My Father Fired Me After I Defended a 30-Year Employee and Handed My Sister the Store Keys Months Later, He Walked Into My New Hardware Store and Found His Entire Team Working There

back corner, and set up a small-engine repair station.

By Friday, seven lawnmowers were waiting to be repaired.

Sully kept using his old rolltop desk and came in three mornings each week.

He trusted me with the rest.

Then Mom called.

She wanted to know whether I’d come to Sunday dinner and apologize for leaving the family business.

I asked what I’d done that required an apology.

She couldn’t explain.

Aubrey also texted.

She wanted me to come Saturday and train her new part-time workers.

She said she might even pay me if her budget allowed it.

I refused.

I never approached Dad’s employees about joining me.

I didn’t contact his customers or contractors either.

The problems at Rex’s started without any help from me.

Aubrey purchased self-checkout equipment and committed to a five-year register contract.

The monthly payment alone cost more than Chad’s wages.

She closed the repair department