Chapter 2

Anderson chased me to the car while Ruby wiped tears by the bonfire.

"Aren't you going to comfort her?" I leaned against the car and asked Anderson casually.

"She's just a college graduate, very naive. Don't you trust my character?"

"She's naive for making me eat peanuts—what about you?"

"Are you bad?"

"Stockton, you're overthinking this."

"I just felt Ruby had a point. We can't avoid treating the problem. Maybe trying to eat peanuts could actually cure your allergy."

Anderson's words reminded me—I'm allergic to peanuts, he's allergic to seafood.

Since that's how he understands it, let him lead by example.

"Mom and Dad are coming for dinner tomorrow night. Remember to come home."

Anderson saw me getting in the car. "Let me drive you. I think we can talk on the way."

"No need. Any explanation is weak and powerless. Prove your character through actions."

Away from the noise of the team building, I made two phone calls.

One to my in-laws, inviting them to dinner at home tomorrow.

One to a classmate who had pursued me, asking him to bring seafood to the house tomorrow.

I wanted to see how much seafood it would take to cure Anderson's allergy.

The next afternoon, my in-laws arrived early, and so did my classmate.

My in-laws looked puzzled when they saw my classmate busy in the kitchen with nothing but seafood.

My mother-in-law asked me, "Stockton, why is it all seafood? Isn't Anderson coming home to eat?"

"How could he not come when you're here? But I won't say yet why it's all seafood."

My mother-in-law was still puzzled but didn't press further.

Near evening, Anderson came home.

When he saw the table full of seafood, especially when he saw my classmate, his entire face fell.

"You're home, come sit."

I pulled him to sit down. "Alexander came to see me today and brought all this seafood."

"It's all from his farm, perfectly safe to eat."

I personally peeled a shrimp for Anderson and put it in his bowl. "Try it."

"Stockton, Anderson is allergic to seafood. You know that." My mother-in-law quickly reminded me.

"I know, but Anderson said he wants to overcome his allergy."

I pushed Anderson. "Anderson, I also think Ruby had a point. We can't avoid treating the problem."

"Try it quickly and set an example for me."

"Come, let me feed you."

Anderson's expression was ugly. He pushed my hand away. "Is this really necessary?"

"Can't we talk about whatever this is? What's the point of calling my parents here?"

"What's going on?" My father-in-law asked with a stern face.

"Dad, it's nothing."

"Did I ask you to speak?" My father-in-law glared at him, then looked at me. "Stockton, you tell me."

I briefly explained what happened yesterday. "Anderson, I'm not making this up, am I?"

Anderson remained silent.

My father-in-law slammed his hand on the table. "Anderson, apologize to Stockton right now."

"No need for an apology. As long as he eats one shrimp, I'll believe he really wants to help cure my allergy."

My mother-in-law spoke up quickly. "Stockton, you know Anderson can't eat seafood. It could be life-threatening."

"I've only told you about this today. Do I need to call my parents now?"

"Tell them Anderson tried to force me to eat peanuts to show off his masculinity in front of his assistant."

My father-in-law glared at my mother-in-law when she tried to speak again.

She gave me a resentful look but didn't dare speak further.

I held the shrimp up to Anderson again. "Eating it means you want to help cure me. Not eating it means you want to kill me."

"Choose."