"That's right. If you want to leave, I won't stop you, but Elena stays. Brian is already grown and about to get married. Elena needs to stay behind and find a way to buy him a house and a car so that Brian can continue the Dalton Family bloodline without any worries."

My mother was so furious she could not even form words. Seeing an opening, Vanessa quickly stepped in, smiling as she said, "Please, it's better if you don't talk about divorce. We'll still be sisters in the future."

"You don't really have to serve me or anything. Even though I gave birth to a son for the Dalton Family, I will still treat you as my dear sister. You just need to help with the housework when you have free time."

Grinding her teeth, my mother hissed, "You betrayed me and now you want to drain me dry. Keep dreaming. I will definitely divorce him!"

Vanessa frowned, looking confused and said, "You really don't know how to appreciate a good life. Or are you bringing up divorce just because Elena secretly bought a big house?"

Vanessa's words might have been said 'without intention,' but they landed like a thunderclap in the ears of Gerald and Martha. Not only them even the surrounding relatives and friends who had come to watch the spectacle began to whisper and gossip about my house purchase.

Although I was the only child of my parents, it did not stop Gerald and Martha from disliking me simply because I was a daughter. After I started working, they constantly found excuses to ask me for money, which was why, when I bought a house, I only told my mother about it.

It seemed my mother had trusted Vanessa Grayson far too much.

I glanced at Vanessa. She wore a proud and self-satisfied expression.

I finally understood everything. The reason Gerald and Vanessa had kept their affair hidden for so many years, only to reveal everything today, was because of the house.

Facing everyone's questioning eyes, I ignored my mother's anxious gaze and calmly nodded.

"Yes, I did buy a house. It's about twice the size of the one we live in now. Although it's not very close to the city center, there's a subway station nearby, so it's very convenient. The neighborhood also has great landscaping."

"Since it’s a fully furnished house, I won’t need to buy any more stuff. I'm planning to move in within the next couple of days. It's a spacious place with three bedrooms and a living room. It's very nice."

Gerald suddenly slammed the table, pointing at me and shouting, "Good, very good! When I asked you to pay for my renovations last time, you told me your salary was low, that rent was expensive and you hadn’t saved anything! Turns out you secretly bought a house for yourself! How could I have fathered such an ungrateful daughter like you!"

Meanwhile, Martha’s eyes lit up with excitement. "I knew my granddaughter was extraordinary. She bought a house just like that! This is perfect. I was just saying there wouldn't be enough room at home for Brian and Vanessa. This solves everything."

"You can move back home. It's close to your workplace anyway. The house you bought will be just right for your father, me, Vanessa and Brian to live in. Three bedrooms and a living room. Absolutely perfect!"

My mother immediately shouted, "That can't be! That house belongs to Elena. It's in her name alone. Even if I die, I will never let you get away with this!"

However, no one paid her any attention.

Martha’s words had clearly given Gerald an idea. The anger on his face vanished, replaced by a broad smile.

"Good, very good. I was just wondering how to get Brian a house and it turns out you’ve already bought one."

"Let me make the decision. Tomorrow, you’ll transfer the house to Brian."

"As a woman, it’s useless for you to keep a house. Besides, you said it yourself that you don't intend to marry or have children. Since you don't plan to start a family, the house would go to Brian when you die anyway."

"It’s going to belong to him sooner or later, so why not just hand it over now? You'll even save the inheritance tax!"

Vanessa was overjoyed, yet she pretended to hesitate as she said coyly, "How could I accept that? Although Elena is the elder sister and it’s natural for an elder sister to help her younger brother, I’m afraid Elena might not be willing."

My mother was furious. Without thinking, she slapped Vanessa hard across the face.

"You shameless bitch! I treated you so well and this is how you repay me? I kept wondering why you came here, stirring up trouble and trying to force me out. So, it was all because of the house!"

Martha rolled her eyes at my mother and snapped, "Are you out of your mind? We gave Elena her life. What’s wrong with asking her for a house? If she dares say no, I’ll be the first one to deal with her!"

My mother immediately shielded me, her gaze firm and resolute. "Elena, don’t be afraid. I will never let them succeed. Even if I have to die fighting them, I won’t let them…"

Before she could finish, I frowned and shook her hand off. "Mom, what are you talking about? I am a member of the Dalton Family. Brian is a member of the Dalton Family too and he’s my younger brother. It’s only right for me to give him my house."

As soon as I said that, the entire room fell into a stunned silence.

My mother stood there, stunned for a long moment before finally speaking. "Elena, what are you talking about? Are you crazy? He’s not your brother at all. He’s just... a bastard!"

I rolled my eyes at her and my expression changed. "Am I crazy? I think you’re the one who’s gone mad!"

"I finally understand everything now. All this talk about cheating, mistress, illegitimate child... the words you used were far too harsh. Mrs. Grayson is the true benefactor of our Dalton Family."

"If it weren’t for her, the Dalton Family’s bloodline would have been cut off long ago. Why should you blame her? If you want to blame anyone, you should blame yourself for failing to give birth to a son."

"I did say that I didn’t plan to marry and have children, but do you know why? It’s because once I married, I would no longer carry the last name of the Dalton Family. I refused marriage because I wanted to stay a daughter of the Dalton Family forever."

"So today, I, Elena Dalton, declare right here. Not only will I transfer the house to my younger brother, but I will also continue to pay the mortgage every month. When he marries and has children, I will contribute both money and effort."

Although Vanessa, my father and my grandmother had been scheming for this all along when they actually heard me say it so directly, they still couldn’t believe it.

"Really? Are you lying?"

"How could you suddenly be so kind? You’ve always been an ungrateful girl!"

"Are you planning to trick us, pretending to go home for the property certificate and then running away?"

Faced with their suspicions, I did not get angry. Instead, I calmly sat down on the sofa and said, "I’m not going anywhere tonight. I’ve already brought the property certificate and all my documents with me. I’ve put them right here. Tomorrow morning, we’ll go together to complete the transfer. Whether I’m telling the truth or lying, you’ll see for yourselves."

Seeing that my expression didn’t look like I was joking and that I had already started contacting the loan company to arrange a bridge loan, Martha was so overjoyed that she took off a gold bracelet she had worn for more than thirty years and slipped it onto my wrist.

She said, "Elena, thank goodness you're not like your mother. She's a vicious woman, but you are sensible and know what truly matters for a woman."

I nodded and replied, "Of course. I'm not foolish. No matter how capable a woman is, what does it matter in the end? I refused to get married before because I didn’t have a younger brother to depend on. Now that I have one, I finally have someone to rely on. I'll go on a blind date soon. That way, after the engagement gifts are settled, I can also find a good sister-in-law for my younger brother."

My mother could not understand why I had changed so much.

"Elena, what's going on? You’re not like this. Why did you transfer the house to Brian? Don’t you realize what kind of people your father and grandmother are? Giving them this house is like throwing it away."

Hearing this, I frowned. "Dad, do you really prefer boys over girls? Is Brian the only one who matters to you?"

Gerald quickly shook his head. "Of course not. Both you and Brian are my children. I asked you to transfer the house to Brian for the good of our Dalton Family."

I did not respond immediately but hesitated. "But why don't you give your house to Brian instead? Why does it have to be mine?"

Gerald, perhaps sensing that I might regret my decision, quickly added, "I want to give you this house. Didn’t your grandma say it’s closer to your company, making it more convenient for you to live here?"

"How about this? Let’s go transfer the ownership tomorrow. This small house will be in your name and your new, larger house will go to your brother. How does that sound?"

Anyone could tell that the two houses were of vastly different values, but I smiled and nodded eagerly. "I know my dad has always been the best to me, so let’s do it."

The next morning, I locked my mother at home and went to the transfer center in a grand manner. By the time my mother arrived, the transfer was already complete.

My large flat had been transferred to Brian and Gerald had also transferred the old, small house to me. Everything was settled and my mother fainted on the spot.

But I did not feel any sympathy for her. Instead, I frowned and muttered, "I initially thought I wouldn’t do anything to her because she’s my mother, but seeing her like this now, I can only cut ties for the sake of justice. Otherwise, you, Mrs. Grayson and my brother will never have peace."

Over the next six months, I manipulated and deceived my mother into divorcing Gerald, allowing Vanessa and Gerald to marry and become a family.

To keep my mother from disrupting my father's new family, I forced her to live with me in the old house, threatening to go as far as to die rather than let her cause any trouble.

Martha was obviously pleased. "This is all due to my strict upbringing. Girls need firm discipline. How else could they live well now?"

Although my mother was furious with me, she understood that I was her daughter, born after two days and nights of difficult labor. She knew I wasn’t someone to make empty threats.

To prevent me from making any rash decisions, she had no choice but to live with me in the decaying house, sighing in frustration every day.

During these six months, I regularly sent money to my father, making sure Gerald could pay off the mortgage. I even gave him a few thousand extra each month, ensuring that they lived comfortably, even better than what I had promised them before.

Gerald and Martha were initially skeptical of my words, but now they were left speechless. Even Vanessa praised me, saying that I was more like a daughter to her than her own.

Six months passed like this and one night, I finally received a call from Gerald.

His voice was frantic when he said, "Hurry, Elena, bring the property certificate. We’ll transfer the ownership tomorrow morning. We’ll give the large flat back to you and you can just give me the old house."

I pinched my thigh hard to suppress my laughter.

At last, the day I had been waiting for had come!