Chapter 378 A Talk With Michael
“Just do what you think is right. If you compromise now, things will become more difficult in the future. Do you think you’ll get any peace with a sister-in-law that’s just like your other family members?”
Michael looked at me with knitted brows. It was clear that he knew what I was thinking, and he did not agree with it.
“But…”
I looked at him, still wanting to say something.
“No buts.” Michael interrupted. “You need to stand your ground, Anna Garcia. When will you stop being so indecisive!”
He spoke assertively and looked at me with eyes that would not accept no for an answer.
I gulped while I stared at his handsome face. I knew he was right, that I needed to be more decisive.
When the car stopped, my phone rang before we got out. It was my mother, which only meant that Steven had told her about what had happened.
I took a glance at Michael before swiping to pick up. “Hi, Mom.”
“What have you done, Anna Garcia! You said you wanted to meet Steven’s girlfriend, but how could you say those things to her! Are you trying to ruin your brother’s life!”
My mother’s voice blasted out of the phone before I could say anything, almost deafening me through it.
So, I pulled my phone away from my ear with a frown. I knew my mother would be infuriated when she found out about what happened.
“I’m doing this for Steven’s sake, Mom. That woman, Yvette, is not the girl for him. It’s a good thing if they were to break up.”
I did not apologize to my mother like how I used to but instead told her what was on my mind in a calm manner.
“Good thing? You ruined your brother’s relationship, and you call that a good thing? What were you thinking, Anna? Are you trying to drive me crazy?”
My mother became even more enraged, seeing that I did not apologize.
“Steven’s still young, Mom. He can find someone way better than Yvette. What she wants is not something we can afford. This time, it’s a car. Next time, it might be a house for all I know. Are you going to buy that for her?”
Yvette’s a greedy girl, so the chance of her asking for a house after they got married isn’t actually zero. Our family could never satiate someone like that!
“I don’t care! Your brother likes her, so you have to get them back together no matter what! I’ll never forgive you if you don’t! And don’t come back until you do that!”
My mother was practically roaring by then as she chastised me in her high-pitched voice.
I knew what I did was hard to accept, but I also knew what I did was the right thing to do. So, my heart ached a little after hearing what my mother said.
However, before I could reject her, Michael took the phone from me. “This is Michael.”
My mother immediately quieted down even though Michael spoke to her very casually.
“Michael, you two are married now, so Steven’s your brother too. I doubt you’ll turn a blind eye to the situation, right? five hundred thousand is nothing to you. But to Steven, his happiness is at stake. Can’t you just help your brother out?”
My mother spoke as though she had found a lifeline to cling to after she heard Michael’s voice.
As I said, my mother had a high-pitched voice, so I could hear everything. What she said got me feeling even more frustrated. Did she just ask Michael for five hundred thousand? Is she really doing anything for Steven now?
“I’m not giving him a single dime! That woman is not suitable for Steven. Breaking up is the best option. On the other hand, I know you’re Anna’s mother, but she’s my wife and is now pregnant with my child. I don’t want anything to affect her mood, so please speak to her more politely from now on.”
Michael said that calmly, without a hint of emotion on his face. I knew he was doing that to protect me because he knew I was upset.
When he finished, my mother stayed quiet. I figured it was because she did not expect that from Michael since he was still her son-in-law. Even though Michael was of high social standing, it was still rude of him to treat her like that.
At that moment, I tugged on Michael’s shirt and shook my head. I did not want him to speak to my mother like that. Although my mother was being unreasonable, she was still my mother. Things would get awkward if Michael continued the next time they met
Michael looked at me with confusion in his eyes.
“Michael, why would you say that? Anna is my daughter, and I raised her. Does she not need to repay her family in times of need?”
My mother sounded a little angry after the moment of silence.
“Repay the family? How selfish of you to think like that. Steven’s just Anna’s brother. Legally speaking, she’s not obligated to do anything for him, so you should forget about it!”
Michael responded more coldly this time. He was actually angry now. And even though I was worried about how he and my mother would get along after this, hearing what he said made me steel my determination even more.
I should not involve myself with this issue. I need to hold on to my principles. If I do things like how I did back then, it would only get worse.
“You’re merely my son-in-law, Michael Shaw. What gives you the right to say that? I raised her. Is it too much to ask her to buy a car for her brother?”
My mother sounded angrier the more she spoke. It seemed like Michael was really getting on her nerves. That said, even though Michael was her son-in-law, my mother knew he was not someone she could easily control.
“It’s just emotional blackmail at this point! So enough is enough! My wife and I have other things to attend to, so please refrain from calling us anymore. If you don’t, I can’t guarantee I won’t do something about it!”
Michael furrowed his brows and ended the call as soon as he finished.
After that, he placed the phone in my hand. He looked cold and emotionless, so I figured he was annoyed by what my mother said. It was unlikely for him to ever experience something like that before he met me. But after we met, it felt like an everyday occurrence somehow.
