Chapter 4

The whole room went dead quiet.

The smile on my mother-in-law's face froze in place, and Alfred's color drained from red to white.

Arnold and Genevieve came out of the room, staring at me in shock.

"Bernice, have you lost your mind? We're family. You'd call the police on family?"

"Family?" I laughed coldly, my gaze sweeping over the relatives packed into the room. "This is how you treat me like family? Moving into my house while I'm gone, swapping out my bedding, smashing my wedding photos, leaving me to film vlogs on a mat on the floor?"

Genevieve glared at me, her face full of contempt.

"Bernice, don't go spouting nonsense. This house was bought by us, the James family. It's got nothing to do with you, not one cent's worth. We'll live here if we want to, and it's none of your business!"

I laughed coldly. "The James family bought it? Then let me ask you. Is there a deed? How many square feet? How much did it cost? When was it bought? Which bank made the payment?"

Genevieve choked on the questions, her eyes darting to my mother-in-law for help.

Jessica's expression stiffened, then she forced out a thin smile.

"Bernice, honey, we're all family. Why be so aggressive? Your brother-in-law's place isn't as big as yours, so it's only natural they feel a little cheated. Just let them have this one."

I laughed out of pure anger.

"Why on earth should I give up my own house? Are you moving out or not? Because if not, I'm calling the police right now!"

I picked up my phone to dial 911, but Alfred snatched it away and dragged me into the study.

"Bernice, are you done making a scene? This is our wedding day, and you insist on blowing everything up so people can laugh at us?"

"The place is huge. What's the harm in letting my brother move in?"

"This is my house!"

"But you married me, so you belong to me, which makes this house our shared property. I have every right to let my brother move in!"

I stared at Alfred, and all at once this man felt terrifyingly like a stranger.

Something tore open in my chest, and the pain of it left me barely able to breathe.

I looked at him, and my own voice came out so hoarse it startled me.

"Alfred, this is what you really think, isn't it?"

"You never married me because you loved me. You married me because I happened to check every box for a man who wants to live off his wife and still call the shots, didn't you?"

His expression shifted, and he gave a cold snort.

"I never said that. Don't put words in my mouth. I only want a better life for my family."

"My brother's staying here. Enough already. Go finish the parts of the ceremony we still have to do, then get to the hotel. The guests will be arriving soon, and we can't very well not be there."

I stared at him, and suddenly I laughed, laughed until the tears nearly spilled over.

"And if I don't agree?"

His face went cold. "Then we cancel the wedding!"

My head snapped toward him, and the last thread of illusion in my heart broke apart completely.

The man in front of me. The one I had chased for seven years.

Standing against me now with a face I didn't recognize, using our marriage as a bargaining chip to force me to bow my head.

Seven years of love, and in his eyes it came down to a house and a soft target he could squeeze whenever he liked.

I looked at him steadily. "Alfred, so you're sure you don't want this marriage?"

Alfred met my eyes, and something like hesitation flickered in his.

Just then, Jessica pushed the door open and offered a bland little word of advice.

"Bernice, don't dig your heels in. Seven years with Alfred, and this is the day you've been waiting for, isn't it?"

Alfred seemed to snap awake at once and nodded firmly. "That's right. If you won't let my brother live here, then we cancel the wedding!"

Jessica finally let a look of open, undisguised triumph spread across her face.

【She loves my son so much, how could she bear to be apart from him? I'm just waiting for her to cry and beg Alfred not to call off the wedding.】

【Then I'll bring out the property transfer agreement and have her sign it over to Arnold. That'll have her right where I want her.】

I almost laughed out loud.

I looked at Alfred and spoke each word slowly and clearly.

"Fine. Then let's cancel the wedding, and let's get a divorce!"