Kinsley was spitting in every direction as she ranted nonstop.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Sister-in-law, if I remember it right, when you married my brother, your dowry was just 800 bucks and a quilt. But you demanded 500 grams of gold jewelry and a 6.66 million bride price.”
“That money, meant to help you two build a life, was given by my parents. And the very next day, you wired it back to your own family along with that so-called 800-dollar dowry.”
“What now? My brother’s money isn’t enough to waste, so now your little abacus beads are clicking in my direction?”
Kinsley, still sipping her vegetable soup, suddenly snapped. She slammed her bowl, spoon, and fork on the table with a loud crash.
She pointed straight at my nose and screamed, “What do you mean ‘transferred to my family’? That dowry came from my side in the first place! The bride price you gave? That was my family’s money too!”
“And you, you useless tramp living off my husband, eating his food, staying in his house, how dare you eye my money?”
“If it weren’t for my husband supporting you, you’d have starved to death long ago. You’re given a bit of respect and suddenly think you’re something special? You’re not even a proper woman, always out and about. Call it ‘work’ if you want, but anyone with eyes can see you’re just fooling around with men.”
“You filthy, cheap, shameless thing! If I hadn’t spoken up for you, do you really think you’d ever have the luck to marry a decent man like my brother?”
I stayed silent, but my gaze grew colder by the second. My brother noticed, his face paling as he quickly tried to pull Kinsley back.
“Enough. Adeline is my sister. Can’t you stop already?”
But Kinsley wasn’t done. “What, you scared of that worthless burden? You’re the only son of the family. The company, the inheritance, and everything your parents own will end up in your hands. And what’s yours is mine. Every cent Adeline spends is technically my money now. So what if I curse her a little?”
“If I tell her to eat sh*t, she better swallow it with a smile!”
I let out a cold laugh. “Brother, is that how you feel too?”
Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, my brother gave an awkward laugh, trying to smooth things over.
“Adeline, your sister-in-law just has a sharp tongue. She doesn’t mean anything by it. Besides, she’s newly pregnant, and her emotions are all over the place. Don’t take it to heart.”
My eyes fell on the table full of half-empty liquor bottles, and I frowned. “She’s pregnant and still drinking?”
Kinsley deliberately puffed out her barely-there belly, a smug smirk curling at her lips.
“I drink what my husband pays for. What’s it to you? I’m carrying the golden grandson of your family. If you dare piss me off, I’ll go abort this baby and see how long you last before your precious mom and dad kick you out.”
My brother’s face drained of color. He instantly grabbed her hand and glared at me.
“Adeline, we’re all family. Why stir up trouble over nothing?”
“Mom and Dad dream of a grandson. Do you really want to drive them into a heart attack?”
“Now be sensible. Apologize to your sister-in-law and say you’re willing to marry her brother.”
A chill crept down my spine. I never imagined the brother I’d called “brother” for over twenty years would put more weight on the words of a woman he’d known for less than six months than mine.
The impatience on his face, the thinly veiled annoyance in his eyes, it all struck me harder than I expected. A wave of cold disappointment washed over me.
But he was right about one thing: our parents were aging. Dad had battled high blood pressure for years. I didn’t want to give them any more reason to worry.
I inhaled deeply, again and again, forcing down the disgust bubbling in my chest. I chose silence over argument.
Kinsley, thinking I had been cowed, let out a cold snort, puffing herself up like a triumphant one.
“Trash like you is everywhere in our village. Being allowed to marry my brother is the kind of blessing your ancestors must’ve prayed for. Now that you’re marrying him, learn to clean, serve my parents and my brother, and pop out a baby boy before the year’s over.”
My fingers curled tightly into my palm. My temples throbbed from the rising frustration. I was scared that if I stayed another second, I’d lose control and slap her across the face.
