open yours, Riley. I know it’s not the result you wanted, but taking care of your parents is a good thing too. You’ll see.”

A good thing? Sure.

I slowly picked up my slip and opened it.

‘Parents.”

Mom’s relief turned into something sharper, more triumphant.

‘A deal’s a deal. Sign the papers.” She slid the agreement across the table and pressed a pen into my hand. ‘Every doctor’s visit, every grocery run, everything your father and I need from here on out. That’s on you now. Fate decided.”

ames leaned back in his chair, grinning. “Hey, don’t be mad at me, Riley. I can’t help it if I’m lucky.”

I looked around the table at all of them, and then I laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Mom snapped. “Sign the paper. Don’t even think about backing out.”

stopped laughing, reached into my bag, and pulled out a folder. I dropped it on the table in front of

hem.

Sign what, exactly? That house has been in James’s name for six months. You ran a lottery with property you don’t even own anymore.”

ames’s grin disappeared. Mom’s face went pale.

How did you know about that?” she whispered.

I stood up and tore the parents slip in half.

‘Since the house already belongs to James, the responsibility of caring for you goes with it. That’s how property law works. When you gift someone an asset, the obligations attached to it transfer too.” I looked at my brother. “Congratulations, James. Mom and Dad are all yours now.”