Chapter 3

A stroller stood in the living room, toys scattered all over the floor.

The trash can overflowed with diapers, and the whole place reeked of sour milk and urine.

The master bedroom door was shut. I walked over and shoved it open, and my eyes narrowed on the spot.

The bright red four-piece bedding set was gone, replaced by a plain dark gray one.

The wedding photo of me and Alfred that had hung on the wall was gone too, swapped out for a family portrait of Alfred's brother and his wife with their kid.

The closet was packed full of the clothes belonging to Alfred's brother and his wife.

My clothes had been wadded up and dumped in a corner.

Not a single wedding decoration was left in the room. Every trace of the bridal suite I'd so carefully arranged was gone.

I turned to Alfred, the fury in my eyes ready to spill over.

"Alfred, explain this."

His tone was matter-of-fact. "My brother and his wife came to help with the wedding. It's a hassle for them to go home, so they stayed."

I actually laughed from anger.

"Helping means swapping out the bedding and the wedding photos? Dumping my clothes in a corner like trash?"

Alfred's face darkened a little. "Bernice, are you being reasonable? If they're going to stay, of course they need clean clothes to change into. So they used your closet. Is that really such a big deal to you?"

"Yes, it is! If they came to help, they could stay in the second bedroom. Why take over my bridal suite?"

Alfred glanced at me, and there was guilt in that glance.

"The second bedroom's the nursery for my nephew. It's close by, so if anything comes up with the baby it's easier to look after him."

My head buzzed. I turned and pushed open the second bedroom door.

The bed had a padded rail around it, and the clean walls were covered with photos of the baby.

Alfred's brother Arnold James and his wife Genevieve Dickerson lay across the bed, coaxing the few-months-old infant to sleep, acting like they couldn't see me at all.

I stood in the doorway, my fist clenched so hard the knuckles cracked.

Genevieve looked up, saw me, and her face soured.

"The baby's trying to sleep. Close the door and get out, would you. And keep it down later, don't wake my son."

She sounded exactly like the owner of the place, as if I were the uninvited guest barging in.

They hadn't come to help. They'd come to take over what was mine.

I looked at Alfred and forced the question out through my teeth.

"Then where's our room?"

His face went pale, and his eyes went to the smallest room, the one I'd planned to use as a study.

I pushed the door open. There was no bed. That bright red bedding set was laid out on the floor, tramped into a mess by who knew whose feet.

The wedding photo of me and Alfred was propped in the corner, a chunk clearly broken off the frame.

Shaking all over with rage, I pointed at the bedding on the floor and asked him.

"So my bridal room is a mat on the floor?"

Alfred opened his mouth and said nothing.

Jessica came over, smiling.

"Bernice, your brother-in-law lives far away, and this place is close to his work. It's more convenient."

"Did you ask whether it's convenient for me? This is my house. You all just moved in without a word?"

Jessica's face sank. "We're all family. Don't be so calculating. Family should help each other out. Isn't that the way it should be?"

Aunt Marlene pursed her lips in displeasure. "Bernice, you've got this wrong. Your mother-in-law bought the house, so it belongs to your brother-in-law too. Of course he can live here."

Uncle Douglas gave a snort. "First day married and already can't stand having the older brother around. What's it going to be like later? Alfred, the wife you picked isn't much, is she?"

I looked at Alfred. "You're saying your mom bought this house?"

Alfred's face flushed. He stammered out an excuse. "What does it matter who bought it? We're family. Why draw such clear lines?"

I stared at him, and suddenly the man in front of me felt like a terrifying stranger.

"Alfred, your family didn't pay a single cent for this house—"

"Bernice!"

Jessica raised her voice, cutting me off, then came up and took my hand warmly.

"Alfred's right. Family doesn't split things into yours and mine. What matters now is your wedding. Hurry and go sit for the ritual, it's bad luck if you miss the auspicious hour."

【I just have to shut her up in front of everyone, get her to admit in front of all the relatives that my family bought the house, and I'll have her right where I want her.】

【Arnold's moving in and not leaving. If she can't take it, she can just buy another place. Her family's rich anyway, and only a fool passes up a good deal. When the time comes, I'll force her to sign this house over to Arnold.】

That row of words stabbed into me like needles.

Giving one cent for the change-of-address gift was only a test. Seizing my house was their real aim.

Link by link, the whole trap had been laid from the day my parents bought me the house.

I pulled my hand back and stepped away.

I spoke coldly. "I bought this house. Without my consent, no one is allowed to live here."

"Now, tell your brother and his wife to take their kid and get out. Otherwise, I'm calling the police."