Mom’s Fake Fairness: The Fixed Family Draw Chapter 07

Mom’s Fake Fairness: The Fixed Family Draw Chapter 07 The House is Gone

Lily shrank back. “I just started working. I’m still in my internship. I don’t have anything.”

Dad let out a long sigh. “Riley. Your mother’s life is on the line.”

I looked around at all of them and almost laughed.

The moment things got serious, every single one of them folded. And somehow, I was still supposed to be the one who fixed it.

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll help. But I’m not covering this by myself.”

I reached into my bag and pulled out a small transparent box. Four ping pong balls inside. Three marked pass, one marked pay.

‘Mom always said luck is luck,” I said. “Well, she’s the one fighting for her life right now, so let’s let luck decide. Whoever draws pay covers the 200 thousand dollars. Fair enough? Especially since the house isn’t even in my name. The fact that I’m even willing to draw is me being generous.”

James stared at the box and went pale. Lily shrank back in her chair. “I’m not drawing. No way.”

Dad buried his face in his hands. “This is insane. Your mother is in the ER!”

I kept my expression flat. “We’ve been doing this my whole life. One more time won’t kill anyone.” I picked up my bag and stood up. “Either everyone draws, or I walk. She’s not just my mom.”

I took a step toward the door and James cracked immediately. “Okay, okay! I’ll draw!”

His hand was shaking as he reached into the box and pulled out a ball. He looked at it, then let out a long, shaky breath and sank to the floor.

‘Pass.”

‘Oh thank God,” he whispered.

Lily went next, hand trembling. She unfolded her ball and sagged with relief.

‘Pass.”

That left two balls in the box. One pass, one pay. Just me and Dad.

I looked at him. “Your turn, Dad.”

He reached in slowly, like the ball might bite him. He looked at it, and his whole body went stiff.

“Pay.”

Everyone fell silent.

I opened my hand toward him. “Fair’s fair, Dad. That 200 thousand dollars is on you.”

He looked up at me with this lost, helpless expression. “Riley, I don’t have that kind of money. Your mom controls all our accounts. I don’t even know the passwords. She’s unconscious, so how am I supposed to get inything?”

And then he looked at me the way he always does when he needs me to bail everyone out.

You’re going to have to cover it. I genuinely have nothing.”

I almost smiled. This was their logic, laid bare. Win and it was luck. Lose and suddenly the rules didn’t apply. And no matter what, I was always the one left holding the bill.

But I wasn’t going to pay a single cent this time.

Then figure it out,” I said. “The house is in James’s name, isn’t it? Sell it. Or take out a loan if you have to. This is Mom’s life we’re talking about. Isn’t that worth a little sacrifice?”

ames shot up out of his chair like I’d tased him.

No. Absolutely not. I am not selling that house. That’s where I’m going to live after I get married. Besides, here’s no time to sell it now anyway!”

raised an eyebrow. “Then use it as collateral. Plenty of lenders will cut you a check within the hour.”

ames dropped to his knees right there on the hospital floor.

Riley, please. I’m begging you.” His voice broke. “I already put the house up as collateral. Months ago. I was trading stocks and I lost everything. The house is frozen. It’s gone. I have nothing left.”

The room went dead silent.

Dad grabbed the wall to steady himself, his whole body swaying. He turned to James and his hand was haking so badly he could barely point.

What did you just say? The house is gone?” His voice cracked. “That house is all we have. That’s everything.” Then the grief turned to rage and he lunged at James, swinging.

ames curled up and took it without fighting back. Lily burst into tears in the corner. The whole hallway fell apart.

I stood there and watched. I felt nothing. If anything, I almost wanted to laugh.

“Okay, that’s enough,” I said, cutting through the noise. “Mom is still in there, and she needs help.”

Everyone froze and stared at me.

“I’ll cover the money.”

The crying stopped. The yelling stopped. Every head turned in my direction.