He'd always known Mom didn't love me. That's why he'd never bothered holding back.
I couldn't be bothered with him. I moved to leave, but Aunt Diane Hale grabbed my arm.
"Corinne. I heard your mother already transferred the house into your sister's name?"
"So it looks like you won't be getting a single penny from that demolition payout, will you?"
Aunt Diane's eyes swept over me with undisguised contempt. "You know, you're not getting any younger. Why not find someone to marry while you still can? My nephew is about your age—he sells pork at the town market. Makes a decent living, tens of thousands a year. What do you say?"
Her nephew. Five foot two, pushing two hundred fifty pounds, didn't even finish elementary school.
I shook off her grip, my voice flat. "Not interested."
Uncle Robert's brow furrowed instantly. "Corinne, what kind of attitude is that?"
"Your aunt is doing you a favor by offering her nephew. Show some gratitude!"
He stepped closer, jabbing a finger toward me. "Let's be honest—your father's dead, your mother can't stand you. Once they tear down that house, you won't even have a roof over your head. If you don't lock down a husband now, how exactly do you plan to survive?"