3

Anne moved in quickly, bringing her luggage and settling into the master bedroom the very next day.

When I came home from work, I saw Anne sitting on the bed, wearing my pajamas, while Roderick stood beside her, peeling an orange.

"Uncle Roderick," Anne said sweetly, "do you think Aunt Isolde will be mad and kick me out for wearing her clothes?"

Roderick smirked arrogantly. "She wouldn't dare! I run this house, not her! Since when does she get to make the decisions?"

It felt like they were deliberately saying this for me to hear as I walked in.

I ignored them, opened the closet, and grabbed a few clothes, intending to leave. But before I could, Roderick grabbed my arm.

He looked up, sneering at me. "Anne will be staying in this bedroom from now on. You can take the couch. You've no problem with that, right?"

Anne looked shy, feigning concern. "But this is Aunt Isolde's room. How can I stay here?"

I looked down, locking my eyes with Roderick with a sarcastic smile.

I thought to myself, "A beggar moves into a palace and suddenly thinks she's a royal."

"Of course not," I replied aloud. "I'm heading out of town for work anyway, so feel free to keep the couch for yourself."

Before Roderick could protest, I grabbed my clothes and walked out of the room.

4

They seemed oddly excited when my family found out I was going on a business trip.

Anne prepared an extravagant feast, practically emptying my refrigerator. Lobsters and abalone crowded the table.

Anne gently blocked my fork just as I reached out to serve myself.

"Aunt Isolde, haven't you noticed you've put on some weight lately? You should stick to organic and healthy foods. After all, if you get fat and less attractive, Uncle Roderick might not like you anymore!"

My hand paused slightly, but I smiled coldly.

"You really think your Uncle Roderick prefers young, slim, and sweet girls? How could that be? A leech like him is only interested in my money."

Anne was stunned, clearly not expecting me to say that.

Roderick turned, his face reddening with anger as he glared at me.

"What are you even talking about?! I may not earn as much as you, but building a family is a team effort. Without me, do you think you'd have been able to pursue your career so easily?"

I let out a chuckle. "And what exactly have you done? Not devaluing my house by dying in it would be your greatest contribution!"

Roderick looked at me, completely shocked. I knew that, in his eyes, I had always been a doormat, and he was probably wondering how dare I talk to him like this.

"Isolde, what do you mean your house? This is our house!"

"Exactly!" my mom said, "A married couple shares everything. What's yours is his! You should be grateful he's not holding your infertility against you! In the old days, you would have had to be on your knees thanking him!"

I didn't argue. After everyone left, I quietly pulled my mom aside into a room.

"Mom, are you out of your mind? Roderick has nieces and nephews! If something happens to me, he could pass this house down to them, and then we'll have no say at all!"

She didn't respond, so I continued.

"We're the ones who should stick together. Whether it's Roderick or Anne, this house won't end up with us. And who knows? Danny is still young. He might just have a son someday."

As soon as I said that, my mom's face darkened.

Tina had complications giving birth to Anne and wasn't able to have another child, which had been a source of constant arguments between her and my mom over the years.