Just then, Maybelle stormed downstairs, slamming the door behind her.
“So what if you gave birth to a son? Does that mean you can do whatever you want? I’m spending my mom’s money—what does it have to do with you?”
“And you keep threatening to go back to your parents’ house—then go! Stop barking and start biting for once!”
“If you don’t walk out that door today, I, Maybelle Wright, won’t even bother acknowledging your existence!”
Rochelle was stunned, her mouth slightly open. So was I.
Maybelle had always been well-behaved and mild-tempered, never one to lash out. She must be truly furious this time.
Still, as the elder, I couldn’t just take sides without understanding the full story. I softened my tone and tried to ease the situation.
“Rochelle, this is my first time being a mother-in-law—I don’t have much experience. If I’ve done anything wrong and made you feel mistreated, we can talk it through calmly. There’s no need to let a small matter create a rift in the family.”
“Besides, Jaysen isn’t even home yet. If you go back to your parents now, how am I supposed to explain it to him?”
“How about this? Do me a favor—wait until Jaysen gets back. We’ll all sit down and talk it out.”
Seeing that I had extended an olive branch, Rochelle wiped her tears and looked like she was about to agree.
But Maybelle rolled her eyes and snapped back before she could say a word.
“Some people just don’t know how good they have it. Tens of thousands in allowance every month, a nanny at home, a chauffeur outside—what more does she want?”
“Now she’s pushing her luck. Just because she gave birth to a boy, she thinks she’s the lady of the house? Even trying to dictate how my mom spends her own money? I’ve never seen anyone so shameless!”
I noticed Rochelle’s face turned dark, and I quickly tried to cut Maybelle off—but it was too late.
Rochelle completely lost it.
She clutched her baby and collapsed onto the floor, wailing.
She sobbed about how pitiful her life was, how her mother-in-law and sister-in-law had ganged up on her the moment her husband left town.
No matter how I tried to coax her, she refused to get up.
Watching her roll around like that, I started losing patience.
In the business world, I could handle all sorts of treachery and mind games with ease. But the kind of domestic drama that defies all logic? That’s what truly gets on my nerves.
She showed no sign of stopping, and the baby was now crying hysterically too.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I picked up the phone and called the driver.
“Robert, since Rochelle insists on going back to her family, please drive her there.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, Rochelle, who had been crying like her world had ended, suddenly froze.
She stared at me in disbelief, as if trying to confirm whether I was serious.
Once she saw I wasn’t bluffing, she huffed, scooped up the baby, slammed the door, and got into the car.
—
The next day, my son, Jaysen, had just returned from a business trip when he received a phone call.
Even through the receiver, I could tell it was Rochelle on the other end, wailing like a banshee.
He frowned and listened for a long while before finally hanging up.
Maybelle, slightly uneasy, cautiously asked, “Bro... what did she say?”
Jaysen sighed, rubbing his temples.
“She said she’ll come back—but only if we give her three million. Not a cent less.”
“Otherwise, she’s staying at her parents’ place with Yvan for good.”
Maybelle exploded.
“She’s out of her mind! Three million—over this petty nonsense? Why doesn’t she just rob a bank?”
I quickly shot her a warning look, signaling her to cool it.
She made an "OK" gesture at me but still muttered under her breath, “Bro, you better think this through. Sure, we’re not short on money, but even a mountain of gold can be emptied at this rate.”
“If every argument costs three million, we’ll be bankrupt before the year’s out.”
I hurried to find an excuse to send her away before she said something else that would add fuel to the fire.
