Chapter 3 - A Home Divided
Claire stopped pretending the incident could stay inside the kitchen. She moved her work files into the bedroom, changed the laptop password, and told Wyatt Harper had to leave Friday. He answered by moving his pillow beside Harper’s door. Wyatt had stopped depositing his full paycheck two months earlier. Claire had blamed reduced hours. The mortgage came from Claire; food, utilities, and HOA fees came from both. His missing money carried weight. Claire then asked for pay stubs. “You don’t get to audit me because your temper scared everyone,” he said. The words landed harder than Harper’s insult because part of them was true. At work, Claire missed a restoration meeting after rereading their exchange. Her partner reassigned a courthouse project. That evening, she came home to find the island cleared and Wyatt’s pillow gone from their bed. Harper had cooked pasta but set only two plates. Claire understood the consequence: the condo still belonged to her, but the household no longer did.
