Chapter 3

3

Melanie must have complained to her mother about the divorce, because the older woman showed up at my penthouse first thing in the morning.

She had even brought a pot of slow-simmered herbal soup specifically for Chase.

When I stepped out of the bedroom, Melanie had already left for campus.

Her mother was sitting on the couch, showering Chase with endless affection. "You're still so young, sweetie. You have to nurse that leg properly, or it could leave a lasting issue."

I remembered when I got into a car accident trying to pick up rare gourmet supplements for her mother.

The woman hadn't even visited me once at the hospital, callously remarking to Melanie, "A man who can't even drive safely is completely useless."

Yet here she was, fawning over an outsider.

Seeing me walk out, Chase flashed a radiant smile. "Good morning, Mr. Reed."

Melanie's mother's face instantly darkened, not bothering to hide her disdain. "Now that you're finally awake, go warm up some premium bird's nest soup for Chase. Can't you be half as attentive and considerate as he is?"

"Stop acting like a spoiled brat threatening divorce every two seconds."

Was she treating me like her personal servant?

I knew she secretly looked down on my family's commercial wealth, but she conveniently forgot that this luxury penthouse was bought under my name by my parents, allowing Melanie to live in the city's most prestigious district.

Even the South Sea pearl necklace around her neck was a gift from me, yet she certainly never hesitated to wear it.

No matter how well you treated people like them, they never knew gratitude.

I rolled my eyes. "If you're so eager to play nurse, do it yourself. I'm not lifting a finger."

Melanie's mother stood up, her face flushed with rage. "Nolan Reed, where are your manners? I am your mother-in-law! Is this how you treat your elders?"

I glanced down, adjusting my custom Rolex with a dry chuckle. "Don't forget that this property belongs entirely to me. If you say one more word that annoys me, I will have both you and Melanie thrown out on the street."

Hearing that, her mother went instantly mute.

Her chest heaved with fury as she pointed a trembling finger at me.

Chase hurried to rub her back, feigning concern. "Mr. Reed, how could you intentionally upset your mother-in-law like that?"

Melanie's mother glared at me, her face pale. "He's just an uncultured snob. Chase, ignore him."

Right, uncultured.

Every holiday, I loaded her trunk with luxury gifts and handed her hefty five-figure checks.

She put on a cold face, yet she grabbed every penny without blinking.

To this day, she believed I was the one who married up.

She bragged that her daughter was an elite professor, and that publishing a few papers in top international journals would guarantee her a limitless future.

What she didn't know was that Melanie's entire career had been paved with my money.

I had gifted the university dean crates of vintage bourbon before he ever gave Melanie the spotlight.

Without my backing, her mediocre talent wouldn't have gotten her anywhere in ten years.

Since Melanie's mother kept her mouth shut, I didn't bother telling her the truth just yet.

I would wait for the day reality slapped her across the face.