Sure enough, when his emotional speech reached its climax, he started asking for that $500,000 again.

I grinned and said, "I don't have a penny left. I bought a cando - it's beautiful, right by the river."

When I said that, Ian's expression instantly went blank.

He nervously licked his lips, still in disbelief. "You're joking, right?"

I showed him the records on my phone. "The contract's signed, and we're scheduled for closing next week. I ...