Disbelief warred with anger in Dad's voice as he paced the living room. "I don't care if it was Willow's idea. Victor is your brother. How could he just go along with this?"
He stopped, turning to Mom. "Ella is his own niece. This is outrageous."
The more they discussed it, the hotter the room became. Mom's chest heaved with suppressed rage. "We are not letting this slide. They're bullying a child for being honest." Her eyes narrowed. "Ella worked hard for that scholarship money. It's not theirs to trample on."
Dad nodded, expression hardening to stone. "Right. We need to get this out in the open. It's not about the money—it's the principle. If we let this slide, how are we supposed to interact with them in the future?"
They reached a silent agreement in seconds. Mom pulled out her phone and dialed.
"Hey, Victor. Free tonight? It's been a while since we all got together. Let's grab dinner."
Uncle Victor's voice leaked through the speaker, dismissive. "Sis, I can't make it. End of year crunch, you know? Too much on my plate..."
Dad snatched the phone. "You have to eat regardless. Don't flake—we already booked a private room at the Grand Hyatt. I hear their signature dishes are incredible."
"It's settled then."
At the mention of the five-star hotel, the line went silent for two seconds. When Uncle spoke again, his fatigue had miraculously vanished. "Ah... the Grand Hyatt?"
"Brother-in-law, you're too polite... Alright. I'll clear my schedule. We'll definitely be there!"
By seven, the city lights shimmered against the night sky. We arrived early to set the stage. Shortly after, Uncle Victor's family made their entrance.
Aunt Willow had clearly dressed for the occasion, clutching a brand-new designer handbag. The moment she stepped through the door, her eyes darted around the luxurious suite, calculating its value. A brilliant, practiced smile plastered itself onto her face.
"Oh wow, Jessica, Logan! You really spent too much. This place is magnificent!"
Uncle Victor followed close behind, mirroring her grin. But when his eyes met mine, his gaze flickered away. Guilt, perhaps? Or just awkwardness.
We exchanged pleasantries and took our seats. Waiters brought out delicate courses one by one. Mom and Dad played the perfect hosts, warmly urging them to eat. Dad kept Uncle's glass full, chatting about harmless family trivia to lower their guard.
After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere loosened. The alcohol did its work; Uncle Victor became talkative, face flushed as he began to lament his struggles.
"Jessica, Logan, let me tell you—business is brutal this year," he sighed, leaning back. "High overhead, low margins. Just stepping out the door costs money. Gas, tolls... everything has skyrocketed."
Dad nodded, seizing the opening with surgical precision.
"Yeah, travel costs are insane. That's why the kids prefer high-speed rail these days. Fast, steady, and often cheaper than driving."
He sipped his wine, tone casual. "Take Ella. When she comes back from school, the train ticket is only a little over two hundred. Even adding taxi fare, the whole trip tops out at three hundred. Cheap and worry-free."
Uncle Victor's smile stiffened. His chopsticks hovered over a piece of braised pork, freezing mid-air.
"Mm, yes... the high-speed rail is convenient..."
Under the table, Aunt Willow nudged him. She beamed, smoothly taking over. "Logan is right, of course. But driving offers more freedom. You can bring whatever luggage you want, on your own schedule."
She sighed dramatically. "Though, honestly, holiday traffic is a nightmare. You have no idea—this time, we were stuck on the road for a full eighteen hours! My body felt like it was going to fall apart."
"Is that so?" Mom set her soup spoon down with a deliberate clink. Her voice remained steady, but her gaze locked onto Willow like a laser. "Ella told me all about it. Being stuck in traffic sounds miserable. You two must have worked hard."
Mom leaned forward, eyes gleaming cold. "Especially getting stuck at that service area. Unfamiliar place, captive audience... I bet the prices for everything there were expensive, weren't they?"
