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To me,the front was for the spouse,but Ethan snapped,“Why are there so many rules?In our family,Charlotte sits where she wants.”
This time,he kept glancing at me,worried I’d snap.
But I surprised him by cheerfully helping Charlotte into the front.
Catching her smug look in the rearview mirror,I said,“Honey,drop me at the corner.My company’s having a dinner,and your boss,Mr.Thompson,is there.”
Ethan’s company was our client,and we collaborated often.Mr.Thompson was his boss.
“Mr.Thompson’s there?”
At the restaurant,colleagues chatted outside.I stepped out,instantly drawing eyes.
Charlotte,annoyed at Ethan’s attention on me,whined,“I am thirsty, sweetie.Give me a drink,Ethan.”
“Ethan?You’re here too?”Mr.Thompson stood outside,startled by Charlotte’s burn-scarred head in the front seat.
“Didn’t you and Emily…Who’s this?”
Colleagues whispered about Charlotte’s unpleasant appearance.
“Her injuries look severe. Shouldn’t she cover up?”
“Ethan’s married to Emily,right?Why’s another woman in the front?”
Ethan stammered,“She’s my sister…”
“Emily,this is your sister-in-law?She looks…”
Some female colleagues approached.“Emily,why’s your sister-in-law in the front?Isn’t that the wife’s spot?”
I laughed,“No big deal.Ethan’s so devoted,he thinks his sister’s had it tough.Even on our wedding night,she insisted on sleeping in our bedroom.”
Everyone gasped,their looks at Ethan and Charlotte full with disdain.
“In my family,siblings don’t act like they’re married.”
Charlotte snapped,“What nonsense!You’re just jealous of how close my bond is with Ethan!”
“Stop it,Charlotte!”
Ethan sped off, with his face red.
That night,I returned home to find Charlotte’s door locked,Ethan’s voice inside.
Charlotte shouted,“What do you mean?I’m your sister!Why are you pushing me away?”
“I mean in public!Like today,you in the front seat—Mr.Thompson got the wrong idea.”
“Did Emily say something?Or do you hate how I look now?”
“Listen,Emily’s just focused on starting a family.Don’t take her seriously.She hasn’t even gotten pregnant.Why not divorce her?What about that Chloe I introduced you to?How’s it going?”
I stood at the door,fists clenched.
How dare Charlotte say that?
I’d been pregnant once,barely a month along.
I hid the pregnancy test,planning to surprise Ethan after his business trip.
But Charlotte often rummaged through our room while I was at work,even checking our personal items.
She confronted me with the pregnancy test.“Emily,you’re pregnant?”
Though offended,I nodded.
She tossed it in the trash,saying nothing,and left.
