I turned eighteen on a Tuesday. No cake. No card. Not even a half-hearted “happy birthday.” Just my father sitting at the kitchen table, his wife stirring sugar into her mug, and my stepbrother leaning back in his chair with that look people get when they already know how the story ends.

“What does this mean?”

Richard pointed to a sentence.

“Your grandfather left you the estate on one condition.”

I read it again.

Nathan Brooks must not return to the family home for thirty days.

I looked up.

“That’s it?”

“No.”

Richard’s voice became quieter.

“There is another requirement.”

“What?”

“You must remain financially independent during those thirty days.”

I stared at him.

“You mean I can’t use the inheritance?”

“Correct.”

“No money from the accounts?”

“Correct.”

“No credit cards?”

“Correct.”

“No property?”

“Correct.”

“Then how am I supposed to survive?”

Richard looked toward my car.

“You already have been.”

I almost laughed.

“This is insane.”

“It gets worse.”

Of course it did.

Richard opened the final folder.

“Your grandfather wanted to know what you would do if you believed you had nothing.”