Family Landlords Raise the Rent to Force One Sister Out
“Well, the total was one hundred and sixty-two dollars,” Vanessa said, sliding her sunglasses back down over her eyes. “I put it on my card, so you can just transfer me eighty-one.”
“No,” I said. “I did not ask for these, and I am not paying for them.”
“We have to eat, Lauren,” she said, her voice rising into that high, theatrical tone she used when she wanted to sound like the victim. “I am trying to make this place feel like a real home for both of us.”
“You do not have a job, Vanessa,” I said, walking to the counter and looking at the receipts. “And you still haven’t explained how you paid your previous landlord if you had no income.”
Vanessa turned her back to me, reaching into a bag for a bottle of sparkling water. “My landlord was a monster. I told you that. He evicted me for absolutely no reason.”
