Chapter 5 - The Financial Blow
While I was happily learning how to make authentic Italian pasta by hand in Rome, the reality of my absence continued to destroy Tiffany's world.
The morning after the disastrous Christmas Eve dinner, the doorbell of my South Florida home rang aggressively.
Kevin had already left the house early that morning, staying at a local hotel to escape the overwhelming chaos of his in-laws.
Tiffany opened the front door to find a delivery man holding a massive stack of gourmet catering boxes.
Desperate to save Christmas Day, Tiffany had secretly called a luxury hotel and ordered a massive, fully prepared holiday feast.
"That will be four thousand, five hundred dollars, ma'am," the delivery man said, handing her a digital payment tablet.
Tiffany confidently handed over Kevin's primary credit card, expecting it to clear instantly as it always did.
The machine beeped loudly, flashing a bright red message that read completely declined.
"That must be a simple mistake, try it again," Tiffany commanded, feeling a sudden wave of cold panic.
The driver swiped the card a second time, but it was declined once again.
Tiffany pulled out her own personal credit card, but it suffered the exact same embarrassing fate.
She frantically called Kevin's cell phone, demanding to know why the cards were completely frozen.
"I transferred all of my money into a private account this morning, Tiffany," Kevin answered coldly through the phone.
"You what?! I have delivery men here waiting for payment to feed my starving family!" she screamed into the receiver.
"You can pay for it with your own money, Tiffany," Kevin replied calmly.
"Except you don't have any money, because you spent your entire salary on designer bags and expensive shoes."
"My mother left us a lease agreement for four thousand dollars a month, and I am saving my money to pay her."
"I am officially done paying for your incredibly lavish, fake lifestyle," Kevin stated firmly.
He hung up the phone, leaving Tiffany standing completely helpless in the grand foyer of the home she claimed to rule.
The delivery man politely took the boxes of expensive food back to his truck and drove away.
Brenda walked out of the living room, wearing a fluffy bathrobe and looking deeply annoyed.
"Tiffany, where is the beautiful Christmas brunch you promised us?" Brenda demanded loudly.
Tiffany looked at her mother, completely broke, entirely abandoned, and surrounded by twenty-five hungry, angry relatives.
May you like
She sank slowly onto the hard marble floor, buried her face in her hands, and began to sob uncontrollably.
The absolute queen of the castle had finally been dethroned, and she had no one to blame but herself.
