Chapter 3 Who Would Dare To Take Advantage Of My Family

At night, I shared a room with my mother, while Jolene had her own room, and Jace slept in the living room.

Lying beside my mother in bed, I inhaled her familiar scent, and a wave of emotions filled my heart.

In an instant, all the days when my mother, Jace, and I relied on each other flooded my mind.

"Mom, didn't you already agree to let me buy a house in Rethuesia? Why did you suddenly change your mind? What's going on?" I held my mother's hand and asked softly.

"Vivian, I had no choice," my mother sighed softly and said.

"What happened?" I pressed on.

"Jolene is pregnant! If Jace doesn't buy a house and get married soon, her family won't accept him!" I was taken aback by my mother's words.

Jolene was pregnant! Now it made sense why my mother had changed her attitude.

But even if Jolene was pregnant and Jace needed to buy a house to get married, he had been working for several years now, so he should have some savings, right? Besides, in our small hometown, house prices weren't exactly high.

"Mom, didn't you say you had set aside some money for Jace to buy a house and get married? What's going on? Isn't it enough?" I suddenly remembered and quickly asked.

"Ah." my mother sighed and said, "Jolene wants Jace to buy a house that's at least 150 square meters in the best neighborhood in town! Plus, her family is asking for financial support for the wedding of 200, 000 dollars."

My mother's words took me by surprise. I knew that in our small town, a 150-square-meter house in the best neighborhood wasn't cheap. Moreover, financial support for the wedding of 200, 000 dollars.

When did it become common for the bride's family in our town to demand such high financial support for the wedding? Just last year, I attended a classmate's wedding, and her family only asked for a symbolic 58, 800 dollars. Could it be that in less than a year, the financial support for the wedding in our small town had skyrocketed?

After my persistent questioning, my mother finally admitted that Jolene's family was using the child in her belly as a bargaining chip. If Jace couldn't meet their demands, they threatened to have Jolene terminate the pregnancy and break up with him.

My mother had longed for a grandchild for years. In her heart, it seemed that only when Jace had a child would she feel she had honored my father, who passed away early.

I understood my mother's almost obsessive thinking. I, Vivian, could provide money for Jace to buy a house. However, I couldn't allow Jolene to use the child in her to take advantage of my family!

To me, insisting on a big house and high financial support for the wedding was just bullying my family!

That night, I didn't sleep well. In the dim light of the bedside lamp, I looked at my mother's aging face and felt a sudden pang of sadness.

For Jace and me, my mother had worked tirelessly her entire life. Even now, she still had to worry about us. It was truly not easy for her! I silently made up my mind that I would never let my mother work so hard again!

That night, I thought about many things.

The next morning, after breakfast, Jace brought up the topic of me giving him money to buy a house again.

This time, I didn't avoid it.

"Jace, I thought about it last night. I can give you money to buy a house," I said with a smile, glancing at Jolene. I noticed a fleeting flash of smugness on her face.

I ignored her expression and continued, "But buying a house is a big deal. I've decided to go back with you to choose carefully! If we're buying, we should get a good one, right?"

After I spoke, I saw Jolene's expression change slightly.

"Vivian, you're working. Isn't it too much trouble for you to come back with us to look at houses? I wouldn't want it to affect your job!" Jolene finally spoke up.

I smiled and said, "It won't affect anything. I can take my vacation days! Consider it a break. Your and Jace's matters are important to our family! How can I not be involved?"

After I said this, both my mother and Jace smiled.

"Vivian, I knew you cared about me!" Jace said with a smile.

I gave him a playful eye-roll.

I was determined to go back with my mother and Jace! I wanted to see who would dare to take advantage of my family with me around!