Chapter 2

The living room was abruptly silent, with Nana's fingers hovering over her own phone screen while Tim forgot to wipe his tears.

After a long while, he frowned and asked, "So that's a yes?"

I put down my cup as I answered, "What was it you said? 'You love her, that's all that matters'. Since that's now the case, I have no objections."

Tim still looked mystified. "You're not going to ask about her family?"

"Nope."

"Her job situation?"

"Nope."

"You're not worried this is a scam?"

"If it is, you can call the cops."

Running out of questions, Tim could only stare at me blankly.

In his last life, he wanted my agreement so badly.

But now that I gave it to him, he didn't erupt in delight as I thought.

That was when Nana put away her phone, her smile fading ever so slightly. "Marriage is a serious matter, ma'am."

"I know," I replied, holding her gaze.

"Wedding presents, houses, the wedding ceremony itself. Everything must be clear cut."

"That you can discuss amongst yourself."

Nana glowered right then. "Tim is your son. Don't you care at all?"

I chuckled. "He's an adult. His marriage is his own call. So register your marriage, and have a ceremony if you want. If you need anything, get it on your own."

Tim sprang to his feet, his lips trembling. "What are you saying?!"

"I'm saying I agree with your marriage," I replied, "but I'm not buying a house for that or sponsoring your wedding."

"You wanted me to leave from the start!" he hollered. "Is that why you have no problem with me marrying just about anyone?"

I held his gaze calmly. "Tim. You're the one who said you don't need us."

Tim's eyes widened in panic, but he soon bellowed in rage, "Fine, you said it! You better not regret it!"

"No, I won't," I replied.

With that, Tim grabbed his car keys from the couch, took Nana's hand, and strode towards the door.

At the doorway, Nana turned towards me. "Ma'am, I think I must tell you that Tim is everything to me. That's why I'll always remember the attitude you showed us today."

I nodded. "Never forget."

As the door slammed violently shut, I could still hear Tim growling outside, "She doesn't care about me at all! She was protesting so much before, but suddenly agreed? It must be Joe's idea!"

"Calm down," Nana replied, assuring him softly. "Let's just register our marriage, and they won't regret anything after."

I was standing just behind the door and heard everything.

Just then, my husband stepped out of his study, still holding the unsigned property deed and agreement.

In my last life, I transferred ownership of a house we had downtown to both my sons.

It was a 50/50 share, but Tim rejected the idea, calling it unfair; that Joe was three years younger and could make enough money to buy a house on his own, and didn't need it.

When I told him it's fair, he ripped the deed in half.

"You just want to give Joe what's mine!" he yelled. "Don't think I don't know! You always think that he's better than me!"

It was why we ended up selling the house to give him $800,000 as a wedding present and to cover the wedding costs.

On the other hand, Joe never asked for anything. He even said that he can stay at the workplace dormitories since he just started his job.

Naive as ever, he told the netizens who demanded if he was hogging the family inheritance that my husband and I were just being fair.

Naturally, all the replies were scathing, calling him playing dumb while stealing his brother's birthright.

Holding Ben's gaze, I said, "Ben… Don't bother with the deed."

Ben was left stunned. "What?"

"Tim said we weren't being fair. So let him handle everything himself."

Ben paled a little. "Wait, did I miss something?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I walked to my desk and opened the drawer, taking out the debit cards inside. "Starting now, we'll freeze all of Tim's allowances. He can pay for his own wedding."

Ben stayed silent for a long while, eventually asking quietly, "Are you really going to leave him to his own devices?"

I looked outside the window, where Tim, holding Nana's hand, led her to the car.

"It's not that I don't care. He wants his freedom," I replied.

He wants his freedom that bad?

I'll just give it to him.