Chapter 2

Without even bothering to look, Sofia let out a sharp laugh. "What, did you buy that off Pamazon for ten bucks with free shipping?"

She pinched the corner of the title deed between two fingers as if handling trash, then flicked her wrist.

The stack of papers arched through the air and landed right into the trash can by the front door.

Sofia clapped her hands, her lips curling into a triumphant smile. "If you're going to fake something, at least make it look real. Who are you trying to fool with that junk?"

I watched in disbelief as the deed Grandma had handed to me sat in the trash, on top of fruit peels and paper scraps.

Blood rushed to my head instantly.

Owen took a heavy stride forward and kicked the bin with all his might.

It flew across the room, clattering against the wall and spilling its contents all over the floor.

The foul stench exploded into the air, blending with Sofia's cheap perfume. Waves of the foul smell kept assaulting my senses.

The rash on my arms felt like it had been set ablaze, scorching its way from my wrists to my elbows. It itched so badly that I wanted to tear my skin off.

My breathing tightened, and a heavy weight pressed down on my chest. Every breath took real effort.

"Emilia, I know what you're capable of. You've got some nerve." Owen's face was filled with unmistakable disdain.

I looked at the title deed lying among the trash on the floor, and a bitter laugh escaped me. "Fine. It's fake."

I took a step back to avoid the pile of filth on the floor and pointed straight at the door.

"Go check with the county recorder's office. Take a right out the door, and it's just 20 minutes by cab. Go right now. If you don't find my name on it, I'll apologize to you on my knees.

"Nobody is stealing my house. Get the hell out! Don't force me to call the cops!"

Sofia's expression flickered for a second before her smug mask snapped right back into place. "Check what?"

She let out a scoff. Her tone was light and dismissive as she said, "Your parents made it crystal clear in the chat that this house belongs to Owen. What's the police going to do?

"Owen will be the one running this family. You're nothing but a worthless woman who couldn't even get married. What makes you think you have any say?

She took a step closer and scanned me from head to toe. When her eyes landed on my rash-covered arms, she wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"What kind of disgusting disease is this? You must be sleeping around. I'm amazed any company actually hired you. If I reported you, you'd lose your job in a heartbeat. Want to test me?"

She was trying to ruin me.

The weight on my chest pressed heavier, and the rash on my arms merged into a deep, purple-red blotch. The itching and pain blended. My hands were trembling, but I couldn't tell whether it was from anger or the allergic reaction.

"You shameless bitch!" I forced the words out through clenched teeth. My voice came out rough.

"Your mind is dirty, so everything you see looks filthy! Like that's ever going to affect my job!"

Sofia's jaw tightened. Her cheeks bulged, and her eyes narrowed into thin slits. "How stubborn."

She swung her arm and slapped me across the face.

The blow sent my head spinning to the side, my cheek burning like fire.

When I reached up to touch it, my fingertips came away with a smear of blood.

My ears rang loudly, and half my face went completely numb.

"How dare you—"

Before I could finish speaking, Owen charged like a rabid bull and kicked the coffee table over.

The glass tabletop shattered against the floor, sending shards flying everywhere.

A piece grazed my lower leg, slicing through my pants and leaving a fresh trail of blood.

I froze, stared down at the cut on my leg, then at the shattered glass covering the floor.

I couldn't believe that this was happening in my own home.

"Sofia is pregnant!" Owen yelled so hard that he nearly blew the roof off. His eyes were bloodshot. "How dare you put a hand on her! Are you out of your mind?"

Holding my numb cheek, I stared at him with wide eyes. "Are you blind? I didn't even touch her! She slapped me!"

Sofia was already clutching her stomach and bending over. Her face twisted in agonizing pain as she sobbed. "Owen… my stomach hurts… It hurts so bad…"

Owen went pale. He scooped her up into his arms and turned toward the bedroom.

When he looked back at me, his gaze looked like he wanted to skin me alive.

"Emilia Carter, just you wait."

His voice dropped to a dangerously low tone, each word forced out through clenched teeth. "If anything happens to Sofia or the baby, you're going to pay dearly."

Sofia snuggled into his chest, burying her face.

My body trembled with rage as I saw the unmistakable smirk of provocation on her face.

Owen kicked the bedroom door open. "Just wait till Mom and Dad hear about this. You had better think hard about how you're going to explain yourself!"