My eldest Brother, William Stone, suddenly jolted, and his fork slipped from his hand, clattering to the ground. 

I glanced up cautiously at him as he crouched down to retrieve them. ‘Everyone here is so strange. Low IQs, weak bodies, and terrible vibes. I really need to make my exit soon. There’s no way I’m dying alongside these people, especially since they’ve never treated me well.’ 

‘Well, maybe my parents are okay,’ I added to myself, sneaking a look at my parents, who were both gazing at me with concern. ‘Not sure yet. I’ll have to keep observing.’ 

Natalie’s eyes softened as she smiled at me with a warmth that made me a little uneasy. “Yunice, have you met Dory before?” 

“No, I haven’t. But I’ve heard about her.” 

‘No, but I’ve eaten my share of the gossip about her,’ I added inwardly. 

‘She’s Alicia’s best friend. That’s why the family decided she was the top choice for this arranged marriage. They’re two peas in a pod—both as scheming and ruthless as they come.’ 

‘Oh, and she’s pregnant, too. William’s about to become an instant dad the moment they get married. How fun is that?’ I couldn’t help but snicker inwardly. 

William, who had just picked up his fork, snapped them in half with a loud crack. 

“William and Dory haven’t spent much time together at all. Maybe we should wait a bit longer before making a decision,” Thomas chimed in. 

William nodded hastily, and Natalie seemed equally supportive of the suggestion. 

I blinked at them in confusion. Weren’t they just discussing wedding dates a moment ago? How did things change so quickly? 

‘Even so, this marriage will definitely happen—after all, Alicia is so close to her. Speaking of, do you know why they get along so well? It’s because Dory bends both ways! Her true love is actually the female lead!’ 

Just then, William spat out a mouthful of sparkling water. 

‘Dory’s always been someone who could breeze through a crowd of admirers without forming any attachments. Her pregnancy? Purely an accident. Besides, her heart is more inclined toward soft, sweet girls. Ugh, does she actually think she can make a move on me?!’ 

“What?!” Thomas suddenly yelled, slamming his hand down on the table with a loud thud. 

Startled, I glanced up in confusion. 

He awkwardly withdrew his hand, forcing a sheepish smile. “Oh, uh, sorry, my dear Yunice. I just remembered something frustrating at work. Don’t worry about it.” 

Everyone else at the table seemed perfectly calm, so I shrugged it off and returned my attention to the juicy gossip I was piecing together in my head. 

‘So that’s why. Turns out Alicia’s been whining to her about me, saying the ‘real heiress’ is coming back. She even went as far as to show Dory my photo to stir the pot, hoping she’d cause me trouble later. But instead of being annoyed, Dory took a liking to my face. Now she wants to play some twisted game of cat and mouse with me.’ 

‘Ugh, is she out of her mind? Even if I were into women, I’d go for someone kind and gorgeous, not some cold-hearted, manipulative viper!’ 

Natalie gave a small nod just then, catching my attention. I looked over at her curiously, only to see her reaching up to rub her neck, grumbling about a stiff neck she got from sleeping wrong. 

I dismissed it and refocused on the drama unfolding in my mind. 

‘What?! She’s got a college girl locked up in her villa right now? While pregnant? And still fooling around like this? This is straight-up illegal! Hell, she has to serve time for this!’ 

My heart raced. How was I supposed to slip away from the table and call the cops without raising suspicion? 

Without much thought, I shot up from my seat, blurting, “I need to use the restroom!” 

I dashed off without waiting for a response. 

Just as I reached the staircase, Harvey was coming down. He caught my loud declaration at the dining table and sneered. “So uncouth.” 

“I’m in a hurry right now, so I don’t have time to argue with you.” I shot him a fierce glare before rushing out like the wind. 

Meanwhile, William smacked him on the back of the head and barked, “Shut your mouth!” 

… 

After finishing the call and confirming the police would arrive in time, I returned to the dining table. 

Just as I walked in, I saw the family huddled together, whispering among themselves. Over it all, I caught Harvey saying, “But Alicia said she doesn’t want to be part of our family anymore. She doesn’t want to be the Stone Family’s daughter!” 

I looked at the back of his head. He never seemed the brightest, and a wave of affection welled up. 

‘You silly thing,’ I said inwardly. ‘That’s because what she wants now is to be your sister-in-law!’