“So your daughter is a prized gem, but I’m just some worthless object?”

“You used to say you treated me like your own daughter. What a farce. What a disgusting joke.”

Amelia shot to her feet, her body trembling as though I’d struck her with a slap. Her eyes brimmed with tears, but all they held was fury as she glared at me, her hatred cutting deep.

"Aurelia, not only are you rude and disrespectful, but as a woman, your heart is as vicious as they come. And to think my brother treated you with nothing but devotion. What a waste; you two should just break up!"

I shook my head, my exasperation boiling over.

Never had I witnessed anyone play the victim so shamelessly. How dare she, a woman herself, stand there and say that?

I pushed my bowl aside, rising from my seat, my resolve unshaken.

"And what about my perspective?" I shot back.

"It was perfectly fine for you to demand 288,000, but when I ask for a mere 88,000, I’m suddenly greedy? Who’s the real one with the insatiable appetite here?"

"My family’s not struggling. We don’t rely on dowry money to put food on the table. All I wanted was a little respect, nothing more."

We stood there, glaring at each other, neither of us willing to back down.

Zora’s face twisted with fury, her lips pulling back into a snarl as she rushed to shield Amelia, her stance protective.

"What kind of woman are you?" she spat, her voice dripping with disdain.

"And what kind of woman is my Amelia? My Amelia is pure, proper, a true lady. You? You’re already carrying someone else’s child.”

“Who else would even consider you? Anthony choosing you is your good fortune and still, you demand a wedding and dowry? Take a long, hard look at yourself."

She glared at me like I was something beneath her, her words cutting deep.

After all this time, the truth slipped from their lips at last.

So, to them, a woman was nothing once she bore a child?

And they thought they could use the baby to twist my arm?

I let my eyes sweep over the room, a cold laugh escaping my lips, its chill biting through the air.

"What a pity…"

Zora scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain.

"What’s so pitiful? Married life is the same for everyone in the end."

"No…" I interrupted sharply.

"The pity is yours. Your little fantasy has crumbled to dust."

Confusion spread across the room. They didn’t understand.