My brother, Gideon Vance, had just gotten married, and our mother was concerned that he and his wife, Freya Vance, would find their home too quiet. She suggested we visit to bring some life to their place.

Gideon had always been successful. Right after his wedding, he bought a house in one of the city's upscale neighborhoods. I was genuinely proud of him! He's my only brother, after all. And I even contributed a fair amount toward his new home.

Mom had always raved about how wonderful the house was, and today, I was finally going to see it for myself. As my mom, my son, Aiden Madison, and I approached the grand entrance, a security guard came up to greet us. "You must be Madam Amelia Vance. Mrs. Vance informed me of your arrival; please, follow me."

As we entered the complex, a lush green vista greeted us. The pathways were immaculate, and even the trash bins shone brightly. The janitorial staff we encountered nodded and greeted us warmly, making me inwardly remark on Gideon's good taste.

The security guard swiped us into the elevator and then left. The elevator itself was opulent, and I was taken aback when the doors opened to reveal a small room over ten square meters in size. My mom teased at my stunned look, "Oh, this is called a pre-elevator lobby, all high-end complexes have them."

We rang the doorbell, and soon after, Freya opened the door. "Amelia, Elodie, you've finally arrived. Dinner is ready.

"Come on, Aiden," she said, "let's get you washed up."

After helping us with our luggage, Freya took Aiden by the hand and led him inside. I changed my shoes and stepped into the house, only to be taken aback again. I had never seen such a spacious and bright home. The large windows and expansive living room were stunning, and though the decor seemed simple, I knew it was all very costly.

Gideon was busy in the kitchen, serving the last dish. The plates and bowls were genuinely exquisite.

Soon, our family sat down at the dining table. Gideon had prepared lavish dishes. It was a clear sign of a special occasion. Seeing how well he was doing filled me with relief; our family finally had someone who made something of himself.

"Gideon, shouldn't you give your sister and me an elevator card? And that door lock, shouldn't we record our fingerprints too?"

Mom was always thinking ahead; the security couldn't be expected to open the door for us every time.

Gideon slapped his forehead. "You're right, I hadn't thought of that. I'll have Freya arrange a temporary one for you to use with the property management."

Temporary? Why was Gideon still being so formal with us?

"Oh, come on, Gideon, why bother with a temporary one? It'll just need renewing, which is such a hassle."

Before Gideon could reply, Freya cut in. "Elodie, it's really convenient with our property management. You won't be staying many days, there's no need for renewals."

Freya's words irked me. How long we stayed was none of her business.

I glanced at my mom, who immediately got the hint. "Freya, you don't understand, this housewarming isn't just a few days' event. It could drag on for a year or even longer. We're just looking out for our family, hoping for our prosperity to continue."

A year or even longer? Mom hadn't mentioned it being so long before, but it didn't matter. Where else would I stay? Having been married away for so many years, now that I'm back, it was a perfect opportunity to bond with Gideon.

Gideon quickly agreed with Mom. "Exactly, Freya, it's not your concern how long my mom and sister stay. If they leave, you might even miss them!"

Hearing us say this, Freya forced a smile. "We'll see when the time comes. Maybe mom and sis won't even like staying here."

It was my first encounter with Freya, and I had hoped our family wouldn't face any tensions. Yet, Freya's vibe wasn't welcoming. Clearly, those not of one family don't share one heart. Her comments seemed calculated to make us feel unwelcome, just like her overly concerned behavior towards my son when we first arrived. Who was she performing for?

Gideon's taste in women was genuinely questionable. Freya may seem presentable on the surface, and I heard from Mom that her family was entirely of intellectuals. We thought she'd be a good match for him, but it turned out she didn't even show us basic respect.

Dinner was far from pleasant. Afterward, Mom took Aiden to get a bath, leaving Gideon to wash the dishes. My heart ached for him. Gideon never lifted a finger around the house before getting married, and now, with Freya, he was doing chores.

Freya, on the other hand, was sprawled on the couch watching TV and snacking on a fruit platter. I couldn't contain my frustration any longer. I walked over and tried to reason with her in what I hoped was the most amicable tone. "Freya, wouldn't you like to help Gideon? It's not common to have the man do the dishes. People might gossip."

The latest episode of the drama was on. Freya stared at the TV without turning her head, as if she hadn't heard me.

Just as I was about to speak again, Freya paused the show. "Elodie, just because your man doesn't do dishes doesn't mean mine doesn't. My man not only does the dishes, but he also sweeps the floor, does the laundry, and even washes my socks!"

What? Gideon waited on her hand and foot at home! Mom and I wouldn't even let Gideon carry a plate, and Freya had him washing her socks? Who did she think she was?

I felt my blood pressure rising, a surge of anger rushing to my head. People always said you need to set boundaries when your brother got married, but she was bullying Gideon. How could I tolerate this?

I grabbed Freya by the collar and yanked her up.

"Repeat what you just said! How shameless can you be to have Gideon wait on you? Are you missing an arm or a leg?"

I was already controlling myself, holding back the urge to slap her.

Freya, seemingly shocked that I'd pulled her up from the couch, looked utterly confused. Now she was scared, huh? Where was this fear when she was bullying Gideon?

Then, everything spun around me; my face burned with pain. She had wriggled free and dared to hit me—me, Gideon's sister!

"Ah!"

All reason left me; I was going to end her. Just as I raised my hand to strike, Gideon, hearing the commotion, rushed over and grabbed my arm, pulling me down onto the couch.

"What's going on here? Why are you fighting all of a sudden?"

Gideon's hands were still wet, even covered in suds, which immediately made me feel sad. I thought Gideon was living well and eating well; what kind of life was this at home?

"Gideon, why are you washing dishes at home? Freya said you even kneel to wash her feet. Brother, this woman is disgusting. How could you fall for her?"

"Oh, are you playing the victim now? Whatever happens between Gideon and me is our business. You're just a relative at best. I advise you to watch your mouth, or I'll have you thrown out!"

Freya's taunting voice kept provoking me as I clutched Gideon's hand, unable to stop shaking.

"Relative? Gideon and I are blood relatives! You're the only outsider here without any blood ties! Know your place!"

My mother, unaware of the noise outside due to the soundproofing in the bathroom, came out after bathing Aiden just in time to see the three of us in a standoff.

"What's going on here? What's the conflict about?"

Mom always doted on Gideon the most, and she'd lose it if she knew Freya was making him work so hard.

"Mom, I'm telling you, Gideon's been slaving away at home every day. Look at his hands, they're so much rougher than the last time I saw them! Freya, that wicked woman, just picks on Gideon relentlessly!"

The moment Mom saw Gideon's hands, she was instantly heartbroken, quickly pulling him aside to ask, "Is the water too cold? Maybe you should stop working."

I watched Freya with a smug look. Freya, your days of being haughty were over!

However, my mother's following words left me stunned. "Elodie, don't be hard on Freya. Wash the dishes, don't tire your brother out. You're his older sister, and you should take care of him."

What? Me? I stared at my mom in shock as Freya smirked mockingly. What was my mom thinking? Was she just letting Freya off the hook? What on earth happened while I was away?

Just as I was about to argue back, my mom shoved me into the kitchen.

"Why make a fuss over her? Even if she's lazy, she's the wife your brother chose. From now on, you'll be in charge of the dishes. Don't you stir up trouble between them!"

The mother, who was always by my side, now felt like a stranger. What did she mean by stirring up trouble? How could she not see that an outsider was bullying Gideon?

"Mom, what do you mean by this? You're just going to ignore this? Look at how arrogant Freya is!"

Losing patience, my mom retorted, "Ignore? What can I do? Was it easy for your brother to get married? Remarrying would cost a fortune, are you paying for it? Besides, being divorced once already makes it harder to find someone else. Who's being unreasonable here, you or me?"

Her sharp words left me speechless. Indeed, getting a wife these days did cost a fortune, and it would be even more challenging for Gideon if he were divorced. My mom was being practical, thinking of the bigger picture. A divorce would just lead to more problems.

"Enough, don't make trouble for nothing. Wash the dishes and then start preparing tomorrow's meals. Do you expect your brother to wait for you?"

With that, she turned and left the kitchen. Gideon was in the living room comforting Freya, and my mom joined in, putting on a placating smile. Despite my reluctance, I couldn't lash out; life felt suffocating.

I began washing the dishes, the cold water flowing over my hands. Listening to the laughter in the living room, I couldn't help but tear up.

After cleaning up the kitchen, I started preparing tomorrow's meals. Gideon had always loved my pulled pork, a dish I hadn't cooked for him in years. I decided to showcase my skills tomorrow and whip up a few more of my signature dishes.

By the time I finished tidying everything up, it was nearly midnight. The living room was pitch dark, and no one was around. Gideon's home has three bedrooms and a living room; he and his wife occupy one room, and my mom and I each have our own.

I entered the room I shared with Aiden. He was already fast asleep. Lying on the bed, I relished the comfort of my waist—the bed was substantial yet soft.

At the crack of dawn the next day, I got up to start cooking. Stepping out of my room, I found my mom already sitting on the couch.

"Mom, up so early? I haven't even started on breakfast yet!"

My mom glanced at me. "No rush, your brother won't wake up until noon. We have time."

Noon? What about breakfast? I knew Gideon liked to sleep in, but I didn't expect him to stay in bed until noon.

"What about Freya? Let her whip up something for us to eat. Aiden should be getting up soon, too."

I was about to head to Gideon's room to wake Freya, thinking how she acted like she owned the place, sleeping in as the sun came up.

My mom quickly stopped me. "Don't disturb Freya; she and your brother went to bed late. I'm counting on her to give me grandchildren, so don't stir up trouble. Just make some simple sandwich for breakfast; there's pickled vegetables in the fridge. We'll make something nice for lunch once your brother wakes up."

Hearing my mom say this, I felt a pang of sympathy. I had thought that once Gideon was married, my mom could finally relax. Freya was being incredibly lazy; this wasn't how a wife should act. Today, I definitely needed to have a serious talk with her.

After Aiden woke up, the three of us had a simple meal. Since Aiden was still growing, I boiled an extra egg for him.

After breakfast, I dropped Aiden off at preschool and picked up some groceries on the way home. By the time I got back, it was already past 9 o'clock. I rushed into the kitchen in a panic; braising the pork alone would take hours, and I was running out of time.

By the time I finished cooking and set the table, it was precisely 11:30. As I headed to the living room to call them for dinner, the door suddenly swung open. A well-dressed middle-aged woman, a stranger to me, entered, yet she knew our home's door code.

She looked at me without any hint of surprise. "You must be Elodie. I always hear your mom talking about you. I'm Freya's mother. Make yourself at home here."