Chapter 3

When Nathan dragged me through the front door, his mother was already seated on the living room sofa, holding Mia's hands and laughing warmly.

"Mia, darling, you got your master's degree abroad? You must be brilliant!"

"Not like your sister. I heard she barely finished high school before she went off to work in retail. Such a lack of class. I honestly don't know what Nathan ever saw in her."

Mia smiled modestly, clearly basking in the praise, before fanning the flames.

"Oh, please don't say that, Mrs. Vance. If only I had met Nathan sooner... I’d love nothing more than to call you 'Mom' myself!"

Hearing that, Mrs. Vance slapped her knee in theatrical regret.

"Oh, don't tell me you have feelings for Nathan too..."

"What a shame! If only Nathan were marrying you instead, life would be so much better!"

Standing in the entryway, Nathan looked visibly embarrassed, but he didn't utter a single word to defend me.

He just cast an appeasing glance in my direction.

I was way past the point of getting angry. I walked past them without a word.

His mother had always despised me. From the day we met, she looked down on my lack of a fancy diploma, claiming I was unworthy of her precious son with his PhD. It wasn’t until last year—when I was promoted to senior management and started making triple what Nathan made as an adjunct professor—that she finally stopped giving me dirty looks.

What she didn't know was that Mia had barely scraped by in high school. That shiny foreign master's degree had been entirely funded by my sweat and tears just to give her a resume boost.

Nathan cleared his throat loudly.

Only then did Mrs. Vance bother to glance my way, her voice as patronizing as ever.

"Oh, you're back? What kind of future bride leaves the house when her mother-in-law visits? A woman needs to know that no matter how much money she makes, family always comes first. It's getting late. Go into the kitchen and make me dinner."

Hearing her bossy tone, I turned to look at Nathan.

After all, this was the man who had sworn up and down that he’d never let me lift a finger in the kitchen after we got married.

Faced with my silent glare, Nathan shifted uncomfortably. Instead of standing up for me, he tugged on my sleeve and whispered under his breath:

"Elena, she rarely visits. Just suck it up and cook a meal for her, okay?"

"Do it for me."

A laugh escaped my throat.

For you?

Who the hell do you think you are?

I shoved his hand off me, staring at his mother with cold disdain.

"I don't cook."

"This is my house. I don't feel like making dinner, so I won't."

Mrs. Vance’s face turned scarlet. She shot up from the couch, ready to scream.

Mia instantly saw her chance to play the devoted angel. She jumped in to smooth things over.

"Mrs. Vance, please don't be upset!"

"My sister has a terrible temper. When she gets mad, she doesn't even care about her own family. Luckily, I love cooking! Let me make you something delicious!"

She threw a smug glance my way as she spoke.

Nathan eagerly nodded along, looking at Mia with adoration in his eyes.

"See, Mom? Don't stress out. Mia's an amazing cook!"

Then he whipped his head around to me, his brow furrowed in utter disgust as he snapped:

"Elena, you are completely out of line lately!"

"Whatever happened between Mia and me, it’s on me. Take it out on me, don’t take it out on my mother! You're the older sister—can't you show some maturity and learn how to act from Mia?"

I was so disgusted I actually smiled.

I tossed my bag onto the armchair, crossed my arms, and leaned back. I couldn't wait to see how Mia—who had never washed a dish in her entire spoiled life—was going to pull off a gourmet meal.

Mia tied on an apron with grand theatrics and vanished into the kitchen.

Less than ten minutes later, she poked her head out and called into the hallway.

"Sarah? Can you come in and prep everything for me? I'm a little overwhelmed."

Sarah, the housekeeper, murmured an acknowledgment and began walking toward the kitchen.

I stood up and called her out, my voice loud and clear.

"Sarah, you can help. But remember your job description. Chopping vegetables means chopping vegetables."

"Keep in mind who signs your paycheck every month."

Sarah was sharp. She nodded immediately.

"Understood, Elena."