Joshua swung his fist and started to fight me. Even so, I quickly turned the tables.
But suddenly, a sharp pain struck the back of my head. When I turned around, I saw Cindy clutching a large bowl in her hands.
She hurriedly shoved me aside, helped Joshua up and asked with concern, "Joshua, are you okay? Did you get hurt?"
As soon as Joshua shook his head, Cindy breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she turned to blame me, "Did you take the wrong medicine today? Being unreasonable with me is fine, but how could you hit Joshua?"
I reached up to the back of my head, then countered, "Was I the one who started it?"
My fingers were now stained with warm, sticky blood.
Cindy's face paled instantly and she hurriedly explained, "Honey, it was an emergency and I didn't think too much. I'll take you to the hospital right now."
"Besides, Joshua is my adopted brother. He was just trying to help me out, so he acted aggressively. Don't take it to heart." As she finished speaking, she tried to grab my hand.
"Get out!" I spat out coldly.
Cindy froze in place, her beautiful eyes reddening once more.
"I'm so sorry, Cindy, this is all my fault. I tried to help, but I only made things worse."
Joshua then looked at me. "Noah, it was all my mistake. Please don't be angry with Cindy. If you need to hit me or yell at me, just aim it all at me."
His selfless attitude and concern for the greater good made my in-laws admire him.
It also distressed Cindy, who quickly spoke to her in comfort, "You were helping me. How can I blame you?"
I, however, still refused to back down. Instead, I retorted, "Hit you? I'd rather not dirty my hands! Yell at you? I'd rather not waste my spit!"
My father-in-law's face immediately darkened and the fingers gripping his wine glass turned a pale blue. He was clearly suppressing his anger.
Cindy couldn't hold back her tears anymore. She looked at me and said aggrievedly, "Honey, we've been together for ten years, barely ever arguing and our life has always been so sweet."
"Just because of the custard pie, today you've actually gotten to this point. Do you really want me to kneel and beg you before you'll let it go?"
Her tear-stained face would make anyone feel sorry for her.
Yet, my attitude remained cold. "Even if you kneel and crack your head open, I still want a divorce."
Bang!
Charlie finally lost his temper. He slammed his fist on the table and stood up, roaring, "Noah! Do you really think our family needs you as a son-in-law? Apologize now and I'll let bygones be bygones. Otherwise, get out!"
Lucy chimed in, "If word of this gets out, you'll be the laughingstock wherever you go. Our whole family will be disgraced."
With that, the conversation reached its climax.
Cindy assumed I'd finally back down, but I gritted my teeth and insisted, "Sign the divorce papers! Cindy Swanson, you will leave with nothing! And compensates me 3 million dollars for emotional damages!"
Charlie's face quickly turned ashen. He grabbed a wine glass and hurled it at me, screaming, "Get out! Get the hell out! I don't have a son-in-law like you!"
Lucy even swung a mop and kicked me out. Finally, she threw one last line at me. "You jerk! In seven days, we'll expose you on our show. Let's see how you like losing everything!"
As a former TV station director and a retired chief editor of a major media outlet, they certainly had the power to do it.
Outside, the air was gloomy and a light rain began to fall, perfectly mirroring my mood.
Then my phone buzzed with messages from my parents.
[Have you lost your mind? Why ruin a good life for nonsense?]
[Apologize to Cindy's family immediately, or don't come back! We don't have a son like you!]
Seeing how angry they were, I could only give a bitter smile.
Instead of apologizing, I turned and walked into the rain, heading toward the hospital.
