Chapter 3

Panic surged through me.

"Grandma told everyone that bracelet was for me. How did it suddenly become a gift for Ryan's wife?"

My mother scoffed.

"Your grandmother was senile. Why would a daughter who'll marry into another family get the heirloom? Not a chance."

After she hung up, fury made my entire body shake.

Helplessness closed around me. I scrolled through photographs of Grandma, my hands trembling.

Then I abruptly raised my head.

I remembered that Grandma's will had also left me the house my parents were living in. I had simply been too busy with work to record the transfer.

I gathered my identification and went straight to the county recorder's office.

An hour later, the newly recorded deed in my hands finally steadied my heart.

I opened my phone and found Nina Carter, the realtor whose contact I had saved months earlier.

"I want to sell the house in Maple Gardens. It's urgent. List it twenty thousand dollars below market."

She responded almost immediately.

"That neighborhood is in high demand. At that price, I can have a buyer and paperwork ready within two days."

Satisfied, I put my phone down.

Now I wanted to see how they planned to use my house as Ryan's marital home.

Afterward, I treated myself to a comfortable lunch at a newly opened restaurant.

I had made up my mind. A family like this was not worth keeping.

Just as I finished eating, my friend Rachel called.

Her voice sounded uncomfortable.

"Elena, your parents are trying to reserve our three-thousand-dollar premium seafood package and put it on your account."

My ears rang.

Three thousand dollars? Were they planning to eat gold?

Then the family chat began chiming again.

My mother posted photograph after photograph of Harbor House's menu.

"Family, here's tonight's menu. We chose only the best and most expensive dishes, so everyone needs to come welcome our honored guest!"

My aunt Carol replied in surprise.

"Harbor House is expensive. That meal must cost at least a few hundred dollars."

My mother sent a laughing emoji behind her hand.

"Carol, you really are out of touch. The butter-poached lobster alone costs several hundred. The whole dinner is three thousand dollars."

The relatives immediately began replying that they would be there.

I grabbed my purse and went straight to Harbor House.

My mother was standing over the menu, criticizing every detail.

"Don't try to substitute cheaper ingredients. We have an extremely important guest tonight!"

When she saw me, panic flashed across her face.

"Elena, why haven't you gone back to work? Usually you guard that job as though your life depends on it."

My chest rose and fell sharply.

She was right. I was always afraid of losing attendance bonuses, so I rarely dared to take even a single day off.

"Mom, you're entertaining your future daughter-in-law. Why are you charging the meal to me?"

She sneered.

"I knew this was about money.

"You're obsessed with money. Your brother meeting the woman he plans to marry is a major family event. Why is contributing such a hardship?"

I nearly broke down.

"Yes, it is about money. I earn eight thousand dollars a month, and after you call crying poverty, I spend almost seven thousand of it on this family!"

Annoyance flickered across her face.

"Enough with the tears. Go away. Ryan's girlfriend will be here soon, and if she sees you, we'll have even more explaining to do."

At those words, an unnatural calm settled over me, and I met her eyes.

"I'm staying. I want to see exactly how you intend to pay for tonight's dinner."