"You did this to yourself and you have the nerve to blame your sister?"
"She's just more innocent than you."
"You've humiliated this family. From today on, don't bother coming home."
I became the woman everyone spat on, while Marilyn, safe under our parents' protection, took my place and married Harrison.
The memory alone made my blood boil. So before Greta could explode this time around,
I snatched the microphone from the emcee's hand, gathered my dress, stepped forward, and shoved it right up to Marilyn's lips.
"Say it again. Louder."
The sharpness in my voice hit her like a slap. Marilyn's big doe eyes went perfectly round, and a film of tears pooled on cue.
"Waaah!"
"You're being mean! I'm scared!"
Just like last time, she burst into tears and threw herself into our mother's arms.
Half her face peeked out, stealing a cautious glance at me before she whimpered her accusation:
"I was just being curious. Why are you yelling at me?"
"Unless... you don't want people to find out?"
Right on schedule, the waterworks bought her exactly what she wanted. Our mother patted her back and glared daggers at me:
"What is wrong with you? You know she's timid. Why are you raising your voice at her?"
Marilyn sobbed until she was gasping, and even let out a little milk-burp for good measure.
"Hic."
"Okay, okay, I get it. You want the doctor to keep it a secret."
"It's all Baby's fault. Baby was just too curious, and that's how Big Sister's secret slipped out. I'm so sorry, Sis!"
The moment those words left her mouth, the entire room erupted.
Every single table in the banquet hall broke into whispers, a hundred and eighty tables' worth of guests buzzing at once.
Some didn't even bother to lower their voices, pointing at me right to my face.
"Oh my God, the Cobbs' eldest daughter is that kind of woman?"
"Eight abortions? Can she even still have children?"
"So Harrison basically married damaged goods?"
Every word sliced straight into my mother-in-law Greta Finch's ears like a blade.
Her face went dark, eyes cutting toward me like a pair of knives.
"You had better explain yourself. Now."
Even Harrison, my own husband, lunged forward from beside me, his eyes bloodshot, boring into mine.
"Sandra. Is what your sister said true?"
I was about to answer when Marilyn beat me to it, waving her hands and shaking her head frantically.