Taking a moment, she continued, "By the way, someone offered 60 grand as a gift to tie the knot. The guy's been through a divorce, but they say divorced men make better partners. Think about it, that money could help you snag a bigger, fancier house." "I'm not going to squeeze money out of my own sister!" Julian protested. Ruth fired back, her tone laced with a mix of anger and entitlement. "What's all this talk? I brought her into this world! After all the blood, sweat, and tears I put into raising her, she's supposed to pay me back now! Anyway, I'll talk to her about the marriage later and get her on board." Unable to bear the conversation any longer, Valerie swung open the door, her presence commanding attention. Surprised, Ruth masked her guilt with feigned casualness. "Valerie, just got here? I was just teasing Julian. But really, the guy isn't bad, and being divorced isn't a deal-breaker, is it? Maybe..." Valerie's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Mom, no way am I marrying him!" Ruth dropped her pretense, her anger flaring. "You think this is a discussion? I raised you, and you'll do as I say!" A cold realization washed over Valerie, sending a shiver down her spine. She had always endured Ruth's favoritism toward Julian, enduring neglect and disparity simply because she was deemed as less valuable. But she never imagined that Ruth would stoop so low as to consider selling her off for a mere 60 thousand dollars. Fists clenched, Valerie steadied her breath and said coolly, "Mom, I'm already pregnant. If you're set on this marriage, consider if he'll accept a child on the way." The room fell into a stunned silence as Valerie's words hung in the air. Ruth snapped back to reality, her rage erupting instantly. "How the hell did I raise such a disgraceful piece of sh*t? Say that again, I dare you! Believe me, I'll beat the crap out of you!" Ruth's biting words stung Valerie's ears, but she had grown used to her mother's explosive outbursts and knew better
Taking a moment, she continued, "By the way, someone offered 60 grand as a gift to tie the knot. The guy's been through a divorce, but they say divorced men make better partners. Think about it, that money could help you snag a bigger, fancier house." "I'm not going to squeeze money out of my own sister!" Julian protested. Ruth fired back, her tone laced with a mix of anger and entitlement. "What's all this talk? I brought her into this world! After all the blood, sweat, and tears I put into raising her, she's supposed to pay me back now! Anyway, I'll talk to her about the marriage later and get her on board." Unable to bear the conversation any longer, Valerie swung open the door, her presence commanding attention. Surprised, Ruth masked her guilt with feigned casualness. "Valerie, just got here? I was just teasing Julian. But really, the guy isn't bad, and being divorced isn't a deal-breaker, is it? Maybe..." Valerie's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Mom, no way am I marrying him!" Ruth dropped her pretense, her anger flaring. "You think this is a discussion? I raised you, and you'll do as I say!" A cold realization washed over Valerie, sending a shiver down her spine. She had always endured Ruth's favoritism toward Julian, enduring neglect and disparity simply because she was deemed as less valuable. But she never imagined that Ruth would stoop so low as to consider selling her off for a mere 60 thousand dollars. Fists clenched, Valerie steadied her breath and said coolly, "Mom, I'm already pregnant. If you're set on this marriage, consider if he'll accept a child on the way." The room fell into a stunned silence as Valerie's words hung in the air. Ruth snapped back to reality, her rage erupting instantly. "How the hell did I raise such a disgraceful piece of sh*t? Say that again, I dare you! Believe me, I'll beat the crap out of you!" Ruth's biting words stung Valerie's ears, but she had grown used to her mother's explosive outbursts and knew better
Taking a moment, she continued, "By the way, someone offered 60 grand as a gift to tie the knot. The guy's been through a divorce, but they say divorced men make better partners. Think about it, that money could help you snag a bigger, fancier house." "I'm not going to squeeze money out of my own sister!" Julian protested. Ruth fired back, her tone laced with a mix of anger and entitlement. "What's all this talk? I brought her into this world! After all the blood, sweat, and tears I put into raising her, she's supposed to pay me back now! Anyway, I'll talk to her about the marriage later and get her on board." Unable to bear the conversation any longer, Valerie swung open the door, her presence commanding attention. Surprised, Ruth masked her guilt with feigned casualness. "Valerie, just got here? I was just teasing Julian. But really, the guy isn't bad, and being divorced isn't a deal-breaker, is it? Maybe..." Valerie's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Mom, no way am I marrying him!" Ruth dropped her pretense, her anger flaring. "You think this is a discussion? I raised you, and you'll do as I say!" A cold realization washed over Valerie, sending a shiver down her spine. She had always endured Ruth's favoritism toward Julian, enduring neglect and disparity simply because she was deemed as less valuable. But she never imagined that Ruth would stoop so low as to consider selling her off for a mere 60 thousand dollars. Fists clenched, Valerie steadied her breath and said coolly, "Mom, I'm already pregnant. If you're set on this marriage, consider if he'll accept a child on the way." The room fell into a stunned silence as Valerie's words hung in the air. Ruth snapped back to reality, her rage erupting instantly. "How the hell did I raise such a disgraceful piece of sh*t? Say that again, I dare you! Believe me, I'll beat the crap out of you!" Ruth's biting words stung Valerie's ears, but she had grown used to her mother's explosive outbursts and knew better
Taking a moment, she continued, "By the way, someone offered 60 grand as a gift to tie the knot. The guy's been through a divorce, but they say divorced men make better partners. Think about it, that money could help you snag a bigger, fancier house." "I'm not going to squeeze money out of my own sister!" Julian protested. Ruth fired back, her tone laced with a mix of anger and entitlement. "What's all this talk? I brought her into this world! After all the blood, sweat, and tears I put into raising her, she's supposed to pay me back now! Anyway, I'll talk to her about the marriage later and get her on board." Unable to bear the conversation any longer, Valerie swung open the door, her presence commanding attention. Surprised, Ruth masked her guilt with feigned casualness. "Valerie, just got here? I was just teasing Julian. But really, the guy isn't bad, and being divorced isn't a deal-breaker, is it? Maybe..." Valerie's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Mom, no way am I marrying him!" Ruth dropped her pretense, her anger flaring. "You think this is a discussion? I raised you, and you'll do as I say!" A cold realization washed over Valerie, sending a shiver down her spine. She had always endured Ruth's favoritism toward Julian, enduring neglect and disparity simply because she was deemed as less valuable. But she never imagined that Ruth would stoop so low as to consider selling her off for a mere 60 thousand dollars. Fists clenched, Valerie steadied her breath and said coolly, "Mom, I'm already pregnant. If you're set on this marriage, consider if he'll accept a child on the way." The room fell into a stunned silence as Valerie's words hung in the air. Ruth snapped back to reality, her rage erupting instantly. "How the hell did I raise such a disgraceful piece of sh*t? Say that again, I dare you! Believe me, I'll beat the crap out of you!" Ruth's biting words stung Valerie's ears, but she had grown used to her mother's explosive outbursts and knew better
Taking a moment, she continued, "By the way, someone offered 60 grand as a gift to tie the knot. The guy's been through a divorce, but they say divorced men make better partners. Think about it, that money could help you snag a bigger, fancier house." "I'm not going to squeeze money out of my own sister!" Julian protested. Ruth fired back, her tone laced with a mix of anger and entitlement. "What's all this talk? I brought her into this world! After all the blood, sweat, and tears I put into raising her, she's supposed to pay me back now! Anyway, I'll talk to her about the marriage later and get her on board." Unable to bear the conversation any longer, Valerie swung open the door, her presence commanding attention. Surprised, Ruth masked her guilt with feigned casualness. "Valerie, just got here? I was just teasing Julian. But really, the guy isn't bad, and being divorced isn't a deal-breaker, is it? Maybe..." Valerie's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Mom, no way am I marrying him!" Ruth dropped her pretense, her anger flaring. "You think this is a discussion? I raised you, and you'll do as I say!" A cold realization washed over Valerie, sending a shiver down her spine. She had always endured Ruth's favoritism toward Julian, enduring neglect and disparity simply because she was deemed as less valuable. But she never imagined that Ruth would stoop so low as to consider selling her off for a mere 60 thousand dollars. Fists clenched, Valerie steadied her breath and said coolly, "Mom, I'm already pregnant. If you're set on this marriage, consider if he'll accept a child on the way." The room fell into a stunned silence as Valerie's words hung in the air. Ruth snapped back to reality, her rage erupting instantly. "How the hell did I raise such a disgraceful piece of sh*t? Say that again, I dare you! Believe me, I'll beat the crap out of you!" Ruth's biting words stung Valerie's ears, but she had grown used to her mother's explosive outbursts and knew better
Taking a moment, she continued, "By the way, someone offered 60 grand as a gift to tie the knot. The guy's been through a divorce, but they say divorced men make better partners. Think about it, that money could help you snag a bigger, fancier house." "I'm not going to squeeze money out of my own sister!" Julian protested. Ruth fired back, her tone laced with a mix of anger and entitlement. "What's all this talk? I brought her into this world! After all the blood, sweat, and tears I put into raising her, she's supposed to pay me back now! Anyway, I'll talk to her about the marriage later and get her on board." Unable to bear the conversation any longer, Valerie swung open the door, her presence commanding attention. Surprised, Ruth masked her guilt with feigned casualness. "Valerie, just got here? I was just teasing Julian. But really, the guy isn't bad, and being divorced isn't a deal-breaker, is it? Maybe..." Valerie's voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Mom, no way am I marrying him!" Ruth dropped her pretense, her anger flaring. "You think this is a discussion? I raised you, and you'll do as I say!" A cold realization washed over Valerie, sending a shiver down her spine. She had always endured Ruth's favoritism toward Julian, enduring neglect and disparity simply because she was deemed as less valuable. But she never imagined that Ruth would stoop so low as to consider selling her off for a mere 60 thousand dollars. Fists clenched, Valerie steadied her breath and said coolly, "Mom, I'm already pregnant. If you're set on this marriage, consider if he'll accept a child on the way." The room fell into a stunned silence as Valerie's words hung in the air. Ruth snapped back to reality, her rage erupting instantly. "How the hell did I raise such a disgraceful piece of sh*t? Say that again, I dare you! Believe me, I'll beat the crap out of you!" Ruth's biting words stung Valerie's ears, but she had grown used to her mother's explosive outbursts and knew better
