Chapter 4

I was overjoyed.

Completely unaware of the arduous path I had chosen for myself.

When I returned to the Petersen house, Gabriela’s mother’s voice carried from the living room.

“Young people today are so lucky! In our time, what son-in-law would dare give his mother-in-law trouble?”

“Did you see how angry he got? His eyes turned red just because I asked him to bring me a basin to wash my feet?”

“I really regret it. If he hadn’t clung so hard to his money, Gabriela would never have chosen such a sickly man.”

“Depression, mental illness—it’s all just an excuse for not being able to have children.”

Her voice echoed through the room. “Who would believe otherwise…?”

I pushed open the door.

The room fell silent.

Gabriela's mother, who had been sitting on the sofa eating sunflower seeds, stood up first, forcing a smile. "Oh, you are finally back.”

“Have you eaten? There's some leftover food from lunch. Shall I heat it up?"

"No need." Seeing my cold attitude, Gabriela’s mother also became angry.

"Julius, there's a ton of stuff waiting for you at home. Why did you rush out so early without even saying goodbye?"

The Petersen Family's rules were strict and feudal.

As a son-in-law who married into the family, my only value was to produce heirs and serve as the Petersen Family's most convenient tool in the backyard.

On the first day after the wedding, Gabriela’s mother shoved a broom into my hands and made me sweep the entire house, claiming it was to make a good impression on my first day.

I had tolerated it for five years, trying my best to please her. But I never expected her to be so ungrateful.

I sneered, "Two live-in maids, two cooks, a gardener and a family doctor."

"Tell me, what else is there for me to do personally?"

She probably didn't expect my usual docile attitude to suddenly turn hostile.

She was speechless for a moment, her face turning bright red.

"Don't you need to take care of this whole family? Don't you need to check every nook and cranny of the house?”

“Besides, what if someone with bad intentions takes something? Do you even know what's going on?"

These words were harsh. Gabriela's mother, standing nearby, frowned and carried her plate to the kitchen.

I looked at her calmly.

"Aren't you here in this house? I hired them, I paid for it and Gabriela is busy. So, as their mother, you can't just lend a hand, can you?"

Gabriela’s mother realized she had said the wrong thing and tried to take it back, but it was too late; she became even more furious.

"Why should I serve you? You can't even have a child!"

I looked at Gabriela’s mother's distorted face, my eyes cold.

She had patted her chest and guaranteed that living together was only temporary and she wanted to take good care of us.

Gabriela had also asked me to understand.

That understanding lasted for five years.

For years, I endured my wife's cold words, my mother-in-law's veiled insults and sarcastic remarks.

Gradually, I came to truly understand the helplessness in my mother's eyes all those years ago.

"Child?" I asked with a half-smile.

Ignoring her calls behind me, I went straight back to the master bedroom.

Perhaps due to the sudden emotional turmoil after stopping the medication, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep soundly.

When I woke up again, it was already quite dark.

From the living room came Gabriela’s mother's unusually loud laughter and a woman's highly recognizable voice.

Gabriela had been back?

As I listened, I sensed something was wrong.

I opened the door and the harmonious atmosphere in the living room was immediately apparent.

Gabriela was unusually talking to his mother, while Leon was smilingly massaging her feet.

Gabriela’s mother sighed, "Where can you find such a perfect child? So filial and sensible and this massage is even more comfortable than in the shops."