"What emergency? Your dear cousin's gambling debts again? Or did your mom see some new gold bracelet she just had to have?"
"Joy! How can you say that!"
Ryan shot to his feet like I'd stabbed a nerve, his face flushing red.
"Am I wrong?"
I stepped forward, staring him down.
"Ryan, explain it to me. Most of that money was earned by me—what gave you the right to touch it? Where did it go?"
Mrs. Lambert sprang up, hands on her hips, all pretense gone. She jabbed a finger at my face.
"You married into this family, so you belong to the Lyons family! Every penny you earn is ours! A married daughter is water poured out—gone! Don't you dare side with outsiders!"
"And that five million? Forget about it! My son bought that liquor, so the prize belongs to us! Just try and touch it!"
"Liquor your son bought?"
I was so furious I laughed.
"Want me to remind you what was actually in those two bottles of 'Moutai'? Want me to repeat what you said at the door?"
Mrs. Lambert's face went white.
"You… you were eavesdropping? Fine, Joy! So now you've learned to spy at doorways!"
She spat on the floor, then kept right on pointing at my face and shouting like nothing had happened.