Chapter 20
Elroy handed his briefcase to the servant, picked up a warm towel to wipe his hands, and then, with a hint of irritation, said, “The Watts family isn’t lacking servants. Why are you cooking for everyone yourself? There are also plenty of restaurants that could do a better job than this.”
Though his words stung, Bianca understood–he was saying it out of concern for her.
He wasn’t wrong. While the Watts family wasn’t a high–society family, they weren’t exactly poor. Eating out was never a problem.
But the reason she wanted to cook herself was that, after spending five years cooking birthday dinners for Blair’s father, she had never once cooked a meal for her own father.
She felt guilty.
Lynette, seeing how harsh Elroy’s words were, discreetly pinched him.
He winced and then fell silent.
The dinner was hearty, and the family enjoyed it together. Lynette suggested taking a family photo afterward.
After dinner, everyone gathered to cut the cake. Kellie mischievously smeared icing on Bianca’s face, and Lynette did the same to Elroy.
The mood lightened.
Kellie led everyone in singing happy birthday, and they all blew out the
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candles together.
Bianca was caught up in the celebration, but every time she thought about the past five years, she felt a lump in her throat.
But from now on, she wouldn’t be that foolish anymore.
In the five years of her marriage, Bianca had never posted anything on social media. But tonight, feeling a little happier, she uploaded the family photo Lynette had taken, posting it in a nine–grid layout with the caption: [From now on, every year on this day, I’ll spend it with my dad. Happy birthday, Dad.]
At 11 PM, after sending off the last guests, Sandra sank into the sofa.
She pulled out her phone and started scrolling through her social media updates, just in time to see the nine–grid photo that Bianca had posted.
The cheerful family photo of the Watts family made Sandra feel uneasy.
Today was Rayford’s birthday, and not only did Bianca, as his
daughter–in–law, not come home, but she didn’t even bother to send her regards.
In previous years, Bianca would always spend two days cooking for the family, but this year, she had gone back to her own family instead.
The dissatisfaction in Sandra’s heart deepened.
Feeling irritated, she stormed upstairs.
Without knocking, she barged into Blair’s study.
She threw her phone onto the desk next to him, visibly fuming as she said. “What is this? What’s going on here?”
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Blair glanced at the phone and frowned in confusion. “What’s the problem?”
Sandra put her hands on the desk, leaning forward to look down at him. “Today is your father’s birthday. Not only does she not acknowledge it, but she runs off to her own family without a word. Since she married into the Avery family, everything she has–clothes, food, and everything else–has been provided by us. And yet, she doesn’t show any respect for her in–laws. Instead, she goes back to serve her own family like a servant. Is she out of her mind?”
Blair didn’t like hearing Sandra speak so negatively about Bianca. He pushed the phone aside and responded coldly, “Don’t you go back to your family often?”
To Blair, there was nothing wrong with Bianca returning to her family.
Sandra, even more frustrated now, shot back, “How can it be the same? When you married Bianca, no one from the Watts family even came to the wedding. They practically cut ties with her! Now that the Avery family is doing well, they want something from you, so they’re letting Bianca go back. It’s all a plan.”
Blair furrowed his brows but chose to ignore her rant.
“They must want something from you. I’m telling you, don’t help them. They’re all ungrateful, selfish people.
“If they need something, fine, but they’ll have to beg you first. Otherwise, forget it.”
