Laughter rippled through the group.
“Ethan, you’re insane. Your wife is right here—aren’t you afraid she’ll make a scene?”
Ethan shrugged, unconcerned.
“It’s nothing serious, just fooling around. Besides, my wife’s in the restroom. Don’t any of you run your mouths.”
“If she hears nonsense and gives me hell at home, you’ll all regret it.”
But in the next second, he turned around—and froze when he saw me watching.
Panic flashed across his face as he stood quickly.
“Lily, when did you get back?”
Holding a menu, he hurried to offer it to me.
“I told them to wait for you before ordering.”
Whenever we ate out, Ethan always made sure I ordered first. No one else could order until I did.
But before I could take it, Chloe snatched it away with a fake laugh.
“Oh come on, why wait? I’m starving.”
She shot me a playful glance.
“Sis-in-law, you don’t seem like the petty type. Mind if I order my favorites—sweet and sour ribs, garlic shrimp?”
I smiled back.
“Not at all.”
When the garlic shrimp arrived, Chloe pulled the whole plate toward herself, dumping it into her bowl.
“Ethan, I don’t want my hands greasy. Be a good boy and peel them for me.”
Ethan hesitated, then chuckled helplessly.
“You really are spoiled, brat.”
All eyes shifted to me, their looks complicated.
I lowered my gaze and smiled faintly.
“I want some shrimp too.”
Ethan froze mid-peel. He looked at me, then at Chloe.
Finally, he placed the peeled shrimp into my bowl.
“My baby eats first.”
Chloe’s knuckles whitened around her chopsticks as she glared at me, teeth nearly cracking.
During dinner, she pretended to drop the check in front of me—obviously trying to show off.
But before she could pick it back up, I snatched it first and slipped it away.
Chloe’s eyes widened. “Lily, what are you doing? That’s mine!”
Unbothered, I glanced at the name and amount on it, snapped a photo, then waved it before everyone.
“The name here is Ethan Walker’s. This is marital property. Any expenditure should be clearly accounted for—it can’t just vanish without explanation.”
I turned to Ethan.
“Darling, you’ve always reported your spending to me. Why didn’t you this time? What exactly is this for?”
Ethan’s face darkened with embarrassment. He stammered,
“Baby, I…”
“Give me back the check!” Chloe snapped.
Shoving her chair back, she stood and rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight me.