"Family? Lola, your mother died young. It was your father who put you through school—with my husband's money. You're thirty years old and still mooching off your parents. Don't you think that's a little shameless?"
Dad couldn't take it anymore. He slammed his palm on the table to shut her down.
But Vivian's face crumpled with grievance, and she barreled right through him.
"Dad, am I wrong? A spinster with zero sense of boundaries—no wonder nobody wants to marry her!"
She paused, her tone softening just a fraction.
"If you insist on letting her stay, fine. She pays ten thousand a month for room and board. Otherwise, she can go rent her own place."
"Rhys works hard for his money. If you don't care about that, I do!"
Leo burst into tears. Christine quickly gathered her grandson into her arms. "Vivian, that's enough—"
But Vivian pointed straight at me, her eyes rimming red.
"Ever since she came back, this house hasn't had a single moment of peace. We can't even get through New Year's dinner! I've been married into this family for seven years. Everything I've given—and now I can't even speak my mind?"
She shoved her chair back, grabbed Leo by the hand, and stormed toward the bedroom.