“That idiot! Thinks he’s all that! Good riddance—saves my sister the trouble!”
After leaving the retreat, I blocked Claire’s number.
But she kept calling from different numbers, like she’d gone mad.
Each time I heard her voice, I hung up immediately.
Until the twelfth call finally got through—Claire’s tearful voice came through the line:
“Ethan, please! Ryan regrets everything. He booked a private dining room at the Grand Hyatt Hotel to apologize to you.”
“You know how much I love you. We’ve been together three years. Please forgive me this once.”
Her sobs made my heart soften.
Maybe... maybe she really realized her mistake.
“Just an apology?”
“Yes! Just an apology! Ryan promised he’ll never bring up money again.”
I hesitated for a long time before finally agreeing.
But when I pushed open the door to the luxurious private dining room, I froze.
The room was packed—full of Claire’s extended relatives.
No fewer than a dozen of them.
Ryan sat at the head of the table, holding the baby with a smug grin.
When he saw me, he stood up immediately.
“Everyone, look! This is my future brother-in-law, Ethan!”
“He said he’s giving his nephew a $50,000 red envelope!”
What?!
Before I could react, the relatives swarmed me.
“What a good young man Ethan is!”
“So generous—Ryan, you’re lucky to have him!”
“So considerate—just like a son-in-law should be!”
A middle-aged woman in a floral shirt grabbed my hand, smiling.
“Ethan, your brother-in-law said you’re even letting your nephew use your school enrollment spot for when he starts school?”
Another woman chimed in:
“And since you’re well-off, you might as well buy him a house for when he gets married someday. After all, you can afford it.”
Ryan sneered from the side.
“Yesterday he acted all high and mighty, but he can’t live without my sister after all, huh?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t let you do this for free. When my kid grows up, his used clothes can go to you and my sister’s kids—to save you some money.”
Claire stood there with an awkward smile, nervously piling food into my bowl, her eyes pleading with me to just endure it.
Looking at this pack of greedy faces, the fire in my chest burned hotter and hotter.
So this was Claire’s so-called apology—using me as a scapegoat, morally blackmailing me in front of everyone.
I put down my chopsticks and stood up.
“Ladies and gentlemen, there must be a misunderstanding.”