My Brother Bragged About Becoming Partner. He Didn’t Know the Investor Was Already Sitting There.

his eyes met mine, and in that moment, I could have said something—anything—to soften this. To reassure him. To console.

Instead, I held his gaze and stayed silent.

He signed.

His signature looked messier than usual, letters bleeding into each other.

I slipped the deed into my portfolio with careful fingers. It felt heavier than paper had any right to continue reading …