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Chapter_17
Teaching My Sister–in–law a Lesson
Melanie’s words came sharp and fast, her displeasure bubbling over as she shot back, “Chloe, don’t be so ungrateful. You know how hard my brother works for you. He’s out there, busting his ass, and you still dare to be picky? Don’t be so overbearing.”
I narrowed my eyes, unamused by her attempt to put me in my place. “Oh? Do you feel sorry for your brother now? When did I ever ask for your opinion in my conversations with him?”
Melanie rolled her eyes, readying a retort, but I cut her off before she could speak. “What’s so wrong with being a full-time housewife? You seem to have a problem with that. No wonder you were so eager to play the role of a housewife at Galar Tower. It seemed like you were enjoying that life, didn’t you?”
My words hit harder than I intended, but it was the truth. Melanie had always viewed me as someone she could walk all over, assuming my past docile behavior made me an easy target. Well, not anymore.
“You think your brother is the only one working hard?” I pressed on, not giving her a moment to interject. “Ask him if he dares to say that to my face. Ask him if he remembers how I was out there looking for clients all over the city, pushing myself to the brink of exhaustion, even suffering from stomach ulcers.”
Melanie’s face turned red as she glared at Matthew, but I didn’t let up. “Matthew doesn’t even have the gall to say he built this company on his own. And yet you have the audacity to tell me I don’t have the right to speak up?”
I looked directly at her, the iciness in my gaze enough to make anyone flinch. “You’re here enjoying the fruits of my labor, spending our money, and you haven’t contributed a damn thing. Do you really think you deserve it?”
I let the silence hang in the air, feeling the weight of my words.
“Melanie, if you want to keep freeloading off of us, you should learn your place. Don’t bring your petty complaints in front of me again. Your brother might indulge you, but I won’t.”
Her face twisted in anger. “Why, you—!”
I shot back, a bitter smirk crossing my face, “You call me overbearing? You can tell me that again when you find someone you actually love.”
Turning my gaze to Matthew, I added, “You should teach your sister a lesson, stop spoiling her, and teach her some respect.”
The tension was palpable. Melanie’s face was bright red, and she slammed her hand on the table in frustration, startling Ava, who immediately began to pout and cry.
Matthew roared in frustration, “That’s enough! Let’s just eat! Stop causing a scene!” He directed his anger at Melanie, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of relief.
I quickly comforted Ava, reassuring her that everything was fine. Slowly, the room settled back into a fragile calm, and we finished our meal in silence.
When we made our way to the counter to pay, the waiter informed us that Johnson had already taken care of the bill.
Melanie was sulking outside, clearly unwilling to join us in the car. I glanced at Matthew, raising an eyebrow. “Aren’t you going to call her in?”
Matthew’s face remained stern, the faintest line of frustration appearing between his brows. “Leave her be. She needs to learn.”
I didn’t press further, though my dislike for Melanie remained. I had already said enough today, and any further remarks might only cause more trouble.
On the drive home, I decided to bring up something that had been on my mind. “I’m thinking about returning to work once Ava starts preschool. I don’t want to keep feeling like a freeloader. I’ve become somewhat… unpopular in the company.”
Matthew glanced over at me, his brow furrowing. “Honey, what are you saying? I just don’t want you to overwork yourself. You’ve already sacrificed so much for this company. You deserve to relax now. Melanie’s just young and naive; don’t take it personally.”
He paused for a moment, his grip tightening on the wheel. “Besides, the company’s more structured now, and management’s tighter. If you came back, we’d have to move things around. It might not be easy.”
I didn’t say anything, but the irony of his words hit me. Tanum Corporation—the company I had built from nothing—was like my own child. And yet, it felt like I no longer had a place in it. How had it come to this?
Matthew noticed my silence and reached over to hold my hand, trying to comfort me. “Don’t be upset. If you want to return to work, you can. The company owes everything to you. Your contributions are irreplaceable.”
I almost scoffed at his smooth talk. I knew this was just him trying to placate me, but I decided to let it go. Instead, I stared out the window, the city lights blurring by. Inside, I felt a gnawing emptiness, and the loneliness crept in.
Matthew’s betrayal still haunted me, and I instinctively pressed a hand to my aching heart, trying to quiet the tears threatening to spill.
In that moment, I made my decision. Once Ava returned to preschool, I would return to work. It wasn’t just about the company—it was about finding a way to stand on my own again, to prove to myself that I was more than just a forgotten part of the past.