Jade sat on her bed, surrounded by half-packed boxes, the weight of her situation suffocating her. The house she had called home for as long as she could remember was no longer hers. David had made good on his threat, and in just a few days, she would have nowhere to go.
Her phone buzzed on the mattress beside her, and she glanced at the screen to see a message from Thiago:
“We’re coming over. Be ready.”
Jade frowned, setting the phone down. She wasn’t in the mood to see anyone, but she knew better than to argue with them.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. She sighed, running a hand through her hair before heading to the living room. When she opened the door, Milan, Enzo, and Thiago stood there, their expressions unreadable.
“What are you doing here?” Jade asked, crossing her arms.
“We need to talk,” Milan said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.
Thiago followed, carrying a bag of food. “We brought dinner. Figured you wouldn’t have the energy to cook.”
Enzo entered last, his dark eyes scanning the room. “And to see what we’re working with here.”
Jade closed the door behind them, sighing heavily. “I appreciate the thought, but there’s nothing to ‘work with.’ I’m losing the house. End of story.”
Milan turned to her, his sharp blue eyes narrowing. “It’s not the end of the story. Not if we have anything to say about it.”
Jade frowned. “What does that mean?”
Enzo smirked, leaning against the wall. “It means you’re not going to be homeless, Jade. We won’t let that happen.”
Her frustration boiled over. “You can’t just swoop in and fix everything! This is my life, my problem—”
“And you’re ours,” Thiago interrupted, his voice firm but not unkind. “That makes it our problem too.”
Jade blinked, her cheeks flushing. “I didn’t ask for your help.”
Milan stepped closer, his tone calm but commanding. “You didn’t have to. We’re not asking for permission, Jade. This is happening.”
“What’s happening?” she demanded, her heart racing.
Enzo exchanged a glance with Milan before speaking. “We bought a house for you.”
Jade froze, staring at them in disbelief. “What?”
Thiago grinned, holding up his hands. “Well, technically, it’s for all of us. But there’s plenty of space, and it’s yours as much as it is ours.”
Her jaw dropped. “You’re kidding.”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?” Enzo said, raising an eyebrow.
Jade shook her head, trying to process their words. “You… bought a house? Just like that?”
Milan nodded. “We’re not letting you lose everything your grandmother worked for, Jade. If David wants this house, he can have it. We’ve already found something better.”
Tears welled up in Jade’s eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll come with us,” Thiago said simply. “You don’t have to do this alone anymore.”
Jade hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You’re not a burden,” Milan said firmly. “You’re part of this now, Jade. Let us take care of you.”
Enzo stepped closer, his tone softening. “This isn’t charity, Jade. We want you with us. It’s as simple as that.”
Jade looked up at them, her emotions swirling. She didn’t know how to feel—grateful, overwhelmed, or even guilty—but one thing was clear: she couldn’t keep fighting this battle alone.
“Okay,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I’ll come.”