Chapter 26

"Ugh, what can I say? These days, all we do is text, and even then, it's mostly about buying a house and the wedding gifts she wants. She even asked me to sell my parents' house back home just to cover the down payment in Jillburg. "What the hell? Sell the house my parents live in? What does she expect them to do, sleep on the streets? This is insane!" Michael's voice was rising with frustration. Just talking about it ticked him off. Back when they were just dating, none of this ever came up. But the moment they graduated, reality came crashing in. A house cost millions of dollars, and the wedding gifts were expensive too. All of it felt so far out of reach. "No way I'm letting my parents sleep on the streets—even if it means not getting married at all. They raised me and gave up everything for me. I'd be heartless to do something like that." "You're right, Michael," Yarrick said, nodding with a heavy heart. At the mention of parents, his mind immediately conjured the tired, wor