Natty was in the kitchen, enjoying the rare silence after a busy morning, when her phone rang. The name on the screen caught her attention: “Aunt Lossana.”

With a sigh, she picked up the phone, unsure of what to expect. It had been a while since her aunt had called, but the last time was when Natty had agreed to let her stay in their new apartment while her own place was being renovated. That had turned into three exhausting months of intrusive remarks and constant questions.

“Natty! You’re back at your country house, aren’t you?” Aunt Lossana’s excited voice echoed through the phone, breaking Natty’s moment of calm.

Katty paused, holding her cup of coffee halfway to her mouth. How did she know about the house?

“Yes,” Natty replied, carefully choosing her words. “But we haven't really decided what to do with it yet.” She hadn’t shared the news of the house with anyone outside of immediate family. It was supposed to be their peaceful retreat, a place where they could get away from everything.

“Well, I’m coming with the girls!” Aunt Lossana declared, her tone full of enthusiasm. “We’ll be there in a few hours!”

Natty froze, her stomach sinking. Aunt Lossana and her cousins had never been shy about showing up uninvited, but this was different. Natty had expected some privacy after the trip with her husband, Marcus. She’d been hoping for some quiet time, not an impromptu visit from family.

“Wait, Aunt Lossana,” Natty tried to protest, “we didn’t—”

“Oh, stop overthinking it! We’re family, after all!” Aunt Lossana interrupted, laughing. “I’ve already told everyone we’ll be staying there! It’s settled.”

As the call ended, Natty felt a rising sense of panic. Marcus had promised they would keep the house private, and yet, it seemed like everything had been set in motion behind her back. Someone had leaked the information—someone they trusted.

Not long after, Aunt Lossana and her three cousins arrived at the country house. The once peaceful place Natty had envisioned for them now felt crowded with suitcases, wine bottles, and strangers.

“Where are your towels?” one of the cousins, Lucia, called out from the bathroom.

“And bring some toilet paper!” Melinda, the youngest cousin, added without looking up.

The kitchen was chaotic, filled with people unpacking and making themselves comfortable in a space Natty had imagined as her sanctuary. Her hands clenched into fists, but she said nothing, trying to keep her frustration in check.

“I see you’re living pretty comfortably here,” Aunt Lossana remarked loudly, sinking into the wicker chair that Natty and Marcus had bought during their vacation in Italy. “The plot is spacious, you’ve got a bathhouse… Why didn’t you tell us about this?” she asked with a pointed look.

“It’s... personal,” Natty replied, her voice low but firm.

Aunt Lossana’s response was casual, as though she hadn’t noticed the tension. “Well, we’re family! It’s only right I stay here.”

At that moment, Natty’s patience snapped. The constant intrusions, the criticisms, the sense of entitlement—all of it had finally reached its limit. “No,” Natty said, her voice trembling with the weight of her frustration. “This is our home. I’m not opening it up to anyone who just decides they’re entitled to stay.”

Aunt Lossana was momentarily stunned into silence. Natty’s words hung in the air, but before either of them could speak again, one of the cousins, Veronica, added her voice to the mix. “What’s the problem? We’re just staying for a week.”

“No,” Natty said, her voice growing stronger. “You didn’t ask. You didn’t give us a choice. You showed up without any consideration for what we wanted, and now you’re treating this place like a hotel.”

Aunt Lossana, who had always relied on her charm to get her way, tried to laugh it off. “You’re overreacting, Natty. It’s just a visit. We’re family.”

“Exactly,” Natty shot back. “That’s exactly why I didn’t want to tell you. Every time you show up, you think you have the right to take over. You don’t understand boundaries.”

The room fell silent. Natty’s cousins looked around awkwardly, not sure how to react. The tension was palpable, and Natty could see the cracks in the façade her aunt had put up for so long.

“I’m sorry, Aunt Lossana,” Natty continued, her voice calm but firm. “But you’re not staying here. You have to leave.”

The shock on Aunt Lossana’s face was evident. “What do you mean, ‘leave’?” she demanded, her voice rising in disbelief. “We’re family, Natty! You can’t just throw us out!”

“I can,” Natty replied quietly. “And I will. I’ve had enough of being treated like this.”

The cousins hesitated, but they didn’t argue. Natty had made her decision. This wasn’t just about a house—it was about respect and boundaries, and she was tired of letting her family take advantage of her.

Later that day, Natty and Marcus packed up their things, ready to leave for a vacation that had been long overdue. It wasn’t the relaxing break they had envisioned, but it was a chance to reclaim their peace and start fresh. They locked the doors of the country house, leaving behind the chaos and the broken promises.

Weeks passed, and Natty’s resolve only grew stronger. She had reclaimed her space, but more importantly, she had found her voice. She refused to let her family’s demands control her life any longer.

It wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t without sacrifice, but Natty had learned the importance of setting boundaries. No one, not even family, had the right to walk all over her. And as she looked out over the quiet landscape from her new home, she knew it was worth it.

In the end, Natty had learned a valuable lesson: sometimes the hardest thing is saying “no,” but it is also the most necessary. And when you stand firm in your decisions, you’ll find peace where you least expect it.