The Wrong Woman, The Wrong Move

Demanding My House

I gaped at him. "Sean, is that really what you think of me?"

Tugging Sean's arm, Isobel looked particularly defiant as she stated, "Since Sasha disagrees, forget it. Never mind that she dislikes me, but to think that she's even reluctant to give you a house as your marriage gift! If it were me, I'd rather be without a sister like her."

Sean pressed his lips together, doubt flickering in his eyes.

My office door suddenly swung open.

Grandma marched in and chided, "I can literally hear you quarreling from miles away."

"Grandma, what brings you here?" Sean sidled up to her, eager to please her.

Grandma rolled her eyes. "Of course, I have to be here for the discussion of your big day!"

As soon as she settled on the couch, she began patronizingly, "Sasha, Sean is the only son of our family. We have to take his wedding seriously. I like Izzie, and since she's now pregnant, I figured it'd be nice to just get the wedding done properly next month.

"The fortune of the entire Carrington family belongs to Sean anyway. He's only asking for a house from you as his marital home, yet you're being so reluctant. That's quite inappropriate of you, isn't it?"

Isobel beamed. "Agnes, you're really sensible!"

"In that case, I have nothing else to say either," I said. "Just proceed with the wedding."

Sean began, "Sasha, about Beaugor Villa—"

"No way," I interrupted. "I'm used to staying at Beaugor Villa and don't feel like moving. But I have a few vacant properties just as good as this one. Pick one as my wedding gift to you."

While Sean seemed to falter, Isobel was unyielding.

"I want Beaugor Villa," she insisted. "The baby likes it too. Sasha, if you truly care about us, you wouldn't be keeping the best for yourself."

"Sasha." Grandma pressed her lips together, looking disappointed as she chided me, "You've really let me down."

Clinging to Grandma's arm, Isobel made a deliberate effort to appear compliant and chimed in, "Grandma, if Sasha doesn't want to, don't force her. I don't really mind where I live, but I just didn't expect her to be this heartless toward family."

She eyed my office, a hint of jealousy flickering in her eyes as she continued, "Asking for a house from her is already this hard… I can't imagine how impossible it'll be for Sean to take over the company from her in the future."

Thanks to her adding fuel to the fire, Grandma's expression immediately darkened. Sean parted his lips, staring at me as if I had stolen something from him.

A wave of disappointment crashed over me.

"Get out!"

"Sasha—"

I couldn't stand the sight of them any longer. Without hesitation, I had Ellis escort them out.

…

"You look miserable," Karl remarked, leaning against the counter with an emerald bracelet in hand. He held it over my wrist, his voice teasing. "Even going out with me doesn't cheer you up?"

"Just spit it out," I grumbled, already worn down by days of mounting frustration.

Karl clicked his tongue. "You women… When I was taking care of you, you weren't this impatient."

The shop assistant's eyes gleamed with curiosity, practically burning with gossip.

Seemingly satisfied with the bracelet, Karl said, "I'll take this. Please wrap it up."

"Of course, sir," the shop assistant said. "Please come this way to pay."

"She's paying." He pointed at me.

Seeing the shop assistant's bewildered expression, he explained with a charming smile, "Married men can barely afford a drink, let alone this. You know how it is."

The shop assistant's expression instantly turned to pure shock as if she couldn't believe how low my morals were.