Chapter 5

So this is how she plays! Why did I just now realize? Why didn't I realize that Amber didn't like me? Hana thought, and continuously asked herself. 

A few seconds later, Hana went on to explain what really happened. "Aunt Anne asked me to hide the ring the day she was in a hurry to go home, and no longer remember the ring," Hana ended her story without cornering Amber. But it's just a fool who cannot think that everything Amber said is a lie.

Romeo didn't pay much attention to this, but just changed the subject. "We're about to have breakfast," Romeo said. 

Hana smiled softly, and said, "I'm looking forward to Aunt Marty." Hana said this to reopen the topic of their conversation, which caused Amber to blush.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I don't know exactly what they're up to below. I only heard a glimpse of the jewelry." Amber's face looked guilty, but Romeo just didn't seem to care.

Amber has a very high empathy, especially with her family, small things can be very sensitive to her. Romeo knew it , that's why he was not happy when Hana tries to corner Amber. "Are you wearing nice clothes? Then can you have breakfast." Romeo's words make Hana feel that she is one level below Amber, and Hana is not Amber's comparable opponent. 

Why don't they just get married! Why would Romeo even accept the wedding his grandmother proposed to him! Hana thought.

Hana can't help but think that her marriage to Romeo is like a game! Hana just bowed. She understood what Romeo said and immediately said, "I'm well dressed, I'll go down first to get breakfast," then Hana leaves Romeo and Amber. She walked away resentfully.

When Hana got to the dining table, she saw that the dining room was filled with groups of women but nobody greeted her as she walked slowly toward the Johnson family's large dining table. The group of women in their forties were each busy with their current chatter.

"So Amber has finished her education in Germany with the title Summa Cum Laude?" one of the graceful women asked Mrs. Betty, Amber's parents. Amber is indeed very popular among the mothers in their city.

"Amber is beautiful and very attractive. She is very good and always looks polite," one of the mother said. 

Almost all parents with a son want Amber to be their daughter-in-law. Unfortunately Amber always had an arranged marriage for Romeo, Mrs. Marty's son. Mrs. Marty glared at Hana. She sighed as if disappointed. Hana caught this look, so she was even more taken aback by that scene and more humbled. She realizes that her in-laws don't like her. 

However, despite that, she didn't take it seriously. Instead, she was still worried about her mother-in-law. She still remember her nightmare last night. The blood-filled bodies of her in-laws were still clear in her mind. Hana's face and hands stiffened. It was as if she went numb after the events of her dream came out of her memory 

"Is there a problem?" Mrs. Marty asked Hana. With that question, the other women stopped speaking. They all turned to Hana, obviously annoyed. The oxygen in Hana's chest seemed to have all been removed, and her heart was beating so fast. He looked at Mrs. Marty with mixed fear. Her temple twitched quickly. After snoring, Hana said, "Nothing." 

"If not, eat well! Don't leave the impression of not being worthy of your food." This comment was made by Mrs. Betty in a hostile voice. She doesn’t like Hana. For her, Hana just ruined the relationship of Romeo and Amber! Hana just shook. 

"This dish is so delicious. I love this dish. There's no denying the cooking done by the Johnson family chefs. Everyone in town knows about it." Hana felt that she was inferior to Amber, so she just always lets Mrs. Betty insult her. She knew that she doesn't deserve Romeo.

"Have you tried Amber's cooking yet?" asked Mrs. Betty trying to lead the topic of their conversation on Amber's culinary prowess.

Hana had tasted it before, but the taste was normal, Mrs. Marty's cooking was still better. "Did Amber learn to cook from Mrs. Marty?" Hana asked, she had almost finished her meal. Mrs. Marty blushed when she heard what Hana said, but she didn't want to embarrass Mrs. Betty in public, so Mrs. Marty immediately said, "Finish your meal first. It's rude when you eat but you also speak." 

Mrs. Betty raised her chin. She understood that Mrs. Marty did not like her daughter-in-law. "A person's character can't change overnight. We all understand that."

Hana sighed in annoyance at what Mrs. Betty said. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Betty, if I don't please you. But I'm just telling the truth. In this city everyone knows that Mrs. Marty's cooking is the best." After that Hana said nothing more. She lowered her head and finished her meal. 

Only the whispers of the old ladies would be heard after this.

"Did Amber really learned her knowledge of cooking from Mrs. Marty?" Mrs. Clara who sat near by Mrs. Marty asked Mrs Betty.  "Honestly, Mrs. Marty is very good at cooking. It is fortunate to be able to get a special lesson directly from the expert," commented another woman. "Is it possible that we will also have cooking lessons someday?" someone tried to lick Mrs. Marty. 

Hana glanced at Mrs. Marty. There was an arc of smile that was clearly visible on the old woman's face, but Hana was satisfied that she had made the old woman proud.

Mrs. Betty squinted at Hana, she looked displeased, without thinking she said in the midst of the women, "We thought Amber would be the Johnson family's daughter-in-law, so Amber often studied with Mrs. Marty." 

Suddenly there was a silence in the dining room. The comments are too insolent!

How could that be? The town-wide famous Johnson family daughter-in-law was Hana, and not Amber? Mrs. Betty shouldn't have to speak what's in her mind, it will only made Mrs. Marty worse in public! almost women who sat there thought these in their mind.