Chapter 1

Sarah Miller smiled, her eyes bright as she looked at Mark Johnson, her fiancé. They sat in the Johnsons' living room, a nice, tidy space in a quiet Austin suburb. Wedding plans were moving fast.

Carol Johnson, Mark' s mother, beamed at them from her armchair.

"Sarah, dear," Carol began, her voice smooth like honey, "Mark and I, well, his father and I, we want to help you two get started right."

She leaned forward, picking up a small, elegant envelope from the coffee table.

"We' ve decided to gift you $28,000 for a down payment on a condo."

Sarah gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Carol, I... I don't know what to say. That's so incredibly generous."

Mark squeezed her hand, a proud look on his face. "See? I told you Mom was excited for us."

Carol handed Sarah the envelope. Inside was a debit card.

"This is for a dedicated account," Carol explained. "The full amount is in there. It' s for you to manage, Sarah, for your new home together."

Sarah felt a warmth spread through her chest, a feeling of being welcomed, of future security. She trusted Carol, trusted Mark. This felt like a wonderful start to their new life.

"Thank you," Sarah said, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you both so much."

Carol waved a dismissive hand, but her smile was tight. "It' s our pleasure, dear. We just want Mark to be happy, and for you both to have a good foundation."

Later that evening, Sarah called her best friend, Chloe Davis.

"You will not believe what Carol did," Sarah gushed.

Chloe, a barista with a no-nonsense attitude, listened patiently. "Spill it."

"She gave us $28,000 for a condo down payment! On a debit card, just like that."

"Wow, Sarah, that's huge," Chloe said, genuinely impressed. "So, Mrs. Johnson isn't the ice queen I sometimes picture?"

Sarah laughed. "No, she was so sweet about it. She said it's for me to manage."

"Well, that's a big responsibility," Chloe noted. "Don't go spending it all on fancy coffee machines."

"I won't," Sarah promised, still buzzing from the generosity. "It's for our future."