Chapter 2

2.

"Elias, you are really crazy!"

She hung up the phone with a loud smack.

I didn't go home to pack my things.

I bought a plane ticket for the afternoon and went straight back to my hometown.

Before the plane took off, Valerie called me again.

"You've been throwing a fit all morning, it's time to come home and cook!"

"I didn't even yell at you for not blow-drying Silas's hair last night, which made him catch a cold..."

Come to think of it, Silas is already seven years old this year.

I still have to stay with him when he blows his hair and takes a shower.

Usually, I even have to feed him personally when he eats.

If I let him do it himself, Valerie and her whole family would come and accuse me.

"He only needs to be responsible for studying, and you, as a father, should do these things for the child."

I don't owe him anything.

"Remember to take him to see his chess teacher, Mr. Davies, this weekend."

I took the initiative to hang up the phone and turned on airplane mode.

I didn't tell my parents I was coming home this time.

When I got home, they were just stunned for a moment.

Then they started bustling around me again.

"Are you unhappy in New York? You look like you've lost weight!"

My mom talked to me while kneading dough.

My dad was mixing the dumpling filling on the side.

"If you're unhappy, just come home and visit, your mom and dad are here waiting for you!"

My nose suddenly stung, and I turned around to rub my reddening eyes.

"I'm not going back to New York."

After two seconds of silence, my mom patted my shoulder.

"It's good that you're not going back, you can stay home and help your dad tinker with the garden!"

My dad laughed.

"And you can take over the chores for me by the way!"

My mom glared at him.

"Step aside!"

I burst out laughing.

It's still the most comfortable staying in my own home.

After dinner, I went shopping with my parents.

Coincidentally, I bumped into my former boss, Harrison Reed.

He rushed over enthusiastically to greet me and chat.

He asked all sorts of questions just to know if I had a job.

Actually, he had always wanted me to go back to work all these years.

In the past, I politely declined a few times due to family reasons.

But this time, I should learn to think for myself.

"If you want to stay in Chicago, I'll arrange a position for you here. We can discuss the details later!"

"Since Mr. Reed has put it this way, it would be rude for me to refuse again."

"Hahaha, then we'll talk about work tonight, I won't disturb you from spending time with your parents now."

After saying goodbye to him, I realized my airplane mode wasn't turned off.

To avoid missing any important messages, I quickly turned it off.

Then ping, ping, ping, it was all messages from Valerie.

In short, she was scolding me for being irresponsible.

"Why are you giving me attitude for no reason?"

She also sent me a video of her taking our son to eat fast food.

In the video, Silas's face was covered in grease, his mouth stuffed full, mumbling about how great his mom was.

"Elias, if you keep making a scene, there won't be a place for you in this house anymore."

Usually, I don't let Silas eat these fried things indiscriminately.

If he eats too much, he'll get a stomachache and get sick.

But he never learns, and he always complains that I control him too much because of this.

I deleted the words I had originally typed expressing concern for the child, and instead sent a short message.

"I don't care anymore."