William got off work two hours earlier than usual and asked Bobby after getting into the car, “Is everything ready?”
Bobby replied, “Yes. I have prepared some tonics for President Garcia, and some tobacco and wine for President Saunders. The wine was taken from the cellar in your villa according to your instructions.”
“Okay, let’s go there directly.”
They were about to arrive at Natalie’s villa when Raymond called. “When are you coming?”
“I’ll be right there. What’s up?”
“It’s no big deal. I just wanted to remind you to prepare some presents. You can’t visit your in-law’s empty-handed, right?”
William replied, “I know, and you don’t need to tell me that!”
“What have you prepared?” Raymond asked.
“Tonics, tobacco, and wine.”
“That’s it? Nothing else?”
“No”
“Did you just forget about me? You want to please my parents, but can’t you give me something?”
William was not polite at all. “Why should I? I don’t need to please you at all, so why do I need to give you a present?”
“How can you treat me like this?!” Raymond hung up the phone and looked at Valeria angrily. “Your husband didn’t prepare anything for me. Do you guys still care about me?”
“Are you that pitiful?” Valeria tilted her head and looked at Raymond. “Why does a grown adult like you need gifts? Is there anything you lack?”
“No, I feel wronged because I didn’t receive any attention. No one in this family takes me seriously and it’s as though I’ve become invisible.”
“That’s enough, I know what you’re thinking. You used to grovel at William’s knees, so you’re just putting up a pity act now. Do you think this will make up for what happened? Don’t make a fool of yourself. Anyway, I’ll tell you directly that I’m not going to help you. In my heart, my husband is much more important than you.”
“How can this be? Are you really my sister?”
“Yes, but I won’t help you! Go ask Mom and Dad if they’re willing to do that.”
“There’s no need to do that because William is more important than me. Dad even offered to cook for both of you. Tsk… he doesn’t look like a CEO at all and Mom is going to help him. Why do they have to do that when they’re servants at home?”
“This is my husband’s charm and no one can resist him. You won’t be like that for the rest of your life! Are you jealous and envious of him?!” Valeria made a face at Raymond and stuck out her tongue when he raised his hand. “Come and hit me! Try it!”
The two laughed as they heard a car enter the house. Valeria stood up as she held her belly. “My husband is here. Let’s welcome him!”
Archer and Natalie came out of the kitchen while she was talking. “Is William here? Let’s go out and have a look!”
Raymond snorted with an uncomfortable expression and followed them when he saw how Natalie and Archer walked out with huge smiles on their faces.
William’s car stopped outside and Bobby was taking gifts from the trunk when Valeria went out with a smile. William stepped forward and put his arm around her waist. “Slow down!”
William greeted Natalie and Archer with a smile when he saw them.
Archer and Natalie both smiled and said, “You don’t have to buy so many things. What gifts did you get?”
“It’s just a little token of my goodwill.”
Raymond came out from behind and looked at William with a hostile stare. “Did you buy me a present?”
Archer and Natalie said before William could reply, “We’re family. Besides, you’re not a kid who needs any presents.”
“I knew that you would protect him!” Raymond muttered, “Other people would treat their brothers-in-law respectfully, but William had never even looked at me before. I am probably the most useless brother-in-law ever.”
William looked at Raymond when he heard this and smirked. “Who says I’ve never looked at you? I have a conscience and I’m staring at you right now. Raymond, what do you want me to do?”
Valeria laughed and pulled William into the house. “Don’t pay attention to him. Raymond is feeling extremely upset and he’s acting like an upset girlfriend right now. It must be because he doesn’t have a girlfriend. Honey, he’ll be alright if you can introduce a girl to him.”
William winked at Raymond and smiled. “No problem. I’ll start looking for potential candidates tomorrow!”
Archer and Natalie prepared the entire dinner. They had steamed fish, braised pork, pork ribs, fried clams, chicken wings, braised prawns, fried vegetables, and soup.
Lamont and Braelynn also arrived and sat down separately. Valeria was pregnant and she could not drink wine, so she drank juice instead. Archer opened a bottle of William’s wine and poured it into his glass. Then, they raised their glasses and drank happily.
Azalea only returned to the apartment at dinner time after Emily called her several times anxiously.
Emily breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Azalea come back. “Where have you been? Why didn’t you answer my calls?”
She soon found that there was something wrong with Azalea’s nose. “What’s wrong with your nose?”
“Auntie, I was beaten by Angel! Sob…” Azalea burst into tears.
“I went to see her after I heard that she was injured, but I didn’t know that she would suddenly go crazy. Not only did she hit me with a cell phone, but she also pulled my hair and hit me hard. My entire body is filled with bruises now.”
Azalea cried and lifted up her clothes for Emily to see. Emily was furious when she saw the bruises on Azalea’s body, “She’s so vicious and shameless! How could she do that?”
“Angel beat me and my mother even helped her… Boohoo… I don’t understand, am I even her real daughter? How can she be so vicious to me? She actually scolded me for Angel. Is Angel her daughter?”
“Did Madelyn beat you as well?” Emily became angrier. Angel took advantage of her power to bully Azalea and Madelyn also added fuel to the fire. What was the matter?
Madelyn helped Angel because Angel was her daughter. Did she not plan to hide it at all? How dare she be so bold and vicious in public?
Azalea continued to cry. “I don’t know why my mother is like this. She has treated me badly ever since I was young. She hasn’t done a single thing as a mother. She has always ignored me and she would even hit me sometimes. If it wasn’t for you, I might have already been tortured to death by my mother. Auntie, everyone says that maternal love is the greatest, so why doesn’t my mother like me?”
Emily’s eyes were full of complicated emotions because Madelyn was not Azalea’s mother at all. She didn’t know how to tell Azalea this, so she could only comfort her, “Azalea, I’ll help you to put some ointment on your wounds.”
Azalea’s tears poured down even more. “For so many years, my mother has never cared if I got injured or bullied. She ignored me whenever I have problems with my job or when I’m in a bad mood. The only times she talks to me is when she wants money. You’re always the one who treats me the best. Auntie, if only you were my mother!”