Jackson raised his fists and started punching me, but I quickly took control.
Then, suddenly, a sharp pain struck the back of my head. When I turned around, I saw Cynthia clutching a large bowl.
She hurriedly pushed me aside, helped Jackson up and asked anxiously, "Jackson, are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?"
Once his brother shook his head, Cynthia finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Right after that, she turned to blame me. "Did you take the wrong medicine today? Being unreasonable with me is fine, but how could you hit Jackson?"
I rubbed the back of my head and retorted, "Did I start this?"
Only then did I notice my hand—slick with warm blood.
Cynthia's face instantly paled and she rushed to explain, "Honey, I just panicked and wasn't thinking straight. I'll take you to the hospital right now."
"Besides, Jackson is my little brother. He acted impulsively just to defend me. Please don't take it to heart."
After saying that, she tried to grab my hand.
"Get lost!" I replied coldly.
Cynthia froze in place, her beautiful eyes turning red again.
"I'm sorry, Cynthia. It's all my fault. I was trying to help but just made things worse," Jackson said.
Then he turned to me. "Neil, it's entirely my fault. Don't blame Cynthia. If you want to hit or scold someone, come at me instead."
He looked so considerate and willing to endure humiliation that my in-laws both looked at him with admiration.
Cynthia felt distressed as well. She quickly spoke to comfort him. "You are helping me, how can I blame you!"
I still refused to back down and shot back, "Hit you? You're not worth dirtying my hands. And if I scold you, that'd be a waste of my breath!"
My father-in-law's face instantly darkened. His fingers tightened around his wine glass until they turned pale, clearly holding back his anger.
Meanwhile, Cynthia completely broke down. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at me and said pitifully, "Honey, we've been together for ten years, rarely arguing and our lives have always been sweet."
"And now, just because of a croissant flavor, things have turned into this. Do I really have to kneel and beg you for this to stop?"
Her beautiful, crying face was enough to make anyone feel sympathy.
Yet I remained cold. "Even if you kneel and smash your head on the floor, I'll still divorce you."
Bang!
My father-in-law finally lost his temper. He slammed the table as he rose from his seat and shouted angrily, "Neil, do you really think our family needs you as a son-in-law? Apologize now and I'll let this go. Otherwise, get out!"
My mother-in-law also added, "If this gets out, you'll be criticized wherever you go and our whole family will be shamed."
After all that had been said, Cynthia thought I should finally stop.
Still, I gritted my teeth and insisted, "Sign the divorce papers! You'll leave with nothing and you'll pay me three million dollars for emotional damages!"
Suddenly, my father-in-law's face turned pale. He grabbed his wine glass and threw it at me, yelling, "Get out! Get out now! I don't have a son-in-law like you!"
My mother-in-law even swung a mop and kicked me out.
Before slamming the door, she shouted her final words, "You Jerk! In seven days, we'll expose you completely on our show. Get ready to leave with nothing!"
As the former director of a TV station and a retired chief editor of a famous media outlet, they certainly had the power to do it.
Outside, the sky was gray and a light rain drizzled down, reflecting my mood.
My parents immediately texted me.
[Have you lost your mind? Why ruin a good life? What the hell are you doing?]
[Apologize to Cynthia's family right now. If you don't, don't come home! We don't have a son like you!]
Realizing how angry they were, I could only smile bitterly. I didn't go to apologize. Instead, I walked through the rain to the hospital.
