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Chapter_52
The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. I could feel Matthew’s eyes on me, but I refused to look at him. It was hard enough facing Melanie and the rest of the family, let alone him. The air felt suffocating, and every passing second seemed to stretch longer than the last.
Melanie, on the other hand, was undeterred. Her expression was sharp, almost mocking, as if she were daring me to retaliate. I could see the frustration flickering behind her eyes, but I wasn’t about to let her push me around anymore. She had no idea what she was messing with.
“Well, since you’re so eager to talk about roles,” I began, keeping my tone steady, “Let’s clarify a few things, shall we?” I looked directly at her, a calm smile playing on my lips. “I’m married to Matthew, and as much as you may not like it, that makes me a part of this family. I may not fit your ideal version of a daughter-in-law or sister-in-law, but that doesn’t make me any less of one.”
Melanie’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t speak. The rest of the family remained silent, either unsure of how to respond or too uncomfortable to get involved. Grace, seated across from me, looked between the two of us, her brows furrowed in confusion.
“You don’t seem to understand, Melanie,” I continued, “Your opinion doesn’t change my place here. And while you may want to throw insults and create drama, I’m not going to play into it.” I glanced at Matthew, who was still silent, his eyes unreadable. I didn’t need him to defend me anymore. Not after everything that had happened.
I leaned back in my chair, picking up my glass of water and taking a slow sip. “I’m not here to fight with you, Melanie. But I won’t let you disrespect me either. So, let’s keep the conversation civil.”
I noticed a slight twitch at the corner of Melanie’s mouth. It wasn’t a smile, but it wasn’t a frown either. She was calculating, trying to figure out what my next move would be. But for once, I wasn’t going to let her win.
The room remained quiet for a few moments, with only the sound of clinking silverware breaking the silence. The awkwardness was palpable, and I couldn’t help but feel some satisfaction at the discomfort I’d caused.
Matthew’s voice broke the silence, and I didn’t know whether to be relieved or annoyed. “Enough, both of you,” he said, his tone flat. “This is ridiculous.”
I couldn’t look at him, not right now. His words were hollow, just another attempt to placate the situation without addressing the real issue. I had given up hoping he’d ever stand up for me, not after everything he’d put me through.
I stood up abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. “I’m done here,” I said, my voice steady but firm. I grabbed my purse, already feeling the weight of the decision to leave hanging over me. Ava looked up at me, her face full of confusion and concern, but she didn’t say anything. I gently took her hand.
Matthew was standing now too, his expression unreadable. “Where are you going?” he asked, his voice tinged with something I couldn’t quite place—anger, frustration, or maybe guilt.
“I’m taking Ava home,” I replied, my gaze briefly meeting his. “I’m not going to stay in this house if this is how we’re going to act.”
He didn’t try to stop me. Instead, he just watched as I walked out of the dining room, Ava holding my hand tightly. I could feel his eyes on my back, but I didn’t care anymore.
As we walked through the door, the cool night air hit my face, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. The suffocating tension in the house was behind me, at least for now.
Ava tugged at my hand. “Mom, why did we leave? Grandma and Uncle Matthew are so nice,” she asked, her voice full of innocent confusion.
I smiled down at her, though my heart ached. “Sometimes, sweetheart, people say things that make us uncomfortable. But that doesn’t mean we have to stay and listen.”
She nodded, but I could tell she didn’t fully understand. It wasn’t easy to explain to a child that family could be complicated and sometimes even toxic.
As I drove us home, my mind raced with a thousand thoughts. The dinner had only scratched the surface of the deeper issues between Matthew and me. But for tonight, I just needed to be with Ava and escape the suffocating atmosphere of the Murphy family. There was only so much I could handle at once.
What I didn’t realize was that this small confrontation at dinner was only the beginning of a much larger storm that was coming for all of us.