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My words caused murmurs among the
crowd.
Some even turned to Marcela and asked directly, “Marcela, didn’t you say your in–laws bought those three houses for you? And you constantly complained that your sister–in–law was lazy, ugly, almost forty, and still unmarried, living off her parents after losing her job. This is outrageous.‘
“You…”
99
I chuckled, “So this is how you twist the
truth behind my back.
“It doesn’t matter.
“Ms. Lewis just called. She mentioned receiving the lawyer‘ s letter.
“You’ll see it when you get home.”
We were disrupting their reunion, and it was inappropriate to argue in someone else’s home. I didn’t want to entangle
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myself further.
Turning to Gwen, I said, “Ms. Sinclair, I’m sorry for causing trouble. I’ll head back now. Enjoy your gathering, and feel free to visit me when you have time.”
I started to leave.
Marcela grabbed my arm.
“Alina, explain yourself. Where did you get the money to buy a villa? Did your mother give it to you?”
I looked at her, then at Colton, and said calmly, “Your husband has a mother. I don’t.”
With that, I shrugged off her hand and left
Gwen’s house.
Marcela and Colton followed me out, trying to get into my villa as I entered. I promptly locked the door from the inside.
The housekeeper I hired, a fresh college graduate named Emily Hart, was visibly frightened by their aggressive behavior.
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myself further.
Turning to Gwen, I said, “Ms. Sinclair, I’m sorry for causing trouble. I’ll head back now. Enjoy your gathering, and feel free to visit me when you have time.”
I started to leave.
Marcela grabbed my arm.
“Alina, explain yourself. Where did you get the money to buy a villa? Did your mother give it to you?”
I looked at her, then at Colton, and said calmly, “Your husband has a mother. I don‘ t.”
With that, I shrugged off her hand and left Gwen‘ s house.
Marcela and Colton followed me out, trying to get into my villa as I entered. I promptly locked the door from the inside.
The housekeeper I hired, a fresh college graduate named Emily Hart, was visibly frightened by their aggressive behavior.
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I smiled reassuringly at her.
“Don’t worry.
“Send me your personal information. I’m planning to go on a trip for a few days, and you‘ re coming with me.”
Emily looked puzzled.
“I just started working. I don’t have money for a vacation.”
I laughed. “I’m inviting you, of course I’ll cover the expenses—food, accommodation, everything.”
“Where are we going then?”
I thought about it. After working for so many years, I never had the luxury of dreaming of taking a vacation.
Suddenly, I couldn’t think of a
destination.
I asked her, “Is there anywhere you‘ d like to go?”
She replied, “I’ve always wanted to visit
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the small towns in the southwest.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
We quickly booked flights for the next day.
Emily called her family to inform them about the trip. Her parents were worried, fearing I might kidnap her for organ. trafficking.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Emily assured them it wasn’t the case.
To be fair, it was suspicious—meeting someone only half a month ago and suddenly planning a trip together.
Emily wasn’t very talkative. I explained,
“This trip was a spontaneous idea. Those two outside are my brother and sister–in-
law.
“I won the lottery and quit my job.”
Emily looked at me with envy but didn’t ask
much.
I continued, “My parents favor my brother.
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When they heard I had lost my job and was returning home, they kicked me out.
“I originally bought three small houses, but now my parents live in one, my sister- in–law‘ s brother lives in another, and the
third one is vacant but not for me. I have nowhere to go.
“I quit my job and came back, thinking I could finally enjoy life with them since I had money now. We could all relax and be happy.
“But it turns out, only I saw them as family. They saw me as a burden.”
After I finished speaking, Emily wasn’t very good at comforting people.
After I finished, Emily, who wasn’t great at comforting people, simply said, “Family or not, if they don‘ t value you, there’s no need to cling on. Otherwise, it’s just giving them an excuse to take advantage of you.”
