Chapter 1

I slapped my younger brother, Darrell Crawford, across the face, and the air instantly went still.

His girlfriend, Vivian Gallagher, froze. For a moment, she was caught off guard.

When she came back to her senses, she immediately yanked Darrell behind her and snapped, "Did you just slap him? How dare you! You're just a widowed sister-in-law freeloading off your in-laws! What right do you have to lay a finger on him?"

Clutching his cheek, Darrell tugged at Vivian's sleeve. "Vivi, don't—"

Vivian flung his hand away, her eyes bulging. "Am I wrong? Your older brother has been dead for two years, and she still refuses to leave. What exactly is she trying to do?"

She whipped her head around to glare at me and shrieked, "I won't forget what you did today! Once Darrell and I tie the knot, you'd better pack your bags and leave!"

The red hand imprint was clear as day on Darrell's cheek. He parted his lips. "Elle—"

Without sparing him so much as a glance, I calmly met Vivian's gaze. "First of all, I have every right to discipline him. Secondly, come talk to me about whether you have the right when you're actually his wife. As of this moment, you're nothing but an outsider!"

Vivian's jaw dropped.

"Thirdly." I looked straight into her eyes. "This is my home. You're standing under my roof, calling me a freeloader, and you still expect to eat my food?"

I picked up the pumpkin pie she'd brought from the coffee table and thrust it back into her arms. Then, I raised my hand and pointed at the door. "Dinner's canceled. Now, leave!"

Clutching the box of pumpkin pie, Vivian's lips quivered. She whirled her head around to look at Darrell.

Tears welled up in her eyes in no time. Her pitiable demeanor was worlds apart from the haughty self a moment ago.

"Darrell, your sister-in-law's being so mean to me! Aren't you going to do something?"

Darrell was rooted to the spot. The left side of his face flushed so red it looked like it might bleed.

His eyes darted between Vivian and me. "Vivi, my sister—"

"Are you going to stand up for me or not?"

Darrell didn't dare to look at either of us. He hung his head like a student who was caught in the hallway by his teacher.

It took him a long while to force out, "Elle… Vivi didn't mean it like that. Don't be mad at her. She's not usually like this. She's just not good with words sometimes, but her heart's in the right place! Please don't hold it against her."

My gaze hardened. His words felt as though a heavy stone was pressing down on my heart. Vivian was arrogant, blatantly walking all over our late brother Dylan Crawford's "wife", yet he was still defending his girlfriend.

Vivian seethed, "Who isn't good with words? What did I do wrong? Are you going to build a life with me or your sister-in-law?"

Darrell visibly flinched.

Vivian hurled the pumpkin pie onto the floor. The box split open, and the pie skidded across the hardwood.

Then, she spun on her heel and stormed toward the door. "I know how this goes. I've read enough taboo and forbidden romance novels! Are you in love with her?"

"I'm not, Vivi. I can explain…" Darrell hurried after her.

The elevator doors slid shut, cutting off his voice.

I remained frozen in place in the living room. Bits and pieces of pumpkin pie littered the floor, beside a table of cold dishes and three sets of cutlery.

The sweet and sour ribs had been made with fresh ribs I bought from the butcher at 6:00 am that day. I had marinated them for two hours, deep-fried them twice, and glazed them to perfection. Now, a layer of white grease had congealed over the top.

I carried the dishes back into the kitchen, one by one. It would be a waste to throw them away, but I had no appetite to eat them either.

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

My sister-in-law, Rosalie Montgomery, had sent me a voice message. When I hit play, my two little nephews, Ryan and Riley Crawford's, adorable voices came through the speaker.

"Happy Thanksgiving, Aunt Danielle!"