Chapter 4
When Aunt Lily and Grandma Rose rushed in, I had finished my IV drip. Grandma Rose gently touched my waist in a cast, tears streaming down her face. "Such misfortune. I never should've let your mom—"
"Mom." Aunt Lily quickly cut her off, giving her a warning glance.
I'd always found it odd how Grandma Rose and Aunt Lily treated James. They weren't exactly cold, but they weren't warm either.
It's not that they disliked him, but they never really showed him the kind of affection you'd expect for a grandson.
Even when Grandma Grace passed away, she left a huge inheritance, and I was the sole heir. My dad didn't get a single cent.
James was so pissed off that he locked himself in his room for days, refusing to come out.
Aunt Lily stayed behind to look after me and called my mom to let her know about my injury.
Mom rushed back from the neighboring city that night, her eyes red. Aunt Lily had already changed the locks.
Mom stayed beside me in the hospital for three days until the doctor discharged me to recover at home.
My mom called the school to let them know I'd be out sick.
To our shock, James had actually brought Emily home.
I could literally see my mom's breathing turn uneven from anger.
Emily was hiding behind James, looking like she'd been wronged.
"Mom, Sophie hurt Em, so I brought her back to recover," James jumped in before anyone else could say a word.
"Your sister ended up with a fractured bone because you pushed her, and now you're saying she hurt someone?" My mom threw the medical report right in his face. "James, who said you could bring someone else into Soph's place?"
"Why does she get a house and I don't? You always favor her." James shouted, his eyes red with anger.
"This place is for Soph while she's at school. It has nothing to do with you," my mom said, pointing at the door. "Get her out, right now."
Emily started crying again, choking back tears. "Mrs. Foster, is it because you look down on me for being from the countryside?"
James shot my mom a furious glare.
James demanded, "Why did you never buy me a house when I was in school? Why do you always play favorites?"
"James, I'm done talking. Take her and go. I'm not letting a stranger stay in my home," my mom said, her voice cold and firm.
"Shut up." I finally snapped. "Emily, every time I see you, you're bawling your eyes out. Aren't you tired yet?"
Emily ignored me and tearfully told Mom, "Mrs. Foster, don't look down on me for being from the country. I'll be your daughter-in-law. James is the Foster family's only heir, so everything will eventually be his."
My mom was about to lose it.
She took a deep breath, pointed at the door, and snapped, "Get out."
James stormed off to his room, grabbed his stuff, and then, with Emily in tow, slammed the door behind them as they left.
Three hours later, I got a call from James. "Soph, did you seriously change the locks?"
"My house, my rules. I can change the locks whenever I want," I said, then hung up and blocked him.
The next day, my mom's secretary called. "Ms. Logan, James handed in his resignation today. What should we do?"
"Approve it and make sure his salary is paid in full," my mom said, hanging up, massaging her temples and letting out a sigh.
When my dad got back from his business trip, I was finally able to walk by holding onto the wall. He saw the cast around my waist, and his eyes welled up with tears.