I told the person on the line to cut the house’s power and water at the main and to void the garage cards, effective now.

It took a couple of minutes on hold and one confirmation.

Then the AC shuddered and died, the television went black, and the house dropped into a thick, powerless silence.

Chapter 5 — The Modest Life You Can Afford

“What did you do to the house?” Dashiell said, looking around like the walls had moved.

“I gave you back the life you can actually afford on your own,” I said.