**”The First Betrayal”**
“How could you?!” Emily shouted, waving a crumpled piece of paper. “How could you sign this rubbish?!”
Charlotte flinched, set her teacup down, and slowly turned to face her sister. There wasn’t a hint of remorse on her face—just exhaustion.
“Signed it and that’s that,” she shrugged. “The house has to be sold anyway, you said so yourself.”
“Said so?!” Emily’s voice trembled with indignation. “I said we should decide together, Lottie! Together! And you went behind my back, sneaking around with estate agents! And for half the price we agreed on!”
“Not half, just…” Charlotte started, but Emily cut her off.
“A third! Does it even matter? Mum left this house to both of us, do you understand? And you just decided you’d take charge!”
The kitchen fell silent. Only the ticking of the old wall clock—the one Mum had brought back from her trip to France—filled the air. Charlotte stood by the window, staring into the garden where she and Emily had once played hopscotch.
“Do you even realise what you’ve done?” Emily continued, quieter now. “My son’s starting university—I need every penny. And your daughter’s planning her wedding! We both need that money!”
“Exactly,” Charlotte turned. “We need it. That’s why I acted fast. Buyers won’t wait forever.”
“But we agreed!” Emily’s voice broke. “You promised we’d decide together!”
“Agreed, agreed,” Charlotte waved her off. “You were away for a week, wouldn’t answer your phone. The market’s competitive—they won’t hold an offer.”
Emily slumped into a chair, head in her hands. The contract lay on the table like a cruel joke.
“I had to visit Aunt Margaret in the countryside,” she whispered. “She was ill, all alone. I told you…”
“Told me, didn’t tell me,” Charlotte dismissed. “It’s done. We’ll get the money in a fortnight, split it evenly.”
“Evenly?!” Emily jerked up. “You think that’s fair?”
Charlotte poured herself more tea, sitting opposite her sister, her face calm—almost indifferent.
“What else? House sold, money divided. Equal shares.”
“Equal?” Emily gave a bitter laugh. “Was it equal when you didn’t even ask me? Didn’t wait for me to come back?”
“Oh, don’t be dramatic!” Charlotte rolled her eyes. “It’s just a house. Neither of us was going to live here.”
“Not live here?!” Emily’s eyes flashed. “Who came every weekend? Who fixed the roof? Who helped the neighbours keep an eye on the place?”
“So what?” Charlotte shrugged. “That’s your hobby. Meanwhile, I’ve been paying the council tax for years.”
“Council tax…” Emily stood, walking to the window. “Lottie, do you remember living here? How Mum raised us? The nights we studied at this table?”
“I remember,” Charlotte said flatly. “And?”
“And it’s our memories! Our childhood! And you’re selling it off for pocket change!”
“Not pocket change—a fair price. A young family needs it. We need the money. Fair trade.”
Emily returned to the table, picking up the contract. As she skimmed it, her face paled.
“Lottie, what’s this clause?” She pointed mid-page. “It says the sole seller is Charlotte Elizabeth Whitmore. Where am I?”
Charlotte looked away.
“It’s… a technicality. Easier for the solicitor since you live out in the shires.”
“Easier for the solicitor?!” Emily’s voice rose. “Charlotte, what are you playing at? Legally, this makes the house yours! And then you’ll generously share the money out of the goodness of your heart?”
“Stop shouting!” Charlotte hissed. “The neighbours will hear. It’s just paperwork!”
“Paperwork.” Emily sat heavily, breathing hard. “We’re sisters. Same blood. How could you do this?”
“I’ve done nothing wrong!” Charlotte snapped. “House sold, money split. What’s the issue?”
“That you don’t trust me!” Emily slammed the table. “That you think I’m a fool!”
“I don’t!” Charlotte scoffed. “I’m just more practical. Always have been.”
“Practical?” Emily’s smile was hollow. “Remember when Mum was ill? Who sat with her? Who arranged the doctors?”
“And who worked double shifts to pay for it?” Charlotte shot back. “You had time—I had bills!”
“Time?!” Emily stood. “I’d just lost my husband! I was raising a child alone! But I still made it to the hospital every day!”
“And I earned the money for her care!” Charlotte shouted. “While you played nurse, I was breaking my back!”
“Breaking your back…” Emily whispered. “And where were you when Mum was dying? Remember?”
Charlotte fell silent, staring out the window.
“I was on a business trip. An important one.”
“A business trip!” Emily’s laugh was brittle. “Mum called for you. ‘Where’s my Lottie? Why isn’t she here?’”
“Stop,” Charlotte said softly. “Don’t.”
“I will!” Emily slapped the table. “She waited for you, right till the end!”
“Enough!” Charlotte shouted.
“No! You sold this house like it meant nothing!”
“It did!” Tears streaked Charlotte’s face. “Of course it did! But I can’t—I can’t bear being here! It smells like her, it’s all her!”
“And you think it’s easy for me?” Emily whispered. “You think I don’t cry when I hear her voice?”
Charlotte wiped her sleeve across her eyes.
“Then why fight the sale?”
“Because it’s ours!” Emily sat beside her. “Because our history lives here. Because Mum wanted us to decide together!”
“And what did Mum want when she wrote the will?” Charlotte whispered. “Remember?”
Emily frowned.
“What are you implying?”
“She left the house to both of us. But the land? Just to you.”
“The garden? Yes, so?”
“That land’s worth more than the house!” Charlotte stood. “Property in this area’s skyrocketing. And Mum gave it all to you!”
“Charlotte, what are you saying?” Emily shook her head. “Who cares who got what? We’re sisters!”
“Sisters, sisters,” Charlotte sneered. “When we sell, the land goes with it. And only you get that money!”
Emily sat silently, absorbing this.
“You think I’d cheat you?”
“I know you would!” Charlotte said. “You never told me its real value!”
“I didn’t even know!” Emily cried. “Do I look like an estate agent?”
“Could’ve Googled it!” Charlotte retorted.
“Charlotte, what’s got into you?” Emily stood. “I’d never deceive you!”
“Wouldn’t you?” Charlotte turned away. “Mum left you the land because you were her favourite.”
“What? That’s nonsense!”
“Truth,” Charlotte said bitterly. “She trusted you more.”
“Or maybe she knew I’d care for it,” Emily countered. “That I’d keep it up.”
“Or that you’re kinder.”
“Not kinder,” Emily sighed. “Just different.”
Charlotte moved closer.
“Em, I’m sorry. I truly didn’t mean to go behind your back. I just… feared we’d argue.”
“And now we’re not?” Emily smirked.
“We are,” Charlotte admitted. “But honestly.”
“Honestly,” Emily agreed. “Let’s tear up the contract. We’ll meet the agent together.”
“And the land?”
Emily hesitated. “If it’s truly worth more, we’ll split the profits. Fair shares.”
“You mean it?”
“I do,” Emily nodded. “We’re sisters. Sisters don’t cheat each other.”
Charlotte hugged her.
“Forgive me.”
“And you forgive me,” Emily replied. “For not realising how you felt.”
“We’re both fools.” Charlotte laughed wetly.
“Fools,” Emily agreed. “But family.”
They stood embraced in the kitchen where their mother had taught them to share. Though the house would still be sold, they’d kept what truly mattered.
*Sometimes the greatest inheritance isn’t property—it’s learning to value the ties that last.*
