Do You Have To Stoop So Low
Sasha’s eyes were reddened.
However, this woman was caught napping and immediately put down the bowl in her hands hastily
after seeing Sasha.
“It’s not what you think, Nancy. I have eaten but was still hungry. Well, you know, pregnant women have
a larger appetite.”
Without saying a word, Sasha grazed her fingers against the side of the bowl, eyeing the dirty dishes
piled up in the kitchen sink, and rushed out to the living room where Lyla and her husband, Philip and
his wife were playing poker.
Meanwhile, their teenage kids blasted the TV volume and were playing video games.
Are you kidding?
It’s New Year’s Day. They’re perfectly capable of doing these simple chores, yet they left it to a
pregnant lady?
Sasha snarled, “What are you doing? Don’t you feel ashamed eating food prepared by a heavily
pregnant woman?”
“Huh?”
Four of them turned in unison to look blankly at her.
“Sasha? Why are you here so early?” Surprise flashed across Lyla’s face as soon as she realized it
was Sasha.
Am I early?
Did they actually make a guess as to when I will arrive?
Sasha was livid and questioned in anger, “I asked what are you guys doing? Didn’t you know there’s a
pregnant woman who needs help in the kitchen?”
“Ah, that.” Lyla glanced in the direction of the kitchen.
“She volunteered to do it. It’s her first time visiting the Emmanuels, and she probably wanted to make a
good impression. Last night she called dibs on making breakfast today, so we let her be.”
This woman is replying to me casually as if she is in the right.
Good impression?
Is she looking down her nose at Willow to say that about her?
If it was another typical family welcoming their daughter-in-law, they would be doting on her, instead of
letting her work her fingers down to the bone in the kitchen, no matter what she said.
And this insolent woman has the nerve to be so disrespectful?
Sasha’s fury rose to explosive rage, and she sneered, “Oh, really? Now that I’m here, you should leave
a good first impression on me, too. Maybe you’d be gifted a home if I was satisfied.”
“What did you say to me?” Lyla slanted her a dirty look.
Her husband was a little unhappy and stood up. “Sasha, wasn’t that a little too harsh? We’re still your
family. Your words were rather offensive.”
“Offensive?” Sasha repeated in a near shriek.
“You understand the meaning of the word ‘offensive,’ then? Think of your wife’s words. All of you
agreed that Willow was only putting on a show to make a first impression, and I said I’d gift you a
house if you managed to do it too. Tell me, how is that insulting?”
“You-”
“All right, all right. Everyone, take a breath and stop arguing. Walk it off, Sasha. We’ll all help Willow.” In
the end, Philip compromised and took his wife’s hand, leading her into the kitchen.
Though her brother had compromised, Lyla stood her ground and flung the cards in her hand on the
table. “Whatever. I’m not going. I’ve never served anyone in my life.”
Just as Sasha was about to erupt in fury again, Sebastian stepped through the door after parking his
car.
He caught the last sentence as he entered, and his expression turned cold. In that instant, the
temperature in the living room seemed to drop by a few degrees.
“S-Sebastian, you’re here,” Phillip stuttered in greeting. Coincidentally, he exited the kitchen and caught
sight of Sebastian.
Sebastian just ignored him.
Instead, he came to a halt in the middle of the living room and quickly assessed the tense situation,
taking in his wife who was flushed with anger, and asked, “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. No one offered us a glass of water at our arrival, so I asked Ms. Emmanuel here to do it. It
seems like she isn’t too inclined.”
“That’s not what happened!” Lyla immediately jumped to her feet as Sebastian’s appearance had sent
her into a near panic.
“No, it’s not what happened, Sebastian. You are both our guests, so how would I ever give you the cold
shoulder. I…” she explained frantically.
Before she could finish, Sebastian had brought his palm on the table, splintering the wood down the
whole length of it.
Following the loud slam, the pile of cards scattered across the ground in a flurry. The air between them
charged and grew thick with palpable tension.
It was too terrifying, and the Emmanuels were stunned into silence.
A visible tremor ran through Lyla’s body. She immediately wrapped her hands around her head
protectively as she took a few involuntary steps backward at the loud outburst.
“No? The evidence is littered at our feet now, and you’re still denying it? Who would have the gall to sit
down and have a card game while their guests have arrived on New Year’s Day? Brandon, the
Emmanuel family is screwed!”
Sebastian lifted his head slowly, his piercing gaze boring through his target at the landing of the
staircase.
It was Brandon.
He had heard the commotion and was making his way down.
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