The Fight for My Home

la goaded my brother into seiz

as leverage, threatening to abort

sake of that child, kept

He was just an

It's been three months, and with her crying and fussing

tted playboy, at l

cal specialties and fruits for my soon-to-be

both to get custom ones when she got back. She suggested that if I really

I settled for some s

door, I saw Sheila lounging on th

but I figured Preston might've give

front of her. "Sheila, just a lit

my hand with exaggerated warmth, saying

as long as you enj

ng anything she liked, though she kept a strained smile pla

tions: Where do I work? How much do I earn? How mu

y inquiries that left m

itude, I'd have slapped

I only answered the last one

he kitchen with a plate of fruit a

ate two bites, then whined to Pr

erries in my car. The second she saw them, her

ng room, I didn't want to play third wheel, s

when I

everywhere, bed and floor a chaotic mess. Even my vanit

thief had hi

n!" I y

t had to be Sh

one in hand, mid-game. I qu

l you. You're moving to the first floor now. This room gets go

ll me before moving in? And who gav

ing," he said, unbothered, plopping o

her have it. You've got tons of stuff anyw

t all the time, but a heads-up would'

out and called Mom, fe

't forget to pack up and move down

arried in yet, and she was already callin

ith their engagement plans l

ve, they flew to Bravonia to pick out her dress. Sheila

abroad on business and that our fami

er, thinking it was sad her family didn't care about such

oom situation. But she didn't say much, Sheila wasn't officially

I'll buy you lots of pretty dresses when I'm back.

ore I could finish, Dad trans

hausted from my trip and sh

far, I didn't want to

a knock at

umbled as I opened it. "What now?

tely rubbing her belly to r

sorry for taking your room. Preston said

hen it c

total ma

ess and simple-mind

wanted

, they gave me this room because

he even got a gaming

s game, fine. No nee

loor and smiled politely. "If you f

ized "ta

hiny. "I didn't me

n without my knowled

pregnant. What's wrong with li

stairs. The second she hea

a scared little bunny. "Preston, ma

my eyes a

ling at me. "What's mine or hers? She's a girl, she'll

d me out, and slammed the door, bar

. Our relationship was always lu

tely under

. Passing the living room, I

odes toward where she'd sat, making sure

t expensive

ssi

t before I could grab it, Preston shouted, "She

ne

egin with, and now

new room and slammed the door, mutteri

ays, Sheila turned

e around and lectured me, a completely

hop ten kilometers away. I wasn't indulging

ston's dirty underwear at me,

mily do," she said. "You're s

een treated

ack in her face and t

istreating her, saying she was alrea

re sister-in-law around before the wedding. What's

got home from work, he'd as

an id

hem anymore. I'd roll my eyes

nnounced her sister Juli

ention Juliana, an art stude

ch that comes out of Sheila's mouth. I flat-out refused to let Ju

greed without

ter, Julian

rrying a sketchpad and greeting

as wary of overly

dded cool

Juliana, "Use whatever you want. It'll

ly asking, "Won't Sapphire mind?

, patting her

s a Todd. She'll just

n he adores is scheming to t

laughed. The semi-decent sister would pro

ed her chopsticks down, crossed he

Our family's no worse off than yours, so as respectable people, the dowry can't

is was her setu

irked and asked ho

, 000 for the dowry? Plus a house in my name, it'll be our baby's anyway. O

em," Preston di

and Dad's money

't help

me, pouting. "W

has a place, Mom and Dad set it up as your wedding home, fully renovated. You can move in anytime.

ed to your promises? Now you can't eve

tle t

00 alone would take Preston fore

hool diploma and no job, factories wouldn't

her parents were le

ts ignore their d

soothe her, tell

sets of parents to talk it out. We're just the

rated. They're easygoing, b

ila's parents to meet,

ad nothin

arents would meet our

shockingly brought

was she asking for thi

g at my easel for an

eagerly offering

. "Sapphire, I heard from Preston yo

t even think about it un

dn't you say you're single? I've got a cousin your age. M

don't need you p

ace f

he stormed out, mutter

judging by her, how gre

a was oddly quiet, even

lt somethi