“Welcome home.”
Marlene stood on the landing above us, watching.
Later that evening, after most of the guests had left, I went searching for water. Marlene blocked my way near the staircase.
Her expression was calm, but her voice was sharp.
“You think you’re getting this house, don’t you?”
I said nothing.
She stepped closer.
“You’ll get nothing.”
Russell appeared behind her.
His bow tie had been loosened, and he still held an untouched glass of champagne. He had heard everything.
For one terrible second, I expected him to defend me with anger.
Instead, his voice remained quiet.
“Elena will receive exactly what she deserves.”
Marlene smiled as though her father had confirmed her victory.
I smiled too, pretending the sentence had not hurt me.
But that night, lying beside my new husband beneath sheets softer than anything I had ever owned, I repeated those words in my mind.
Exactly what she deserves.
I wondered what Russell believed that was.
