MARRY ME, UNCLE DMITRI (ENGLISH)

5.DINNER

"Louella, are you alright?"

Dad's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

We were all seated around the dining table. Dad, my stepmother, Susane, and Magnus had been chatting for several minutes while I'd barely touched my food.

Everyone turned to look at me.

"Yes, Dad. I'm fine."

But he didn't look convinced.

Neither did my stepmother.

"You came from the hospital," Dad said. "How's your mother?"

I lowered my eyes.

"She... she didn't recognize me earlier."

The words caught in my throat.

"She kept crying, and the nurses couldn't calm her down, so they called me."

Dad nodded thoughtfully.

Before anyone else could speak, Susane chimed in.

"Sis, don't you think we're spending so much money on your mom's treatment when it doesn't seem to be helping anymore—"

"Susane!"

My stepmother shot her daughter a sharp look.

"Don't say things like that."

"Sorry, Mom." She gave an innocent smile. "I used the wrong words."

Then she glanced at me.

And smiled.

A smile that only I understood.

My grip tightened around my spoon.

I forced myself to smile back, though it took every ounce of strength I had.

"My mom deserves the best medical care we can give her," I said quietly. "I still want her to live."

"Hija," my stepmother said gently, "isn't there another option? If surgery is too dangerous, then maybe—"

"Hon."

Dad interrupted before she could finish.

"Let's leave that to the doctors. I'm sure they know what's best."

He looked around the table.

"Eat."

I lowered my head.

I'd wanted to bring up the specialist overseas.

The one Magnus had threatened to take away from my mother.

But Dad had already ended the conversation.

I knew better than to push the subject.

I silently continued eating, hoping no one would notice how little appetite I had.

Meanwhile, Susane effortlessly became the center of attention again.

"My dear," my stepmother said with a smile, "why are you still single?"

I looked up.

Just as I'd expected...

Susane was looking straight at Magnus.

"I'm just not ready for a relationship yet, Mommy," she answered shyly.

"But if someone does come into my life, you'll be the first to know."

She stole another glance at Magnus.

My stomach twisted.

"You'd better introduce him to me too," Dad said with a chuckle. "Your mother and I will have to make sure he's worthy of dating our daughter."

Everyone laughed.

Even Magnus.

I stared at them in disbelief.

How could Magnus and Susane pretend so effortlessly?

They deserved awards for their performance.

Their shamelessness knew no bounds.

A sudden pressure on my thigh snapped me back to reality.

I froze.

Magnus's hand rested there beneath the table.

His fingers tightened possessively.

Revulsion washed over me.

Without a word, I set down my spoon, grabbed his wrist, and firmly removed his hand from my leg before continuing to eat as though nothing had happened.

Eventually, the conversation shifted to business.

Dad and Magnus discussed investments, company expansion, and upcoming projects.

Susane quickly fell silent.

Business had never interested her.

Dad turned to me several times, asking for my opinion.

Unlike Susane, I understood the discussion well enough to contribute.

I answered every question calmly.

No matter how furious I was, I refused to let my emotions interfere.

Dad was listening carefully.

One careless word...

And he'd immediately question my behavior.

"Louella."

I turned around.

Susane stood in the kitchen doorway.

Dad had asked me to bring a bottle of wine to the living room, and she'd followed me inside.

The smile she'd worn at dinner was gone.

"I didn't appreciate you showing off back there."

Her arms folded across her chest.

"So what if you're good at business?"

"I couldn't care less."

"Your voice annoys me."

"Next time, keep your mouth shut."

"Unless you want to regret making me angry."

She stepped closer.

"In this house, I'm the star."

"I'm the legitimate daughter."

"My parents are the ones who matter here."

I almost laughed.

Was this really all she had?

"Is it my fault that I know more about business than you do—"

She suddenly raised her hand as if she were about to slap me.

Instead...

She gently stroked my cheek.

"Louella..."

Her smile turned cruel.

"My dear sister..."

"You seem to be forgetting something."

"I guess you've already accepted what'll happen to your mother."

"Otherwise, you wouldn't be acting so brave."

I slapped her hand away.

"Leave my mother out of this."

My voice shook with anger.

"Instead of feeling ashamed for sleeping with your own sister's boyfriend, you're actually proud of yourself?"

She laughed.

"Proud?"

She leaned closer.

"You know what?"

"I got something very valuable from that little affair."

A smug grin spread across her face.

"And do you know what's even funnier?"

"You're wasting something I made very good use of."

I understood exactly what she meant.

Disgust twisted my stomach.

"Magnus is mine now, Louella."

"He belongs to me."

"But you can't break up with him just yet."

"That would ruin all the fun."

She smiled sweetly.

"So be a good girl."

"And if I ever get bored..."

Her smile disappeared.

"You'll be the one who pays the price."

She patted my cheek three times before taking the bottle of wine from my hands.

"Dad!" she called out cheerfully as she walked toward the living room.

"I found the perfect wine!"

I watched her leave.

Susane hadn't always been like this.

Everything changed when Dad started recognizing my talent for business.

He saw potential in me.

And Susane hated that.

She had never cared about the family business.

Yet no matter how hard I worked...

No matter how much I proved myself...

I knew the truth.

None of my father's wealth would ever belong to me.

Everything...

Every business.

Every property.

Every inheritance.

Would one day belong to Susane.

Never me.