7
After that night, Amanda kept her head down for a few days. No more complaints about money at the dinner table, no more subtle jabs directed at me. But whenever we crossed paths, her face still twisted in disdain.
I didn’t care. I’d started contacting realtors and was actively looking for an apartment. Staying here any longer wasn’t an option.
That afternoon, I took off work early to visit a few places. By the time I got home, I was exhausted. Surprisingly, the house was unusually quiet. My nephew was still at school, but the other four–my parents, Amanda, and my brother–were all sitting together in the living room, chatting about something.
Since the blowout fight, the tension in the house was palpable. We barely spoke anymore, even if we bumped into each other. So, like always, I pretended they weren’t there and headed straight for my room.
“Can’t even say hi to your father? Completely disrespectful!” my dad barked before I
could disappear down the hall.
Before I could respond, my brother spoke up something that completely caught me off guard.
“Come on, Dad,” he said, his tone surprisingly mild. “She probably had a long day and didn’t mean to ignore you.”
I froze mid–step, turning to look at him. For a moment, I didn’t recognize the man sitting
on the couch.
My brother. Defending me.
The same brother who, when we were kids, would egg my dad on as he berated me. The same brother who would sit back and watch as got punished, smirking like it was
entertainment.
What was he playing at now?
“Emily, come sit,” he said, motioning to the couch with an overly friendly smile. “I want to
talk to you.”
“No thanks,” I replied, wary. A wolf offering a sheep a seat? I wasn’t stupid.
Amanda’s face immediately darkened, and I could see a string of insults forming on her
lips. But before she could say anything, my brother nudged her with his elbow, silencing
her.
“Look,” he began, still wearing that fake smile. “About what happened last time… Amanda was in the wrong. I’m here to apologize on her behalf.”
I raised an eyebrow. Apologize?
He continued, his voice dripping with sincerity. “No matter what, we’re family, Blood ties
are forever, you know? We shouldn’t let small disagreements tear us apart.”
I crossed my arms, unimpressed. “What do you want?”
C
I didn’t have the energy for his games. After a long day of apartment hunting, I just
wanted to rest.
Ignoring my tone, he got up, grabbed my arm, and gently pulled me toward the couch.
“Come on, sit down. Let’s talk.”
I sighed and let him guide me, too tired to argue.
“You’ve been divorced for a while now, haven’t you?” he asked casually once I sat down.
I frowned, unsure of where this was going. “Yeah, so?”
“You haven’t thought about, you know… finding someone new?”
“Nope. I’m happy the way I am,” I said, leaning back and crossing my legs.
He laughed–an obnoxious, condescending laugh. “Happy? Come on, Emily. You can’t really be planning to stay single forever, can you? What are you gonna do, live here for the rest of your life?”
My dad, who had been silent for a while, chimed in with a frown. “That’s not an option.
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23:05 Fri,
My dad, who had been silent for a while, chimed in with a frown. “That’s not an option. You need to settle down again. A woman without a husband or kids is just… pitiful.”
I turned to look at him, feeling nothing but indifference. His words didn’t sting anymore. He was just a frail old man now–a shadow of the tyrant he used to be. His so–called authority didn’t mean anything to me anymore.
“I’m already looking for an apartment,” I said calmly. “I’ll be moving out in a few days.”
Before I could finish, my brother cut me off. “Move out? Why would you do that?” He leaned forward, his tone almost pleading. “This is your home. You’re my sister. You could live here for the rest of your life, and no one would say a word against you.”
His sudden change in tone set off alarm bells. Something wasn’t right.
“What are you really getting at?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
He grinned, leaning back into the couch. “So, I’ve been hanging out with some big–name guys lately. You know, successful businessmen. When they found out I had a sister, they all got curious. So, I showed them your photo.”
I stiffened.
“And guess what?” he continued, his grin widening. “They all went crazy for you! They’re begging me to introduce you.”
Ah. There it was.
I knew this routine all too well. His smug, self–satisfied expression was painfully familiar.
Years ago,
he’d used the exact same lines to convince me to marry my ex–husband.
My ex wasn’t exactly poor–his family owned several convenience stores in town. My brother, unemployed and desperate at the time, had sold me on the idea, saying it was “for
my own good.” He painted a picture of an easy, comfortable life.
What I actually got was years of abuse.
Meanwhile, my brother thrived. Thanks to my ex’s “help,” he was able to open a small
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brother, unemployed and desperate at the time, had sold me on the idea, saying it was “for my own good.” He painted a picture of an easy, comfortable life.
What I actually got was years of abuse.
Meanwhile, my brother thrived. Thanks to my ex’s “help,” he was able to open a small grocery store and start making decent money.
So, while I was covered in bruises and struggling to survive, he was living it up, all thanks
to me.
And now he wanted to sell me off again?
