Chapter 4

"Some man Grayson is! Useless as dirt, yet full of arrogance! We came all this way, and he didn't even bother to pick us up. Thank goodness Shawn showed up to take care of everything," Lisa's father, Dick Blakely, said. His voice echoed through the door.

Her mother, Margaret Olson, quickly chimed in, "Shawn may be from the countryside, but that boy is far more sensible than Grayson. And he knows how to respect his elders. Shawn, once you and Lisa have children, I'm sure you'll raise them well."

Shawn flushed, stammering, "Margaret, what are you saying? Lisa and Grayson are married."

But Margaret only grew more worked up, her voice rising in agitation.

"Marriage can end in divorce. Didn't you say he tore up the luxury suit Lisa had tailored for you? He's so violent and wasteful. How could anyone live with a man like that?"

My hand froze on the door handle. I didn't push it open.

Back when Lisa's company was nothing but a fledgling idea, her parents had treated me very differently.

Back then, they valued my capability, my career, and the help I could give her. Before we even married, they were calling me the perfect son-in-law at every turn.

The warmer they had been then, the colder their disdain felt now.

After a long pause, I heard Lisa's icy voice. She didn't speak a single word in my defense.

"Enough. Stop talking about this. Let's eat."

But her mother wouldn't let it go.

"Eat? Every time we bring up something serious, you brush it aside! I'm your mom, and I care for you. You're still young. Why not find a husband who actually cherishes you, treats you well, and honors your parents?"

She pressed on.

"Grayson is lazy and useless. At work, he can't compare to Shawn. At home, he doesn't lift a finger. How can he possibly take care of you? And you've been married three years. Why haven't you gotten pregnant? Maybe he's not capable of that."

Between the lines, she painted me as nothing but a failure.

What she didn't know was that the money her daughter had been squandering—flying around the world with her boy toy under the pretense of business trips—had all been earned by me.

"That's right," Dick added, "Shawn even heard about our carsickness and got us some snacks and ginger ale. Such a thoughtful guy!"

I laughed.

Some snacks and ginger ale, and that counted as "thoughtful"?

All these years, when Lisa was too busy building her company, who stayed by their side through every cough and fever?

Last year, when Dick broke his leg and couldn't care for himself, who carried out his bedpan and wiped him clean?

But none of that mattered. They remembered none of it.

My nails dug into my palms. I couldn't hold back anymore. I shoved the door open and stepped inside.

The four of them froze at the sight of me.

Lisa was the first to recover, her tone sharp and accusatory.

"Grayson, where have you been? Why are you only coming home now?"

Before I could speak, Margaret crossed her arms and sneered, "Some people think that just because they're a director at their wife's company, they're suddenly somebody. You're nothing but a freeloader."

I ignored her and locked eyes with Lisa.

"You didn't tell your mother I've resigned?"

Her brows knitted, eyes narrowing.

"Grayson, you're really overdoing it. Sulking about Shawn is one thing, but using resignation to threaten me? If it's for the company's sake, I'll seriously consider firing you."

I let out a bitter laugh.

"Lisa, what's the act for? You approved my resignation yourself yesterday. Forgotten already?"

Her mother's face lit with scorn, as if everything suddenly made sense.

"So that's it. You just want to quit and sit at home burning through my daughter's money like a leech!"

Something flickered in Lisa's expression.

"I never approved any resignation yesterday!"

I gave her a cold look, too tired to argue.

It didn't matter. Everything was already over. All that remained was to pack my things and get as far away from this family as possible.

I was about to head inside when Shawn called after me.

"Grayson, you're back! Come wash your hands and eat. I made simple home-style dishes. Don't look down on them, okay?"

He was wearing my apron, smiling warmly as he pulled out a chair for me, as if he were the man of this house.

I shot him a glance and let out a cold laugh, saying nothing.

"Stop right there!" Dick slammed the table. "Have you no manners? Shawn invites you kindly, and you put on airs? Our family doesn't need a son-in-law like you!"

Shawn rushed to his side, face full of wounded loyalty.

"Dick, don't blame Grayson. He's not targeting me. He's always had this temper..."

Margaret could hold back no longer.

"Grayson, even you must see it. If you don't want things to get ugly, just agree to the divorce already. Stop dragging this out—"

"Mom!" Lisa suddenly stood, cutting her off. "It doesn't have to come to divorce."

I turned to her, confused, catching a flicker of something almost like longing in her eyes.

"Grayson, what's gotten into you? You've been defying me at every turn. Refusing to fix a simple program, lashing out at Shawn, and even tearing up his suit in a tantrum. Are you hitting early menopause or something?"

I stared at her face, and the urge to slap her was almost unbearable.

She had brought her lover into my home, and now she accused me of having a hormonal breakdown.

I pulled the divorce certificate and flung it in her face.

"You're the one in menopause! Look closely, see for yourself. We're divorced. You and your family can get the hell out of my house!"