She only got that director position so young because my dad made a special exception for her.
Claire ran after me, blocking my way.
“Ethan, don’t be impulsive. Ryan’s just stubborn on the outside but soft on the inside. Don’t take him too seriously.”
I laughed. “Soft on the inside? Claire, what does your brother take me for? A walking ATM? A free nanny?”
She panicked. “It’s not like that! Ryan just wants us to get married sooner, and having a kid around would be good practice.”
I looked her straight in the eyes. “And you? What do you think?”
Claire hesitated, stammering. “I... I think he has a point...”
At that moment, my heart completely went cold.
This woman never really cared about me. To her, I was just an accessory to their family.
“Claire, we’re done.”
Her face changed instantly.
“Ethan! Don’t be ridiculous. We’ve been together for so long. You can’t just break up over something so trivial—”
“Trivial?” I stared at her panicked expression, feeling a bitter laugh rise in my chest.
“Forget it. It doesn’t matter anymore. Don’t ever contact me again.”
I walked past her just as the elevator doors opened.
Behind me, Ryan’s angry voice echoed down the hall:
“That idiot! Thinks he’s all that! Good riddance—saves my sister the trouble!”
After leaving the retreat, I blocked Claire’s number.
But she kept calling from different numbers, like she’d gone mad.
Each time I heard her voice, I hung up immediately.
Until the twelfth call finally got through—Claire’s tearful voice came through the line:
“Ethan, please! Ryan regrets everything. He booked a private dining room at the Grand Hyatt Hotel to apologize to you.”
“You know how much I love you. We’ve been together three years. Please forgive me this once.”
Her sobs made my heart soften.
Maybe... maybe she really realized her mistake.
“Just an apology?”
“Yes! Just an apology! Ryan promised he’ll never bring up money again.”
I hesitated for a long time before finally agreeing.
But when I pushed open the door to the luxurious private dining room, I froze.
The room was packed—full of Claire’s extended relatives.
No fewer than a dozen of them.
Ryan sat at the head of the table, holding the baby with a smug grin.
When he saw me, he stood up immediately.
“Everyone, look! This is my future brother-in-law, Ethan!”
“He said he’s giving his nephew a $50,000 red envelope!”
What?!
Before I could react, the relatives swarmed me.
“What a good young man Ethan is!”
“So generous—Ryan, you’re lucky to have him!”
“So considerate—just like a son-in-law should be!”
A middle-aged woman in a floral shirt grabbed my hand, smiling.
“Ethan, your brother-in-law said you’re even letting your nephew use your school enrollment spot for when he starts school?”
Another woman chimed in:
“And since you’re well-off, you might as well buy him a house for when he gets married someday. After all, you can afford it.”
Ryan sneered from the side.
“Yesterday he acted all high and mighty, but he can’t live without my sister after all, huh?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t let you do this for free. When my kid grows up, his used clothes can go to you and my sister’s kids—to save you some money.”
Claire stood there with an awkward smile, nervously piling food into my bowl, her eyes pleading with me to just endure it.
