-A month later-
"Congratulations, Rose!" declared one of the village grannies upon spotting me in the marketplace, trying to buy some potatoes. The announcement that I was marrying Derek had spread across the village like wildfire and I was already getting congratulated. Gosh, I wanted to sucker punch that bastard.
"Here is my special soup to prepare you for pregnancy. It works wonders! Soon, you'll be carrying your little bundle of joy!" Derek's child? I'd rather become infertile. I didn't even look at the woman before paying for my bag of potatoes and running back to my house, where I slammed the door.
"Aren't you going out hunting today?" Aspen asked, hopeful. Not before long, he groaned upon seeing me enter with potatoes. Again. Ever since Hunt stopped leaving me presents, I've not been so lucky when it comes to bringing back food. All of my hunting spots have been claimed by the other hunters in the village and I'm left with nothing.
I threw the bag of rock-hard potatoes onto the table, making all five of my brothers jump. "Alright, everyone." I declared, crossing my arms. "I won't bring back a single piece of meat unless you all get your acts together and get a job." They all flinched. If I'm really getting married to Derek, they need to learn how to take care of themselves.
"Aspen. I've asked Mr Jerrs if he would take you on as a carpenter's apprentice. Christoff, you too." They moaned but I quickly shut them with my killer glare. I began dishing out jobs to each one of my brothers when suddenly, the door to our house opened wide.
Derek walked in arrogantly, smirking at what little we had. "Darling, I've brought you some soup." I cringed at the way that he addressed me, making me want to rip his eyeballs out and cut his tongue. Setting the soup bowl onto the table, waiting for us all to fight over each other just for a spoonful, we all stood there, glaring at him.
I had told my brother's of the blackmail, and perhaps they were lazy but they understood that this would determine the fate of our family. "Take your soup and throw it out," Aspen declared boldly. "We might be hungry, but we'll survive without you." My brothers are nodded in agreement, hurting his pride.
"Are you sure that it was the right call to tell your brothers about us, honey?" He went to touch my wrist but I was quick to slap him away. He snarled, raising his hand to hit me but froze. "Why won't you be obedient, you whore?" I snarled, gesturing towards the door.
"Out." He smirked. "You won't be giving me orders, not after tomorrow." Tomorrow? Don't tell me that he... "Yes, I moved our wedding date up. Aren't you happy?" I wanted to claw his smug little face out. Aspen rushed towards me and hugged me, his eyes piercing.
"Come on now, Aspen." declared Derek, his mouth sneering at our solidarity. "Is that a way to treat your brother-in-law?" And just like that, he took his soup and left.