Chapter 2

On Thanksgiving Day, I bought a bunch of gifts to visit Robert and Susan.

But when I arrived, I wasn't met with a warm welcome.

The nanny, Tiffany, was snuggled between them, her right arm intimately linked with Susan's. The three of them were chatting and laughing, just like a family.

Before I could even speak, Susan's voice was heavy with dissatisfaction: "So you finally found time to come back and see us."

I explained, "Michael and I are both too busy with work."

Susan continued to complain, "If it wasn't for you, my son wouldn't have left us to work in New York."

I still managed a strained smile. "Once work isn't so crazy next year, Michael and I will come back to visit you more often."

With that, I handed the gifts to Susan.

Susan pursed her lips and said, "That's more like it! But don't think buying us a few gifts means you care about us."

After dinner, just as I was about to sit down and rest, trying to shake off the fatigue from my travels, Susan said, "This year's Thanksgiving dinner, you're making it. Remember, just like last year, it has to be ten dishes."

I froze, instinctively saying, "Isn't that Tiffany's job?"

Susan immediately frowned, setting down her water glass, her face darkening. "Tiffany works so hard taking care of us, she's exhausted all day long. Now that you're back, can't you let her rest?"

"I'm exhausted from work too," I looked at them, completely perplexed. "I work overtime every day, and I bought a 1 AM flight ticket just to be here with you for Thanksgiving. I barely have the energy to make 10 dishes right now."

"Besides, I pay her so much money to do these things, don't I? It makes no sense for me to pay her and then do the work myself."

Tiffany stood nearby, head bowed, looking as if she'd been wronged.

Robert slammed his hand on the table, his face stern, and he angrily yelled at me, "What do you see besides money? You took my son away for money, and now you're not even willing to make dinner!"

"You don't come home, you never visit, and now that you are home, you talk about money. I think you should just live with your money and your work. Why even bother coming back!"

Susan sighed, her eyes full of disappointment. "Exactly. You and Michael only come home once a year. Tiffany has been the one taking care of us. When we get sick, it's always Tiffany who looks after us. As a daughter-in-law, what have you ever done for us?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Tiffany gently stepped forward, took Susan's hand, and softly comforted her. "Aunt Susan, please don't be angry. Emily is a CEO; she must be much busier than a nanny like me."

Listening to them, I was so angry I almost laughed.

I didn't care about them?

Their company only survived because of my investments.

Even Tiffany's salary was paid by me.