My Best Friend Became My Brother's Wife

After seeing Lilian off, my mother patted my shoulder and cheerfully said, "Good job today, girl. Finally, you're on the same page as me. When Lilian asked you, I thought you'd speak up for her again!"

My father looked at me approvingly and added, "I also thought you, silly girl, would embarrass your mom in front of everyone again."

Look at that. My reputation as Lilian's mouthpiece was firmly established at home. I sighed and said, "I used to be foolish, always wanting to stand up for her. But now I realize that being the first to stick out never ends well."

My parents were very pleased with my epiphany and praised me for finally growing up. Little did they know that this so-called growing up came at the cost of my life.

I remembered how, in my previous life, after I had stood up to my mother for Lilian, my mother had been sarcastic with me for weeks, and my father had been deeply disappointed.

Yet they had praised Lilian for suggesting forgoing the money, boasting to everyone about what a good wife their son had gotten.

I angrily confronted Lilian then, asking why she had undermined me. She explained, "I was afraid your parents and Ethan would think I was after money. Besides, we've been friends for so many years. You're so good, so your family must be good too. They will surely treat me well, and as long as they do, the money doesn't matter."

I had called her foolish at the time, thinking she should value something more reliable than people's goodwill. After all, human hearts changed, but money stayed loyal. Yet, why had her expression changed today if she didn't care about money?

Thinking back, it wasn't she who was foolish but me. The incidents where she betrayed me were countless. Since she claimed to be so modest and never chased after fame or fortune, I would let her be just that this time.