The Vanishing $28,000

nerous gift of $28,000 for our condo down payment. Settling into their Austin living room, I felt an over

ater at Best Buy when the cashier, after swiping

horrifying truth: a mere $800 remained, $27,200

ir united front delivered a cold slap

ion or two," while Mark casually dismissed my concern,

s, painting me as a scatterbrained bride overwhelmed by wedding pl

cé, turn so cruelly, so deliberately, attempt

ck, anger, and a dawning, terrifying realization: this wasn't about mi

ardened within me; I w

ose their lies, no matter the cost, turning th