The Fight for My Home

My scheming sister-in-law Sheila goaded my brother into seizing the property under my name.

She even used the baby in her belly as leverage, threatening to abort it if I didn't hand over the house.

My brother, all for the sake of that child, kept telling me to back down.

Why should I? He was just an adopted son!

1

My brother Preston got a girl pregnant out of wedlock. It's been three months, and with her crying and fussing, they've had no choice but to start planning a wedding.

Preston's a dim-witted playboy, at least in my opinion.

To keep things civil, I brought back some local specialties and fruits for my soon-to-be sister-in-law Sheila from a business trip.

I'd originally planned to get her a handbag, but my mom said she'd take us both to get custom ones when she got back. She suggested that if I really wanted to give Sheila something, I could just order it at the store later.

That made sense, so I settled for some simple gifts instead.

The moment I stepped through the door, I saw Sheila lounging on the sofa in my pajamas, watching TV.

I hate people touching my clothes, but I figured Preston might've given them to her, so I held my tongue.

Smiling, I set the gifts down in front of her. "Sheila, just a little something. Hope you like it."

She glanced at the boxes, then grabbed my hand with exaggerated warmth, saying I shouldn't have gone to the trouble.

"No trouble at all, as long as you enjoy them," I replied.

Sheila started rifling through the gifts, clearly not finding anything she liked, though she kept a strained smile plastered on her face. "Thanks, Sapphire, I love it," she said.

Then she pulled me closer, bombarding me with questions: Where do I work? How much do I earn? How much do I give to the family? Do I have a boyfriend?

It was a barrage of nosy inquiries that left me awkward and annoyed.

With her fake-sweet attitude, I'd have slapped her silly in the past.

But for the sake of courtesy, I only answered the last one, "I don't have a boyfriend."

Soon after, Preston emerged from the kitchen with a plate of fruit and told me to bring it to Sheila.

She picked at it halfheartedly, ate two bites, then whined to Preston that she didn't like fruit.

That's when I remembered I had two boxes of cherries in my car. The second she saw them, her eyes lit up, and she devoured an entire box.

Seeing them laughing and chatting in the living room, I didn't want to play third wheel, so I grabbed my luggage and headed to my room.

That's when I froze.

2

My wardrobe doors were flung wide open, clothes strewn everywhere, bed and floor a chaotic mess. Even my vanity was a disaster, with stuff tipped over and scattered.

You'd think a thief had hit the place.

"Preston!" I yelled.

No question, it had to be Sheila's doing!

Preston rushed upstairs, phone in hand, mid-game. I questioned him about the mess.

He barely glanced at the mess and muttered, "Oh, forgot to tell you. You're moving to the first floor now. This room gets good sunlight, perfect for the baby. Sheila and I are taking it."

I glared at him. "Why didn't you tell me before moving in? And who gave her permission to trash my stuff?"

"You're making a big deal out of nothing," he said, unbothered, plopping onto the bed to keep playing his game.

"It's just a room. Sheila wanted it, so let her have it. You've got tons of stuff anyway. What's the harm in her using some of it?"

I was speechless. Sure, I don't use it all the time, but a heads-up would've been nice, I might've even agreed.

Furious, I kicked him out and called Mom, feeling a little wronged.

Preston lingered at the door. "Don't forget to pack up and move downstairs. This room's Sheila's now."

I laughed in disbelief. She wasn't even married in yet, and she was already calling the shots with her name on everything?

3

Mom and Dad have been busy with their engagement plans lately, often away from home.

To give their future daughter-in-law a wedding she'd love, they flew to Bravonia to pick out her dress. Sheila's parents, meanwhile, haven't shown their faces once.

Whenever I ask, Sheila says they're abroad on business and that our family can handle the engagement details.

My parents didn't push it. In fact, they felt sorry for her, thinking it was sad her family didn't care about such a big moment, so they doubled down on making it special.

On the phone, Mom paused when I vented, clearly unaware of the room situation. But she didn't say much, Sheila wasn't officially family yet, and as parents, they had to prioritize her feelings.

So Mom just comforted me: "Don't be upset, Sapphire. I'll buy you lots of pretty dresses when I'm back. Just put up with the downstairs room for now, okay?"

I started to protest, but before I could finish, Dad transferred 50, 000 to my account.

Mom added that I must be exhausted from my trip and should go eat out and relax.

With them going this far, I didn't want to make things harder.

Then came a knock at the door.

I thought it was Preston, so I grumbled as I opened it. "What now? I'm packing to clear out for you!"

But it was Sheila, deliberately rubbing her belly to remind me she was pregnant.

In her syrupy tone, she said, "Sapphire, sorry for taking your room. Preston said it's sunny and good for the baby, so we..."

That's when it clicked.

She was a total manipulator.

Preston's too careless and simple-minded to think of that.

She just wanted my room.

When my parents bought this house, they gave me this room because of its great light for painting.

Preston never minded, he even got a gaming room as compensation.

If she's playing this game, fine. No need to be nice anymore.

I picked up some clothes from the floor and smiled politely. "If you feel bad about it, why take it over?"

I emphasized "take over."

Her voice turned whiny. "I didn't mean it like that..."

I smirked. "Moving in without my knowledge isn't taking over?"

"Watch it, Sapphire! You're not pregnant. What's wrong with living downstairs?" she snapped.

Just then, Preston came upstairs. The second she heard him, her eyes welled up.

Sniffling, she clung to his arm like a scared little bunny. "Preston, maybe we should move back to your room."

I rolled my eyes at her act.

Preston, seeing her like that, lost it and started yelling at me. "What's mine or hers? She's a girl, she'll marry out someday. Sheila, you stay wherever you want."

He dragged her into the room, shoved me out, and slammed the door, barking, "Stay or leave, your choice!"

Preston had never been like this. Our relationship was always lukewarm, but never this hostile.

He's completely under her spell.

Fuming, I stormed downstairs. Passing the living room, I glanced at the gift boxes.

Unbelievable, Sheila had angled the QR codes toward where she'd sat, making sure everyone knew she'd checked the prices.

And the most expensive one? Gone.

Classic.

I reached for the remaining box of cherries, but before I could grab it, Preston shouted, "Sheila wants those. Buy your own if you want some."

The nerve!

They were mine to begin with, and now I had to buy more?

Ignoring him, I took the cherries to my new room and slammed the door, muttering, "Buy your own. I'm not your servant!"

4

Over the next few days, Sheila turned into a total diva.

While Preston was at work, she bossed me around and lectured me, a completely different person from when he was home.

One minute she demanded cake, only from a shop ten kilometers away. I wasn't indulging her. She could eat what I bought or starve.

Worse, she tossed her and Preston's dirty underwear at me, telling me to hand-wash it.

"This is what girls in the family do," she said. "You're so immature, not helping out."

I'd never been treated like this.

I threw the clothes back in her face and told her to get lost.

Every time, she'd whine that I was mistreating her, saying she was already suffering before even marrying in.

I laughed and shot back, "You're bossing your future sister-in-law around before the wedding. What's next, ordering my mom around after you're married?"

Each day, the second Preston got home from work, he'd ask Sheila if I'd bullied her.

What an idiot.

I couldn't be bothered with them anymore. I'd roll my eyes and lock myself in my room.

5

Out of nowhere, Sheila announced her sister Juliana was coming to stay.

In the past, I'd heard her mention Juliana, an art student like me, still in school.

I just thought, "Whether that's true, who knows? I don't trust much that comes out of Sheila's mouth. I flat-out refused to let Juliana stay. If her sister's like this, who knows what she's like?"

But Preston agreed without hesitation.

Two days later, Juliana showed up.

She seemed nicer than Sheila, carrying a sketchpad and greeting me with a bright, "Hi, Sapphire!"

After Sheila, I was wary of overly friendly girls.

I just nodded coolly. "Hey."

Later, I overheard Sheila whispering to Juliana, "Use whatever you want. It'll all be your brother-in-law's someday."

Juliana hesitated at first, quietly asking, "Won't Sapphire mind? She doesn't seem to like us much."

Sheila scoffed, patting her belly smugly.

"Why worry? This baby's a Todd. She'll just have to deal with it."

Preston has no idea the woman he adores is scheming to take over his family's assets.

Listening to their little chat, I almost laughed. The semi-decent sister would probably end up just like Sheila eventually.

6

That night at dinner, Sheila slammed her chopsticks down, crossed her legs, and brought up the dowry.

With an entitled air, she said to Preston, "My parents are abroad doing business. Our family's no worse off than yours, so as respectable people, the dowry can't be cheap. But my parents say it's just for show, what matters is how you treat me."

I could tell this was her setup for a big ask.

Arms crossed, I smirked and asked how much she wanted.

She turned to Preston, clinging to his arm with a coy smile. "How about 500, 000 for the dowry? Plus a house in my name, it'll be our baby's anyway. Oh, and my dad says a car would be nice too. The house should be renovated."

"Sure, no problem," Preston didn't even blink.

Did he think Mom and Dad's money grew on trees?

I couldn't help laughing.

Sheila glared at me, pouting. "What's so funny?"

I grinned. "Your wild imagination. How shameless are you, demanding a house and car? Preston already has a place, Mom and Dad set it up as your wedding home, fully renovated. You can move in anytime. He's got a car too. Whether he puts it in your name is up to you two. Stop eyeing my parents' money!"

Her face soured. "Preston, what happened to your promises? Now you can't even handle a little thing like the dowry?"

A little thing?

Forget the house and car, 500, 000 alone would take Preston forever to earn without Mom and Dad.

And Sheila? Rumor has it she's got a high school diploma and no job, factories wouldn't even take her. Yet her demands are sky-high.

I started doubting her parents were legit businesspeople.

What decent parents ignore their daughter's wedding?

Preston rushed to soothe her, telling me to shut up.

I wouldn't. "Big decisions like this need both sets of parents to talk it out. We're just the kids, we don't call the shots. Right, Preston?"

He knew how Mom and Dad operated. They're easygoing, but some things follow rules.

They hadn't forced Sheila's parents to meet, but it bothered them.

Preston had nothing to say.

Sheila promised her parents would meet ours once they were back.

After dinner, she shockingly brought me a fruit plate.

That fake smile? What was she asking for this time? Classic bitch.

I ignored her, working at my easel for an upcoming art exhibit.

She sat beside me, eagerly offering fruit. I refused.

Glancing around, she started fishing. "Sapphire, I heard from Preston you've got a river-view place, right?"

I shot her a look. "Don't even think about it unless you want an earful."

She laughed awkwardly. "We're family, no big deal. Oh, didn't you say you're single? I've got a cousin your age. Maybe I could set you up? He just started working here..."

I cut her off. "I don't need you playing matchmaker."

Her face froze.

When I didn't budge, she stormed out, muttering I was ungrateful.

Thanks, but no thanks, judging by her, how great could her cousin be?

The next few days, Sheila was oddly quiet, even stepping out sometimes.

I total felt something was off.