Chapter 4

I continued, "Second, I'll have a lawyer go over everything. The house, the cars, the bank accounts, all of it. Everyone gets what's theirs.

"Third, from now on, I'm done with anything to do with the Olsen family. Now, please get out of my house."

Jacob pointed toward the door.

This was my home, my house. The deed had my name on it, plain as day.

"Please leave," I said. That was me showing them the door. It was the last shred of dignity he had left.

But I had seriously underestimated just how shameless they could be.

Miranda acted like she hadn't heard a word I said, settling herself onto the couch and making herself right at home.

"Leave? Where are we supposed to go?" Miranda shot back.

Her plump, greasy face twisted into a look of wounded indignation.

She said, "My daughter has been married to you for five years, worked herself to the bone for you. And now that you've made it big, you want to kick our whole family out? Jacob, is your heart made of stone?"

She worked herself to the bone? I nearly burst out laughing in disbelief.

How could a woman who made one million dollars a year, had a housekeeper, and never touched a single household chore, have the nerve to say she worked herself to the bone for me?

Cassie's tears started flowing again. She rushed to her mom's side, trying to soothe her, all the while giving me a look that said it was all my fault.

"Jacob, how can you be so harsh to my mom? She's not young anymore, and she's not in great shape," Cassie said.

I replied coldly, "If her health is so bad, she should be at home taking it easy, not coming here to tell me what to do."

Rowan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. He slammed his teacup down on the table with a loud bang.

"Jacob! Watch your tone! I'm your elder!" Rowan barked.

He put on his most authoritative face, trying to use his seniority to put me in my place.

"Elder?" Jacob shot back, locking eyes with Rowan. "If you want respect, then start acting like you deserve it."

I continued, "You let your son bleed your son-in-law dry like some parasite, and your wife distorts everything to suit herself. Is that what passes for being an elder in the Olsen family?"

"You... you..." Rowan was so stunned he couldn't get a word out, his face turning red with rage.

Adam, who'd been silent ever since I told him to keep quiet, finally couldn't hold back now that his parents were losing ground.

His eyes were red, like he was the most pitiful guy alive.

"Jacob, what did I even do wrong? All I want is my own place! My girlfriend said if I don't get this villa, she's dumping me!" Adam whined.

He was blaming everything on me. Like it was somehow my fault he couldn't get a girlfriend to stick around.

I replied, "If you want your own place, then go out and work for it, earn your own money. Don't have your sister milk me for cash just to set you up."

I looked at him. "You're twenty-seven, not seven. Don't you feel any shame, still living off your sister and me like you're still a child?"

"I..." Adam stammered, his face turning bright red under my glare.

"Enough!" Cassie screamed, cutting me off. "Jacob, that's enough! Why are you humiliating my family like this? We are family!"

"A family?" I repeated. I found it ironic and ridiculous.

I walked right up to her, staring straight into her eyes.

I said, "Cassie, be honest with yourself. Do you truly see me as family?

"You keep insisting that your one-million-dollar salary is all being saved up for our future, to give us a safety net."

"So where is it? Just how much have you really saved up? Which bank is it in? Let's see it then."

I took a step closer, his voice cold and unyielding.

I said, "Let's put it all out in the open, right here in front of your whole family. Let's see exactly what kind of 'security' you've actually prepared for this family you keep talking about."

Cassie's eyes shrank in panic. Her face went pale, and for the first time, I saw real fear flicker in her eyes.

That was the naked panic of someone whose lies had just been ripped open for all to see.

Her lips quivered, but not a single word came out. Of course, she had nothing to show for it.

Because I knew the truth. Most of her money ended up supporting her "poor" brother and her "sick" mom, one way or another.

She bought cars, paid off credit cards, and even paid off gambling debts.

Seeing her daughter cornered, Miranda suddenly sprang up from the couch like a furious lioness, charging straight at me.

"I'll tear you apart! You ungrateful wretch!" she screamed.

Her long, razor-sharp nails slashed straight toward my face.

I was ready for her, stepping aside just in time to dodge her attack.

She missed me completely, her momentum carrying her forward in a clumsy stumble. She nearly went down.

Cassie and Rowan rushed to steady her.

The whole scene was totally out of control now.