Susan approached, her face set in an annoyed expression, with Hailey trailing behind, looking almost innocent. "Hailey just came back from abroad. She has nowhere else to go. How could I, as her godmother, let her live on the streets?" She stroked Hailey's hand affectionately, asserting her authority in my home. The gesture was possessive, claiming Hailey as one of their own and leaving me on the outside.
It was clear now: in this house, I was no longer the lady of the manor. I was a guest, a stranger in my own home, surrounded by a family that had already replaced me. The realization hit me hard and a cold resolve settled in my heart. This was a battle I hadn't seen coming, but one I was determined to fight.
The fact was, this entire villa was my pre-marital property. I had inherited it from my parents, a symbol of their hard work and love. It was my sanctuary, a place filled with my dreams and memories. But I couldn't stand Chris's incessant pleas, so I agreed to let his parents move in, thinking it might bring us closer as a family.
As I stood in the foyer, the tension was palpable. My father-in-law, Harris emerged from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a dish towel, concern etched on his face.
"Don't worry, Yasmine," he said, trying to sound reassuring. "Although Hailey had a relationship with Chris, things have changed. Now we all treat her as a daughter. Don't worry, she is very sensible."
I stared at him, my anger bubbling just beneath the surface. Sensible? Hailey, sensible? The woman who had thrown herself into Chris's arms the moment she saw him, calling him by his first name with a familiarity that made my skin crawl. Was this what they called sensible?
"I'm sorry, Yasmine, although the villa is very big, I'm not used to those cold guest rooms," Hailey said, her voice dripping with false innocence. She looked at me with a triumphant gleam in her eyes, continuing, "So I lived in your bedroom."
My heart stopped for a moment. Our bedroom. Our wedding room. The sacred space where Chris and I had shared our first night as husband and wife. The room filled with cherished memories and promises.
"Looking at Chris's photos, I feel like he is by my side," Hailey added, her smile widening. "You won't blame me, will you, sister?"