The Sister I Raised Took My Bed And My Man Chapter 04

The Sister I Raised Took My Bed And My Man Chapter 04

The next day, Julian showed up at my door, furious.

“Elena, you actually had a lawyer send Ivy a demand letter? Are you insane?”

“It set off her heart condition. She was gasping for air half the night.”

I leaned back in my chair and looked at him. “You owe money, you pay it back. That’s how the world works. Are you pretending you don’t know how much of my money she burned through?”

Julian’s jaw went tight. He sucked in a breath. “Elena, I can’t pull together that kind of cash right now. Withdraw the letter, and let’s settle this between us.”

I let out a laugh like he’d told me a joke.

“Can’t pull it together? Weren’t you the one yesterday saying you’d pay everything off in one shot?”

His eyes locked on me, red-rimmed. “Elena, she’s your sister.”

I smiled. “She cut ties with me. Why would I care whether she lives or dies? Eighty thousand dollars. Principle and all the interest she owes. Not a cent less. You’ve got three months.”

Julian’s face turned ashen. He bared his teeth. “That client your company’s chasing, Marcus Webb is running the deal. He was my senior back in school. One word from me, and that contract goes up in smoke. Don’t do anything stupid, Elena.”

He kicked my door hard enough to leave a mark and walked out.

I watched him go. I felt nothing.

And he did exactly what he’d threatened.

The next day, my sales director, Angela Torres, came to my office. The client had suddenly requested a full re-evaluation of the partnership.

I didn’t flinch. I pulled out my backup proposal.

I lost both parents at fifteen. Every step since, I’d walked like the ground could crack beneath me. Did he really think I didn’t have a contingency plan?

A week later, I got a call from my cousin Olivia. 　　“Elena, it’s Grandma Rose’s eightieth this weekend. You should come. She’s been asking about you.”

I was about to say no when Olivia hesitated and added, “Ivy’s coming too. She says she’s bringing her boyfriend for Grandma to meet.”

I was quiet for a few seconds. Then I said yes.

That weekend, I drove out to Grandma’s farmhouse in Millbrook.

Two banquet tables were set up in the yard. Most of the extended family had already arrived.

It wasn’t long before Ivy walked in, her arm linked through Julian’s.

The whole yard went silent.

The family had watched me hold everything together alone for years. They all knew Julian. He was the man I’d brought home for Christmas.

And now, two months later, the woman on his arm was my sister.

Julian angled his body, edging Ivy slightly behind him. His eyes went wary.

Ivy looked at me. Her lips parted. “Elena…”

I glanced at the two of them and let out a soft laugh. “Relax. I’m here for Grandma’s birthday.”

“Since everyone’s together for once, let’s put something on the TV. Liven up the party a bit.”

The screen behind me flickered to life.

The second they saw what was on it, Ivy and Julian froze. Every drop of color bled from their faces.