"Something's come up over here. Have my brother bring some bodyguards and get over here to help."
My brother was a fanatic when it came to protecting me, and he'd taken home a gold medal in boxing.
The second the three of them heard he was coming, every one of them went white.
Brenda stamped her foot in a panic.
"We're all family here. What are you making such an ugly scene for?"
I almost laughed from sheer anger. "So refusing to roll over and get fleeced counts as making a scene?"
Rhys couldn't keep the look off his face. "What are you talking about? My brother just passed away. His wife only wants to cash it in because she's strapped for money. Fleeced? Don't make it sound so ugly."
Then he let out a sudden sigh. "But you're right. That car was part of your dowry. We've got no right to handle it."
Rhys turned and pointed at Tracey. "Honestly, Tracey, even if you're in a hurry, you should've talked it over with us. A car worth over eight million, and you just list it for sale like that? That's no respect for my wife at all!"
Rhys's sudden change of attitude caught me off guard.
Tracey stared at him, shocked, tears spilling instantly as she played for sympathy with Brenda.
"It's not like my husband is even your biological son. It's only natural you don't treat me as family."
Brenda fussed over Tracey, trying to comfort her, her eyes full of blame as they cut toward Rhys.
I looked at him too, deeply suspicious.
The next second, Rhys apologized to me, all sincerity.
"I lost my head for a moment there. Give me one more chance. We just got married. If your brother comes over and your parents find out, won't it just blow up into something huge?"
Hearing that, I finally understood.
No wonder Rhys suddenly backed down. So it turned out he was scared.
I sneered inwardly, but on my face I faked being moved. "Since you put it that way, husband, of course I won't hold it against anyone. As long as Tracey doesn't lose her mind again."
"I'll tell my brother to stand down in a bit."
With that, I went back to my room to rest, my expression worn out, while in fact I was texting my brother.
"Come. Now."
Outside the door, Brenda scolded Rhys for siding against his own.
"What's even the point of a wife like that? Better off just divorcing her!"
She pitched her voice loud, all but begging me to hear it.
I acted like I hadn't.
I explained to my brother what had happened today, and even through the phone he was livid.
"Sis, hang tight! I'm coming to bring you home right now."
"And don't worry about the car. What matters most is who put up the money, and besides, you two have only been married a short while."
My brother ran a law firm, and hearing him say that settled my nerves a little.
Rhys knocked and came in, carrying the little cake I loved most.
"Babe, today really was our fault."
He kept his eyes lowered and meek, gentle, just like the countless times he'd coaxed me before we married.
But I felt none of the old sweetness now, only exhaustion filling my chest.
Thinking of all our years together, I gave him one last warning.
"Your mom swears up and down that you're the real son, yet the moment your brother's involved, whether it's a shot at college or a job, you always have to give it up to him. Do you really not see it?"
"Holding on to your money, fine. But now your brother's dead, and your mom values that lump of flesh in your sister-in-law's belly more than she values you. She can't wait for us to fight our way to a divorce. Is that really wishing you well?"
I spoke with all the weight I had. "Even if we divorce, I don't want you getting cheated over and over. Sometimes you really have to wonder if you're the one who was brought home as somebody else's child."
Rhys said nothing. I thought he was taking it to heart. I ate a bite of the cake, and then my eyelids turned unbearably heavy.
My consciousness blurred as Tracey pushed the door open and walked straight in.
"I told you this drug was strong. One bite and she's bound to pass out. Hurry, get her thumbprint on the voluntary gift agreement!"
