Theo changed the subject and defended Stella.
“Stella didn’t mean it either. Who knew you didn’t bring any spares today?”
I burst out laughing in anger.
“So it’s all my fault? What am I supposed to say? Should I kneel down and thank her?”
“Thank her for kissing my child’s father at the birthday party? Thank her for drinking the wedding cup with my child’s father?”
Theo rushed forward to attack me, but was held back by Stella.
“What’s with the passive-aggressive attitude? Who owes you anything? You were the one who was late and I didn’t stop you from coming!”
“If it weren’t for Stella being so considerate and enduring her stomach pain to smooth things over for you, you’d already be cursed out by the relatives! Do you think you’d still be standing here?”
“There are no ill-mannered people in the Baron Family! I’ll say this one last time, apologize to Stella, reschedule the private room for tonight and treat the relatives who left today to a meal. Otherwise, this isn’t over between us!”
My expression turned completely cold.
“You don’t think I came here to rush into becoming your Baron Family’s daughter-in-law, do you? Sorry, you’re overthinking it. I came here just to attend my daughter’s birthday party.”
“If you don’t want to be my daughter’s father, there are plenty of others eager to spend money on her. I’ve already found her a new father. Good dogs don’t block the way, so get out of the way.”
Theo finally noticed the man behind me, his forehead veins throbbing.
“Say that again?”
“You want my daughter to call him ‘father’?”
I pulled out the marriage certificate and household registration book I’d just received, flipped them open and held them in front of him.
“That’s right, it’s not ‘dad.’ He’s her father now.”
“Sorry, I’m in a hurry to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. If you have time, you can come over to the next door for a drink.”
“But..”
“We start with a million-dollar gift. I wonder if your bank account has enough?”
