Hearing Carl, everyone in the room immediately chatted audibly among themselves.Mrs. Jenner glanced proudly at him, before turning back to me, "So? What are you doing, just standing there? Head over to the kitchen already."I simply folded my arms while smiling at them. "Are you saying that the illustrious Jenner family can't even afford a chef? It certainly feels like you're treating me like one, telling me to cook for your entire family and all."Mrs. Jenner was utterly shocked as she obviously didn't expect a retort from me, and she glowered, "What are you talking about? I'm giving you a chance to show your chops—how am I treating you like a chef?"Carl scowled as well, shaking his head in disapproval. "You married into our family, and you're already snapping at your mother-in-law! Are you going to walk over her in another few years?"Everyone else traded glances, before turning in unison toward me with looks of disgust.I remained unaffected—that was the same way they looked
Seeing the serious look in my eyes, Carl stumbled backward in fear as he knew I was telling the truth.He hurried back to her mother's side, to talk to her in a hushed voice, but I heard it anyway, "Why does it feel like he's different now? He was such a punchbag before!"Mrs. Jenner snorted loudly in disdain. "Who gives a shit?! As long as he's our live-in son-in-law, he must obey me! Drag him to the kitchen!"With Mrs. Jenner backing him, Carl straightened himself and strode toward me.Just before he reached for me, however, someone coughed loudly upstairs.It was Ivy, and everyone turned to see her walking down the stairs with Hal.They had plenty of similarities in facial features, but Ivy had a sharper visage after working as the head of a major company for years.While Hal appeared more affable, it was an act—I was well aware that he looked down on me just like the rest.Still, with just a cool glare from Hal, Carl promptly stopped reaching for me and withdrew his hand.
Even if this was my second life and I no longer had any hopes for Ivy, I was still her husband.As such, it really disappointed me that she could act as if my trouble was nothing to her."You're no different from your father," Mrs. Jenner continued grumbling just then. "Leeching off women, both of you."I could almost imagine how terrible the look on my face was, but I was not about to stop.Glaring fiercely at Mrs. Jenner, I growled through my teeth, "You're the wife of the head of the Jenner family. Do you think it's civilized, mocking and humiliating your own son-in-law with so many others watching?"Mrs. Jenner was immediately glowering at me, "Watch your mouth! Is that how you speak to your mother-in-law?"I shrugged. "It's called an eye for an eye, unless you finally decide to play nice."Even as she kept glaring at me, Mrs. Jenner's mouth opened and closed, clearly wanting to keep snapping at me.However, seeing that no one was backing her up, she had to take the loss, a
Springing to her feet, Mrs. Jenner strode toward me menacingly, bellowing, "You will drink that soup, no matter what!"Everyone else was watching us, but no one said a word as they were absolutely eager to watch the main family tear each other apart.Even Hal merely frowned and said nothing, as it was only natural that he hoped I would drink that soup.It went without saying that Ivy and her brother Carl cared even less, as they were used to their mother's temper.But even as Mrs. Jenner reached me and was ready to force me to drink, I whipped out a paper from my pocket and held it in front of her. "Take a look at this."She paused, scowling, "Don't think you can get away with just a crappy piece of paper!"Still, she took the paper and read it, when someone chuckled nearby, "Could Ivy be pregnant already? And she's just hiding it from us?"Even as everyone turned toward our table in surprise, Ivy frowned at me, and calmly said, "No."I chuckled to myself—she finally reacted, b
Even as I left Mrs. Jenner flushed and seething, Hal finally spoke up, "That's enough. Stop meddling with the kids and eat."Nonetheless, everyone else was showering Ivy with concern and sympathy. While some offered to introduce her good doctors for examination, others were already convinced that social drinking affected her ovulation.Even Carl joined in, "Look, sis—working every day and social gatherings definitely hurt your health. There's a man here to take the reins, see? Ladies should always take good care of their health…""Shut up," Ivy snapped coolly at her younger brother, who had clearly touched a nerve. "Or what, I'm supposed to let you take over the company?"I looked on, smirking.When everyone humiliated me in my last life, Ivy simply looked on without a care.Now, none of them would get away with this.A man who lost everything would fear nothing, while these bigwigs all valued their pride.And all it took was just one medical report!If anything, I wouldn't ha
Then, seemingly getting off on that, Ivy had started to sleep with me whenever she felt pent-up.Even so, she never initiated a kiss.What could have possibly changed now? If anything, she must have lost her mind!Naturally, I was stronger than her and could quickly push her away, but she grabbed my collar and bit my lips viciously, while her other hand brushed against my chest and abs.Soon, blood trickled out, filling both our mouths."Are you some sort of animal?!" I snapped, wiping the blood off my lips.In my last life, I had given her my heart and soul, only for her to demand a divorce, not caring if I lived or died.And now that I gave up on her, even demanding a divorce, she kissed me?! What gave her the right?!Ivy blinked her long lashes just then, her ears and cheeks flushed as if she finally realized what she had been doing.Soon, however, there was only grievance as she snapped stubbornly, "What do you think we are? Forget kissing—I could jump you, and it's stil
My heart skipped a beat.Ivy took that gift bag out of the car, and then returned with it.Was it really not a gift for Bryan Cox?Was it really a present for our anniversary, but she didn't have a chance to give it to me while we were inside the mansion?Even as Ivy approached the car, I started to get nervous as my doubts and hopes clashed.The instant she opened the door, however, I once again died inside as Ivy stared coolly at me and said quietly, "Get out of the car."I was stumped, staring at her and not quite believing my ears. "What?""Get out of the car," she repeated.Even Walter had turned toward her in surprise, but did not dare breathe a word.I glanced at the gift bag she was holding in dismay.Why did I have to dream? How could I even hope that she'd give me a present?Still, I looked her in the eye and demanded, "Why? You're the one who demanded that I attend this luncheon, and now you're telling me to leave. What do you think you're playing yet?"I knew sh
The girl appeared hesitant. "Well, I could, but it's raining and I just got my license…"She trailed off, and I chuckled, as I realized I was simply too used to tough women with Ivy's overbearing attitude. The girl, however, was a delicate flower, and unassuming girl-next-door type who immediately invoked my protectiveness."I have a driving license," I told her. "Would you like me to take the wheel?"She did not protest, tactfully riding shotgun while letting me drive.As we conversed along the way, it turned out that she was a concept artist like me in anime.Her eyes sparkled, clearly more surprised than I was. "I didn't think that we're actually from the same field!"I chuckled, not expecting her to be such a chatterbox despite her shy appearance.Before I got off, she added me on WhatsApp, saying she hoped to stay in touch and learn more from me.I smiled as I watched her pretty grin. "Sure."Nonetheless, as I returned to Kyle's home—having taken off my wet shoes, he stud
My face paled as my heart felt torn. "Have you recovered? How were you doing abroad?""Yeah, I've made a full recovery." Millie smiled. "Fracture healing and rehab took over a year, and now I can walk just fine. As for life abroad… It just doesn't feel like home."Then, turning to look me in the eyes, she sighed. "If only you were there."Her words left me with a bitterness unfurling inside my heart that didn't seem to fade. I was ready to face the world alone before I met her, but now that she was here, I was leaning on her before I knew it.As I did, I wondered why couldn't I improve enough so that she could lean on me too…"I'll return the money as soon as possible. Don't worry. Thank you so much…."I was barely speaking coherently, but I couldn't help it.In my last life, Millie fractured her leg saving my life before I married Ivy. As such, I asked for the Jenners' help to treat her, as part of the deal for the wedding.She recovered in my last life too, but came to my
I nodded. "Alright, thanks."I hated the fact that I didn't divorce Ivy sooner, or I'd have been able to afford Uncle Benji's medical fees.One hundred grand… I only had twenty grand right now, and that meant I was eighty short.I called Kyle first, who promptly transferred fifty grand to me.Thirty short.I swiped through my contacts, but there weren't that many.Aside from the ones I hadn't reached out to for a while and the ones I only had a passing acquaintance with, there were only two choices… My father, and Ivy.Two of the people I wanted the least to have anything to do with.I planned on the wall, looking up as I weighed my options.If I called my father, he'd just snap at me and not give me a thing.Ivy was even worse—we were just getting a divorce, and then not?She'd definitely mock me, and divorce would become even harder then.I chose my father without hesitation, and it took a while for him to answer."What?" He asked impatiently."I need some money," I qui
Finally, I was getting divorced.It was a release, after I had been bound to this toxic marriage for so many years, in my past life and this one.Still, just as I was going to call Ivy and ask why she wasn't here yet, my phone rang, "Yes?""Mr. Isaac York?" A voice asked urgently. "I'm sorry, but your uncle's condition suddenly worsened and he's in surgery as we speak. Please come to the hospital right away."My heart clenched, and I felt like the world was spinning around me. "Okay… Okay!"I hurried to the hospital in panic, my mind a mess along the way, texting Kyle as I did.When I arrived, the red light above the doors was still lit, keeping me away from my uncle.Kyle arrived soon as well, clapping me on the shoulder. "It's going to be alright. Don't let bad thoughts consume you—heart attacks aren't that terrible, and modern medicine is a marvel."I fought back my tears. "He's my only family now, and I just got him back. I don't want to lose him."At the same time, I reme
Still, I barely made two steps when I stopped.After all, Ivy just warned me to stay away from Bryan.And with his girlfriend taking care of him, my presence was inconsequential anyway, so I decided to drop it.Still, I made sure to text Jean, as well as wiring some money as an apology to Bryan before heading to Uncle Benji's ward.I strode in to find him sitting up, staring listlessly at the ceiling, his thoughts unfathomable.With the loose patient garb and his stubble, he looked like your typical middle-aged homeless man "Uncle Benji," I called out to him.Light seemed to return to his eyes, just then, and he straightened himself, seemingly having waited for me for a while."You're back," there was some joy in his voice, even anticipation."I have some food here, so why don't you stay for lunch, have a bite?"He pointed at a table nearby, and my eyes widened as I turned—it was filled with plates of various luxurious seafood, and my favorites at that!"C-Can I really have
I might have spilled hot water on Bryan's hand, but Ivy shoved me to the floor before I could do anything about it.No one was going to be pleased with a sprained wrist, or should I be satisfied?Nonetheless, Ivy grabbed me by the collar, snapping even as I choked, "You're still pretending?! I thought you were just greedy and nothing else, but I guess you enjoy having pretty faces flocking around you, taking your side, right?!"I didn't get it, until I realized that she was accusing me of cheating.Laughing despite myself, I shrugged, "You're saying that I'm not just a bum, but a womanizer too?"My laugh left Ivy glowering, and she clenched so hard her fingers turned white. "What, are you saying that you're not? She showed up yesterday, and now today. When did you hook up with her? Is that why you're divorcing me?""Or maybe you have an entire ocean to yourself? 'Plenty of fish in the sea', and she's just one of them?"Yesterday?I narrowed my eyes as I realized something impor
Nonetheless, as long as I lived happily and ate regular meals, there shouldn't be much of a problem.The report was soon out, and I returned to the ward to show it to Bryan.Jean brought me a cup of water, probably because she saw my lips were parched. I was reading the medical report too, and didn't expect her to bring me a cup of hot water. I flinched in reflex, splashing hot water all over Bryan's hand.He flinched in turn, dropping the medical report audibly."I-I'm sorry! It's an accident!" My heart skipped a beat, and promptly grabbed his wrist, intending to get some cold water over his hand.However, even before I reached his hand, I felt a pain on my shoulder as I was shoved forcefully away.Caught off guard, I fell heavily on the floor, gasping in pain as I sprained my right hand, which I held out to stop myself from falling face flat.I then looked up to see that Ivy had grabbed Bryan's hand and rushed to the restroom.I was stunned, but soon heard the splashing in
I quickly remembered that she was the girl who almost crashed into me yesterday. "Jean Morris?"She beamed, seemingly not expecting that I would remember her name. "I'm surprised you remembered… Anyway, I brought you here since I happened to see you pass out."I recalled, earnestly grateful to her even as I recalled the moment I passed out. "Thank you so much! How much did they charge you?"Jean didn't turn me down, but I was also dead sure the sum she had asked for was way lower than it should have been. As such, I made sure to get the check and wired an extra hundred as thanks.She was clearly too embarrassed to accept the money when she saw the transfer records, so I made sure to reason with her so she would happily take the money.Ever the nice girl, she then told me, "I think you have a condition. You should stay for further examinations."I looked down at my own stomach as I touched it, and there really was a vague pain. I nodded—having died of stomach cancer in my last l
The girl appeared hesitant. "Well, I could, but it's raining and I just got my license…"She trailed off, and I chuckled, as I realized I was simply too used to tough women with Ivy's overbearing attitude. The girl, however, was a delicate flower, and unassuming girl-next-door type who immediately invoked my protectiveness."I have a driving license," I told her. "Would you like me to take the wheel?"She did not protest, tactfully riding shotgun while letting me drive.As we conversed along the way, it turned out that she was a concept artist like me in anime.Her eyes sparkled, clearly more surprised than I was. "I didn't think that we're actually from the same field!"I chuckled, not expecting her to be such a chatterbox despite her shy appearance.Before I got off, she added me on WhatsApp, saying she hoped to stay in touch and learn more from me.I smiled as I watched her pretty grin. "Sure."Nonetheless, as I returned to Kyle's home—having taken off my wet shoes, he stud
My heart skipped a beat.Ivy took that gift bag out of the car, and then returned with it.Was it really not a gift for Bryan Cox?Was it really a present for our anniversary, but she didn't have a chance to give it to me while we were inside the mansion?Even as Ivy approached the car, I started to get nervous as my doubts and hopes clashed.The instant she opened the door, however, I once again died inside as Ivy stared coolly at me and said quietly, "Get out of the car."I was stumped, staring at her and not quite believing my ears. "What?""Get out of the car," she repeated.Even Walter had turned toward her in surprise, but did not dare breathe a word.I glanced at the gift bag she was holding in dismay.Why did I have to dream? How could I even hope that she'd give me a present?Still, I looked her in the eye and demanded, "Why? You're the one who demanded that I attend this luncheon, and now you're telling me to leave. What do you think you're playing yet?"I knew sh