Chapter 4

That afternoon, when I got home, I saw a beat-up pickup truck parked outside my mansion.

The door opened, and a middle-aged woman with a rough face wearing a cheap leopard-print top, and a punk-looking guy in baggy pants got out. The woman was Claire's mother, Linda Sullivan, and the punk was her brother, Jake Sullivan.

They carried large bags and stood at my door looking around.

"Oh my, this is the mansion my son-in-law lives in! So grand!"

Linda shouted at the top of her voice, excitedly slapping her thigh.

Jake's eyes were gleaming too. With a cigarette dangling from his mouth, he said sleazily, "Linda, my sister finally hooked a rich guy! Now we can live the high life too!"

I frowned and walked forward.

"Who are you? What are you doing at my door?"

Linda looked me up and down and rolled her eyes.

"Who are you? This is my son-in-law Ethan's house! My daughter Claire is carrying their family heir. My son-in-law specially invited us over to enjoy the good life!"

So these were Claire's trashy relatives.

I sneered. "Ethan's house? I'm afraid you've got it wrong. This house is mine. That kept man Ethan was kicked out by me long ago!"

"Bullshit!"

Jake spat his cigarette on the ground and pointed at my nose, cursing, "My brother-in-law said half of this house is his! Who the hell are you to kick him out?"

Just then, Ethan came over supporting Claire.

Seeing me, Ethan's expression was somewhat unnatural, but he quickly straightened his back.

"Vivian, so what if you froze my cards? Half of this house is mine, and I have the right to bring Claire and her family to live here!"

He pointed at me and said to Linda, "Linda, this is my useless wife who can't have children. Don't pay attention to her—just move your stuff in!"

Upon hearing this, Linda immediately put her hands on her hips and spat at me.

"Ptui! So you're the barren woman! No wonder my son-in-law had to find my daughter! Let me tell you, my daughter is carrying the heir to the Carter family. This house will be my daughter's in the future!"

With that, she directed Jake to charge inside.

I blocked the door directly, looking at them coldly.

"Anyone who dares step through this door today, I'll break their legs!"

My aura was too strong. Linda and Jake were startled and instinctively stopped.

Ethan felt he'd lost face in front of his mother-in-law. Embarrassed and angry, he rushed forward and shoved me aside.

"Vivian, get out of my way! This house is mine, and I'll let whoever I want live here!"

His strength was considerable. I stumbled from the push, my back hitting the door frame hard. I gasped from the pain.

Claire took the opportunity to pull Linda and Jake inside, swaggering into my home.

"Wow! This couch is so soft! This TV is huge!"

Jake walked all over my expensive carpet with his dirty shoes, then plopped down on my million-dollar leather sofa.

Linda was like a country bumpkin who'd entered a palace, touching this and looking at that. Finally, her gaze locked on the master bedroom where my parents had lived.

"Oh my, this room is the biggest and most magnificent, and the orientation is great too! Claire, let me have this room so I can take good care of you!"

As she spoke, she carried her smelly bag toward the master bedroom.

"Stop!"

I shouted and rushed over to block the master bedroom door.

"That's my parents' room. No one is allowed in!"

Since my parents died in a car accident, I'd kept that room exactly as it was, cleaning it personally every day. I absolutely wouldn't allow anyone to defile it.

Linda rolled her eyes at me and said sarcastically, "Dead people's room sitting empty is such a waste! Perfect for me to live in!"

"I'll say it one more time—get out!"

I pointed at the door, my voice cold as ice.

Ethan walked over and impatiently pulled at me.

"Vivian, stop making a scene, okay? What's so precious about a dead person's room? Linda came all this way to take care of Claire. What's wrong with her staying in a nicer room? Don't be so petty!"

I forcefully shook off his hand and slapped him hard across the face!

"Smack!"

The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the living room.

Ethan was stunned, covering his face in disbelief as he looked at me.

"You dare hit me?"

"I hit you, you ungrateful bastard!"

I pointed at his nose and cursed, "You eat my food and use my things, and now you bring these leeches to defile my parents' room! Ethan, you're worse than a dog!"