By the end of the week, the once-hideous couch had transformed into a trendy, restored sofa. Feeling proud, Nicole listed it online, half-jokingly pricing it at $5,000. To her surprise, a buyer from an upscale neighborhood contacted her the next day, eager to purchase it.
When the buyer, an artist named Maggie, arrived to pick it up, she was thrilled. “This is perfect for my studio!” she exclaimed. “Why would you ever want to part with it?”
Nicole smiled, thinking about how far the couch had come. “Just redecorating,” she said. “I’m happy it’s going to someone who’ll appreciate it.”
A few days later, however, Susan appeared at Nicole’s door, furious. She had seen the couch posted online and was livid that Nicole had sold it for a profit. “That was my couch!” Susan snapped. “You owe me half—you should give me $2,500!”
Nicole crossed her arms, standing firm. “You gave me that couch, Susan. It was practically trash when I got it. I did all the work to restore it, and now it’s worth something because of me.”
Seething, Susan threatened Nicole before storming off, but Nicole didn’t budge. She knew her dad would hear about it soon, but she was ready for that conversation. After all, she had taken Susan’s spiteful gesture and turned it into a win.
What would you have done in Nicole’s shoes?
If you liked this story, check out another: “In-Laws Kicked Us Out of the House They Gifted After We Paid for Renovations — Then It Got Even Worse.”