Phoebe's POV
Besides, he was the man I love, and soon, he’ll be family. No decent person would speak about him like that, no matter what they thought.
I was just about to speak up when Raven gently pulled me back and shook his head. “Let it go. We’re with family. It’s not worth starting drama.”
Touched by his patience, I leaned into him and gave him a grateful smile, motioning for him to sit down. “Want some strawberries? I’ll wash them just for you. All yours.”
He smiled and nodded.
I rinsed the strawberries and handed them to him, then turned to finish cooking.
Suddenly, my mom’s voice rang out from behind me. “Those strawberries were for Fiona and Ted! And look at you two, sneaking them like thieves!”
Before I could say anything, she snatched the whole plate right out of Raven’s hands.
“Mom, I bought those strawberries,” I said calmly. “Yours are still in the fridge.”
Yet she seemed not to hear a thing. Instead, she shouted toward the kitchen, “Wash another batch!”
I couldn't make sense of it anymore.
Growing up, my mom had always favored Fiona. Every time there was something good to eat at home, she’d call my cousin over to get some.
One time, I bought my parents a massage chair to help them relax. The next day, my aunt had already taken it home.
I never understood my mom’s obsession with helping her sister’s family. We all had our own households now. Isn’t it normal to put your own family first?
I could put up with being treated unfairly, but I refused to let my husband go through the same.
Resolved, I marched into the living room and yanked the plate of strawberries right out of my cousin’s hands. “If you want some, wash your own. I cleaned these just for Raven.”
Fiona froze, caught off guard.
But my mom came over and smacked me on the back of the head. “Well, look at you! Got yourself a man and now you’re too good for the rest of us? All this fuss over some strawberries?”
She then turned to my cousin with a sweet smile and cooed, “I’ll wash more for you two. Just sit tight.”
Then she turned around and gave me a cold, hard glare. “What are you standing there for? Get back in the kitchen! Or do you want us to starve?”
My fists clenched in anger.
That was it for me. I was done with this place. This would be our last meal here. After today, Raven and I weren’t coming back.
When dinner was finally ready and everyone was digging in, I took the chance to bring up my house again.
“Mom, we need to start the interior setup soon. Don’t forget to give me the keys.”
Clueless, Fiona’s husband was cheerful as he invited, “You guys should come check out our place! We live in Willow Creek Drive, too. Guess we’re neighbors now. We spent seventy grand on the furnishings. Looks pretty good if you ask me.”
I smiled politely and replied, “Nice! What's the house number? I’d love to drop by and get some ideas.”
He was about to answer when Fiona quickly shoved a shrimp into his mouth. “Freshly peeled! Eat before it gets cold.”
Seeing I wasn’t letting it go, my mom’s expression darkened. “That house? I’m keeping it for retirement. Your dad and I don’t want to stay in the countryside anymore. You two can just buy another one.”
She then pointed at Raven with a smug look and taunted, “Didn’t he say he earns a lot? Let him pay for the new one.”
Raven’s face immediately turned grim upon hearing that.
But I quickly stepped in, “That house cost three hundred grand. And of that, two hundred grand was from Raven. He transferred it to me directly. At the time, he was working overseas and couldn’t sign in person. That’s why the property title only has my name. But we have all the transfer records.”
Humiliated, my mom’s face immediately dropped.
But my dad jumped in, trying to ease the tension. “It’s All Souls' Day. Let’s not talk about this today.”
