Chapter 3

3

Five days later, my mother-in-law posted a photo in the family group chat, complaining that her birthday was coming up yet nobody had come home early to keep her company.

The picture showed a family gathered around the dining table for dinner.

In the photo, Valerie was sitting right beside Brody, who was leaning tightly against her shoulder.

Less than ten minutes after the photo was posted, Valerie called me. "Damian, don't get the wrong idea. My mom arranged this. She's an elder, so I couldn't just disregard her wishes…"

I cut her off. "Yeah, I understand. Anything else?"

"You're not mad?"

I gave an amused scoff. "What is there to be mad about?"

Valerie fell silent.

After a pause, she said, "Mom's birthday party is this Saturday. I'll come pick you up."

She hung up immediately, as if terrified I might turn her down.

On Saturday, Valerie arrived bright and early outside Austin's building.

As the car pulled to a stop, Brody popped his head out of the passenger window. "Damian, hop in! We've been waiting for you for quite a while."

His tone was completely dripping with the arrogance of a homeowner welcoming a guest.

In the past, I would have dragged him out of that seat and demanded hysterically that Valerie choose between the two of us.

This time, I merely offered a polite nod, opened the rear door, and slid into the back seat.

Valerie's grip tightened on the steering wheel as she watched me through the rearview mirror.

I offered her a courteous smile, then looked down at my phone to text Austin.

When we reached the Price residence, I presented the gift I had prepared and said, "Happy birthday, Mom."

Then I sat down and quietly ate my meal.

Valerie and Brody flanked me on either side, constantly leaning across each other to chat and laugh.

I stood up. "Let's switch seats. It'll make it easier for you two to talk."

The entire room froze in place.

Only a few months ago, I had thrown a massive scene because Brody insisted on sitting next to Valerie, pointing right at his face and calling him shameless.

Nobody expected me to speak with such calm indifference today.

Brody happily slid into my original seat, while Valerie stared fixedly at me, her eyes darkening.

I excused myself and walked to the restroom.

When I returned, the atmosphere at the table was lively and cheerful.

I heard Brody say, "Auntie, it's your birthday today. Why are you giving me a present instead?"

Looking over, I saw Valerie's mother holding a diamond-encrusted luxury watch, fastening it onto Brody's wrist.

Valerie made no move to stop her.

The other relatives exchanged awkward glances.

Everyone knew that watch was an heirloom meant for the Price family's son-in-law.

When Valerie and I got married, her mother had been openly displeased, believing I was beneath her daughter.

Over the years, because my business achievements weren't extraordinary, her disdain only grew, and she naturally refused to give the watch to me.

Last year on her birthday, she had tried to hand it over to Brody.

I refused to accept it, and when Brody reached out to take it, I shoved him.

During the scuffle, both of us fell into the garden pond. Valerie had fished Brody out without a second thought, raining down venomous words on me.

"It's just a damn watch! Haven't you gotten enough already? Why do you always have to compete with Brody? Have I spoiled you too much? Fine, I'll just buy you another one!"

I caught a severe chill and suffered through a fever for two whole days and nights.

Valerie had only sneered at me. "You had it coming. That's the price you pay for throwing childish tantrums."

Now, I would never stoop to fighting with anyone again.

I walked over, picked up my coat and bag, and excused myself with dignity.

I took a cab straight back home.

Valerie walked in right behind me, her expression terrifyingly dark.

"Damian, do you have any sense of decency left? It's bad enough you disappeared for days, but all our elders were there today! Who were you giving that attitude to?"

Seeing me remain silent, Valerie frowned and snapped.

"What, throwing another temper tantrum? If you hate it that much, we might as well get a divorce."

This was the third time Valerie had threatened me with divorce.

The first time was when I refused to drink a toast with her boss at a banquet, which made her lose face.

To make up for it, I set up another dinner with her boss, drank until I suffered my first stomach hemorrhage, and begged for his forgiveness while hooked up to an IV.

The second time was when I accidentally broke a puzzle Brody had gifted her.

She flew into a rage, and I dropped to my knees in tears, weeping and swearing it would never happen again.

Yet at this exact moment, I looked directly into her eyes and said, "Okay."