Chapter 5
Seeing the table laden with a variety of dishes, my husband smiled contentedly and looked at me with sincerity.
“Honey, you’ve really worked hard,” he said.
My mother-in-law gently took my hand, her face full of praise.
“Camila, my son was truly blessed to marry a woman like you,” she said warmly.
“Since you joined our family, you’ve handled all the household chores and taken such good care of me, this old woman, with great thoughtfulness.”
“In my heart, I truly see you as a virtuous wife and a devoted mother.”
She added meaningfully, “From now on, let’s keep living together in harmony, just like this. No more arguing.”
Over the past twenty-plus years of marriage, my husband often voiced his admiration for my dedication.
My mother-in-law had never been stingy with her compliments.
n the past, whenever I heard their kind words, I felt genuinely lucky, grateful to have married into › warm, appreciative family.
A husband who acknowledged my sacrifices. A mother-in-law who saw my efforts.
They didn’t always lend a hand, but they noticed what I did.
That used to be enough.
But now, I simply offered a faint smile and murmured softly, “Yes… it’s time I lived for myself.”
My son had gone out early in the morning to pick up Chloe.
But now, noon had come and gone and still, they hadn’t returned.
The three of us sat quietly at the dining table, waiting.
After a long silence, my husband finally grew impatient and called our son.
Caleb, why haven’t you and Chloe come back yet?”
‘Your mom got up early this morning and spent hours preparing a full table of food just for you
wo.”
On the other end, I could hear chewing.
My son’s voice was light, casual.
“Oh, Chloe suddenly said she was craving pizza,” he replied.
“So, I took her out to eat first.”
His words echoed through the living room like a cold breeze.
My mother-in-law quickly forced a laugh and called out cheerfully into the phone, “That’s fine, that’s fine! If Chloe wants pizza, then let her have it.”
“Take your time, eat well. We’ll wait for you here.”
After she hung up, my husband looked at me and gave an awkward smile.
“Honey, after all, the point of today was to apologize. Whether they eat this food or not, it’s not important.”
“Since they’ve already eaten, let’s not wait any longer, let’s just eat.”
I shook my head. “No. Let’s wait for them.”
My mother-in-law immediately nodded in agreement.
“Yes, let’s wait. That’s how we show our sincerity in apologizing.”
She patted my shoulder and smiled contentedly. “Camila, I knew you were always the mos choughtful one.”
All these years, you’ve given everything to this family without ever complaining.”
My husband looked at me like a proud parent watching a child finally grow up.
Honey, I really didn’t expect you to be this understanding.”
You woke up early, cooked for hours and never once complained.”
You’ve been so patient with our son and Chloe today… I’m really touched.”
Chloe will see how sincere you are and forgive you.”
I wasn’t until 3 PM that my son finally returned, with Chloe in tow.
the strutted into our home in her expensive high heels like she was walking a runway.
My son followed behind her, arms full of luxury shopping bags. Clearly, they’d gone shoppin fter lunch.
As soon as she walked in, Chloe glanced over the ten elaborate dishes I had spent all mornin reparing.
ler expression twisted into a sneer.
Auntie,” she said coolly, “the food’s cold. How are we supposed to eat this?”
