Chapter 3

After I placed the dishes on the table, Emily poked at them with her fork.

"Who even eats this on Christmas Eve? Are you trying to mess with me, Melanie Stone? I barely make it home for Christmas Eve, and I don't even get to taste any meat, huh? Have I lost my place in this family just because I'm married?"

Her voice rose with each word, and before I knew it, she dropped her fork and started crying.

Gloria quickly stepped in to comfort her. "Absolutely not. You'll always be our little princess. Kyle, Wayne, your dad, and I would never let you suffer."

Then she turned to me. "Mel, go make a honey-glazed ham. Emily loves it."

I couldn't hold back any longer. I pointed at the smoked ham on the table and said, "It's right here. I didn't put any pickles on it."

Gloria paused, clearly surprised by my defiance. She cocked her head, her gaze lingering on me.

"Did you not get what I said? Smoked ham isn't the same as honey-glazed. I told you to make a honey-glazed ham, so do it. What's with all the questions?"

She only said a few words, but it felt like she had turned into someone else entirely. Just moments ago, she had been so warm and kind. Now, she was practically unrecognizable.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. No one had ever spoken to me like that before! I shot a furious look at Wayne. He gently squeezed my hand, trying to calm me down.

"Mel made dishes without pickles, Mom," he said. "And look, we do have ham on the table. It's Christmas Eve. Let's just eat."

I thought that would finally put an end to it, but it only made Gloria blow up even more.

"How useless!" she screamed. "What, are you becoming like Kyle, forgetting all about me and Emily the second you found a wife? What kind of brother would side with an outsider to hurt his sister?"

"No, no, I didn't!" Wayne answered hurriedly. He was trying to reach a compromise.

My heart sank. I could see where this was heading. Sure enough, he turned to me with those pleading eyes and said, "Babe… Maybe you could—"

"Wayne," I cut in, my voice sharp. "Do you even hear yourself? Did you forget what we agreed on?"

He had promised to stand by me, so we could protect each other as husband and wife. I remember how those words had filled me with warmth back then.

People often said that conflicts with in-laws were usually tied to the husband's involvement, but I believed that with Wayne acting as a mediator and me doing my best to get along with Gloria, we'd manage just fine.

Before stepping into the Cooper residence, I had expected harmony in their family life. But instead, I found this.

I looked at Wayne, who seemed meek and apologetic. It was then that I realized just how hollow his promises had been. When he saw my face darken, he knew I was mad. Still, Gloria wasn't done.

"Melanie, what's with that tone toward Wayne?" she asked sharply. "We're just asking you to make a few dishes for Emily. Why are you getting so defensive? And now you're taking it out on Wayne.

"He told me your parents are well-educated, but I'm not seeing much of that in you! Didn't they teach you to show respect to your in-laws?"

"Mom, please stop," Wayne said.

"Who are you to criticize my parents?" I shot to my feet, rage surging inside me.