My in-laws' faces fell when they heard what I said.
"Iris, what are you talking about? When have we ever treated Aeson badly? You don't know anything, just spouting nonsense."
My husband, who had just been slapped by his sister, was furious, his eyes reddening as he raised his voice.
"Was she really talking nonsense? Mom, Dad, ask yourselves honestly. After all these years, how have you treated me compared to Hela?"
"If word got out, people would think I was adopted, not your real son!"
Slap!
Hector slapped Aeson again.
"What kind of rubbish are you spouting? Your sister's a girl, what's wrong with us treating her a little better?"
"You're a grown man, yet you're jealous of your own sister! So what if we bought her a few properties and not you?"
"All you care about is our money. No wonder you'll never amount to anything. Your sister's right, this Iris has poisoned your mind, turning you against your own family!"
"If you had any self-respect, you would never try to come back to this house."
Hector paused to catch his breath, then glared at me.
"Let me be clear. If you want to marry into my family and be our daughter-in-law, you must listen to my daughter."
"We're not one of those families that favor boys over girls. In our house, the daughters come first. And if she wants not just the master bedroom, but the whole house, I'll give it all to her."
Hela held her nose up in the air like a queen, while my husband looked at them with nothing but utter disappointment.
Finally, I asked one last question.
"Then where will our child live?"
When I visited earlier today, I noticed the only spare room had already been taken by Hela's son.
My sister-in-law gave me a contemptuous glance.
"If you can't even prepare a place for your own child, what's the point of having one?"
"Why don't you go back to your mother's place and have her get it for you? But looking at you, so desperate to get your hands on other people's stuff, I'm guessing your whole family's broke too."
"Iris, if you can't afford to raise the child, then just don't have it. Don't go thinking you can rely on my parents."
"They owe you nothing."
I smiled. No, they didn't owe me anything and I never asked for it.
"Uncle, Auntie. Is that how you feel, too?"
Hector barked back.
"Yes! Don't threaten me with a child. We already have a grandson. I'm not falling for your tricks of threatening not to have a baby."
"Get out. That kind of nonsense won't fly here."
Alright, since things had come to this point, I just went ahead and kicked them out.
"Remember what you said today. Don't come crying to me later."
Hela stretched her neck out, still trying to provoke me.
"Iris, you'd better behave yourself and know your place. If you do, there's still a spot for you in this family. Otherwise, hmph … "
Otherwise, my ass. I raised my hand and slapped my sister-in-law right across the face.
"Hela, shut your filthy mouth. Don't think everyone sees you as some kind of treasure. You're trash."
Whoa. That did it. All four people across from me were about to lose it. Hela had never been hit before in her life.
She charged at me to hit me back.
But my husband kicked her in the stomach.
"If any of you lay a hand on my wife again, don't blame me for turning my back on this family."
Hela started shrieking, Maia burst into tears and the older man was shaking with rage.
"Fine then, Aeson! Iris! Since you dared to hit our daughter, know this—nothing in this house has anything to do with you."
"Every house, every last cent, it's all going to Hela. You two? Don't even dream about it."
God, this was hilarious. Every single one of them kept bringing up money and property.
Like, I married into this family just for their damn houses.
I grabbed a nearby trash can and threw it at them.
"Get out!"
Finally, there was a bit of peace and quiet.
Aeson looked heartbroken. No matter what, they were still his parents and sister.
I comforted him.
"Don't worry. It won't be long before they come crawling back, begging for our help."
