Chapter 2

I quietly moved closer behind the hedges.

Mrs. Doyle was waving her arms, talking a mile a minute.

"You have no idea. That boy deliberately wanders outside my apartment every day.

"He abandoned my daughter after getting her pregnant, but now that Candace is successful, he regrets it.

"Yesterday he even volunteered to pick up Toby because he wants to make amends."

A heavyset woman beside her widened her eyes, delighted by the gossip.

"Seriously? He always seemed like such a decent young man."

Mrs. Doyle snorted and curled her lip.

"Decent? Young men today are calculating.

"He knows it won't be easy to marry into our family, so he's started flattering me.

"He keeps begging to collect Toby and brings me food and drinks every day.

"I can't get rid of him. He clings to us like gum on a shoe.

"Obviously, he wants to become my future son-in-law."

The lie sent a wave of anger straight to my head.

I'd helped her out of kindness, and she was claiming I'd thrown myself at her family?

Now I was supposedly her son-in-law?

Did this woman have no shame?

The group burst into laughter.

"Mrs. Doyle, you're so lucky."

"You'll get a free housekeeper without paying a cent for the wedding."

Mrs. Doyle's wrinkled face folded in on itself as she laughed.

"Of course. My Candace is an exceptional woman.

"Once Candace comes home, I'll make them start a family immediately. Then my life will finally be complete."

I couldn't listen for another second.

She was trampling all over my kindness.

I stepped out from behind the hedge.

Then I strode straight into the gazebo.

"Mrs. Doyle, how many lies are you planning to tell in one afternoon?"

I pointed at her, speaking loudly enough for the entire courtyard to hear.

The laughter stopped instantly.

Every woman stared at me as though a ghost had appeared.

Mrs. Doyle jumped, and the cherries fell from her hand.

Her panic lasted only a second before entitlement returned to her face.

My chest rose and fell with anger.

"When did I become your son-in-law?

"I helped you collect a child once, and you repay me by inventing this garbage behind my back?

"Have you spent your entire life learning how to exploit people?"

I expected her to feel ashamed after being caught in public.

Instead, she grabbed my arm and acted as though everything she'd said was perfectly reasonable.

"Ryan, why are you embarrassed? We're practically family."

Her shamelessness left me speechless.

I tried to pull away, but her fingers dug in.

"Let go of me." I glared at her.

Mrs. Doyle rolled her eyes and adopted the commanding manner of an overbearing mother-in-law.

"Enough pretending.

"Go to the market and buy good fish and meat.

"Cook me a proper dinner and take care of me.

"If you satisfy me, perhaps our family will accept you as Candace's husband."

The disgusting demand made my stomach turn.

Serve her?

Who did she think she was?

I jerked my arm free.

The force tore Mrs. Doyle's hand away.

She cried out and nearly tipped from the wheelchair.

"Stop living inside your own fantasy."

I looked down at her, my expression cold.

"This is your final warning.

"If you spread another lie that damages my reputation,

"I'll report you and pursue a defamation claim."

I was too angry even to collect my package.

I turned toward the building entrance.

Mrs. Doyle's furious curses followed me.

"Look at him pretending to have standards!

"He's a broke freeloader begging for my daughter, but he can't handle the truth!

"Wait until Candace comes home. Then you'll regret this!"