Pity From My Rich Sister? Oops, Her New Family Came Begging Chapter 04

Pity From My Rich Sister? Oops, Her New Family Came Begging Chapter 04

The next afternoon, the Magnolia Ballroom at the Cresswell Grand was packed for Elodie and Rhodes’s pre- wedding luncheon.

My parents kept glancing nervously toward the entrance.

Merrick, Keaton, and Ottilie huddled together, rehearsing ways to approach the Kincaids and debating which topics might impress them.

Every word carried the same careful desperation.

Halfway through the welcome toasts, Elodie suddenly picked up the microphone.

“Thank you all for being here to celebrate with Rhodes and me. Since everyone we care about is gathered in one place, I thought I’d take the opportunity to help my sister with something.”

Her smile widened.

“I’m finding her a date.”

I stared at her.

Every head in the ballroom turned toward me.

Anger rose hot and sharp in my chest.

Elodie kept smiling as if she were doing me the greatest favor in the world.

“My sister, Carys, is twenty-eight. She has an associate degree and makes around thirty-five thousand a year, but she really is a wonderful person. Any single men here who might be interested should come introduce yourselves.”

She dipped her head with a sweet little laugh.

“Please don’t judge her too harshly for her education or income. Consider it a personal favor to me.”

A balding man with a beer belly stood up in the corner and waved.

“I’m thirty-five, divorced, and I have a six-year-old. I own a produce distribution business and clear six figures. What’s your number?”

Another man rose from a nearby table. He could not have been taller than five-four.

He grinned at me.

“I’ve got a bachelor’s degree and make fifty-five grand a year. Want to trade numbers?”

My brow tightened.

“I’m not interested.”

My mother’s expression darkened.

“They’re willing to overlook your situation, and you’re still being picky?”

She lowered her voice.

“Give one of them your number. Don’t humiliate your sister after she went out of her way for you.”

I looked toward the stage.

Elodie was biting her lip, her eyes already turning red.

It was always the same performance.

In middle school, she threw away stacks of my study materials because she claimed she was worried I worked too hard.

In high school, she stole the money I had saved and spent it on concert tickets because she said she was afraid I was becoming obsessed with clothes.

Cruelty always sounded so innocent when she wrapped it in concern.

And everyone always took her side.

Just like they were doing now.

Her voice trembled through the microphone.

“Carys, do you think the men I introduced aren’t good enough for you? I know your options are limited. I honestly couldn’t think of another way to help.”

Rhodes put an arm around her shoulders and frowned at me.

“Elodie was up half the night worrying about you. You could’ve taken the numbers and declined later. Did you really have to embarrass her in front of everyone?”

Whispers spread through the ballroom.

“That’s the bride’s sister? Seriously?”

“Elodie’s trying to help her, and she still has an attitude.”

“She does realize she’s insulting the Kincaids at their own event, right? Good luck coming back from that.”

My mother pointed at me, her hand shaking.

“This is your sister’s wedding day. Do you have to ruin everything?”

Her voice rose.

“If you don’t want a date, fine. Get out.”

Merrick stood next.

“You heard Mom, Carys. Leave. No one wants you here.”

Keaton did not bother lowering his voice.

“You’re jealous because Elodie is marrying into money. Just go.”

Ottilie hurried over and grabbed my sleeve.

“Carys, apologize. If they throw you out now, how do you expect the Kincaids to help you find a job?”

I pulled my arm free and looked around at all of them.

“Are you sure you want me to leave?”

Before coming, I had spoken to Ambrose Kincaid.

We had agreed to meet here.

My mother jabbed a finger toward the doors.

“Get out. As far as I’m concerned, I never had a daughter like you.”

Onstage, Elodie dabbed at the corner of her eye.

“Carys, this day means everything to me. You’ve made everyone uncomfortable. I think you should go.”

Rhodes’s face hardened.

“If you can’t accept Elodie’s kindness without humiliating her, then leave.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Fine.”

I stood, picked up my bag, and turned toward the exit.

Fast footsteps sounded from the entrance.

Then came a breathless shout.

“Don’t let her leave!”

Everyone turned.

Ambrose Kincaid, usually the picture of calm authority, was striding across the ballroom as quickly as his cane allowed.

His voice shook with urgency.

“The bride can leave. The groom can leave.”

He looked directly at me.

“But Dr. Calder is not going anywhere.”