I Made My Sister-in-Law lose weight,Then She Blackmailed Me

"Seven thousand was just for the meals. But for the last thirty days, you crashed at my place every single day just so you could sleep in and slack off. You completely invaded my personal space."

Hester paused, a malicious smile spreading across her face.

"I won't ask for much—hotels go for about three hundred a night. Let's call it nine thousand for the room and board."

I stopped mid-step, turning to stare at her in disbelief.

If the seven thousand had been shameless greed, this was pure audacity.

I yanked my arm free and felt something inside me snap.

"Hester, have you lost your mind? You seem to have forgotten that I'm the one who searched this entire city to find you this apartment!"

"I paid your deposit. I paid your property fees. And now you have the nerve to charge me for staying here?"

Hester let out a derisive snort, rolling her eyes so hard they nearly disappeared into her skull.

"Oh, drop the act. You think I don't know what that was about? You were dating my brother back then. If you weren't trying to marry into our family, would you have followed me around like a desperate little puppy?"

"You weren't helping me. You were helping yourself."

"Besides, you've benefited plenty from marrying into the James family. What's wrong with me asking for a little room and board?"

The neighbors chimed in, pointing at me with righteous indignation.

"Typical gold-digger—she'd do anything for money! No wonder she dresses so tight all the time. Who knows what other schemes she's cooking up!"

I'd had enough.

My palm connected with Hester's cheek before I even registered moving.

She clutched her face, gaping at me in shock.

"You hit me?"

I regarded her coldly.

"Does your brother know you're saying all this?"

"So what if he does! He's my brother—we're actual family. You think he'd ever take your side over mine? You're just an outsider!"

I ignored her and pulled out my phone, dialing Wallace James.

After a few rings, his voice came through.

"What's up, honey? Aren't you still at Hester's?"

I switched to speakerphone and recounted every detail of what had just happened, loud enough for everyone present to hear.

Silence stretched from the other end.

Finally, Wallace spoke.

"Hannah… Hester's still just a kid."

"Don't stoop to her level. Just transfer the money—it's only nine thousand. I'll pay you back when you get home."

A bitter laugh escaped me. The ache in my chest twisted deeper, sharp and suffocating.

I lifted my gaze and met Hester's smirk head-on.

"Fine. I'll transfer it."

"But let me make one thing crystal clear: from this moment forward, anything involving the James family has nothing to do with me, Hannah Gilbert."

"Honey, don't be mad—"

I didn't let him finish. I blocked his number.

Then I transferred the nine thousand to Hester.

The moment the payment went through, she and the neighbors erupted in cheers.

I couldn't stomach another second of this circus. I grabbed my things and headed straight to April Manning's place.

When April heard what happened, she slammed her palm on the coffee table so hard the glass cracked.

"Hannah, those two are absolutely unhinged!"

"From the day you started dating Wallace to your wedding, you've spent over a hundred thousand on that man—clothes, gifts, everything. And this is how he repays you?"