Chapter 3

I never thought Cyril and I would talk so much, so calmly. He didn't get worked up again, and I assumed the matter of Kevin's school was behind us.

But once again, I'd underestimated things.

Cyril let it go, but Millicent didn't. Their family has a group chat, and the very next day Millicent started posting all sorts of messages in it.

One minute she was going on about how the brother and sister in her second uncle's family helped each other in their careers, and the next about how the two sisters in her third aunt's family supported one another.

I knew she was making veiled jabs at me, but I pretended not to get it.

I decided that as long as they didn't come and make a scene, I'd act like nothing had happened.

But I still underestimated their determination to get Kevin into Lincoln Elementary.

Later, Millicent started naming me outright in the family group chat, saying I wouldn't help Rufus.

"What a family we have. The eldest son's household clearly has a house that could get Kevin into Lincoln Elementary, but she flat-out refuses to help—she even tells us to send Kevin back to the village school."

"I really must not have burned enough incense, which is why my children can't stick together."

The more she posted in the group, the more people gradually started to respond. They didn't come right out and say I was in the wrong, but the accusation ran through everything they said.

After Millicent had been posting in the group for a week, the registration deadline was fast approaching.

Bianca couldn't hold back any longer either, and started chiming in on Millicent's side.

They probably never expected me to keep my composure like this.

I simply stayed quiet, but whenever I saw a comment that could be used against me, I took a screenshot and saved it.

The day before the registration deadline, Bianca and Rufus finally came to find me.

This time their attitude was much better than before.

The moment Bianca saw me, she still had that stubborn, unwilling-to-lose edge, but on the surface she was quite respectful toward me.

"Sister-in-law, we were rude that day. Look, school's about to start, and we're only doing what's best for the child. For Kevin's sake, please give him this chance."

Rufus nodded along quickly.

"This time we won't even make you sign any agreement. Just help us get Kevin registered."

Bianca stressed that point, and seeing them back down like that, my heart wasn't as hard as all that after all.

I told them I'd think about it.

Bianca and Rufus exchanged a glance and looked like they wanted to say more, but seeing my sour expression, they didn't dare.

The truth was, I was planning to go ahead and register him for them.

But a contract I had to look over got the whole thing pushed aside.

When Cyril came back, I still hadn't finished. The second he walked in, he asked me about registering Kevin.

I froze for a moment. "I've been looking at a contract for over an hour—I haven't had a chance to submit it yet."

Before I could finish, Cyril turned away impatiently.

He didn't say a word, just went into the kitchen to cook.

Seeing him like that, I actually felt a little guilty.

I still hadn't wrapped up my work when Cyril called me to dinner.

I figured I'd do the registration while we ate.

When I mentioned it to Cyril, he was cool about it, only giving a soft "mm."

He'd made my favorite chicken soup and ladled me out a full bowl.

"Drink up."

I glanced at him and held up my phone, meaning I'd register Kevin right then.

I must have been really hungry, because the bowl of chicken soup was gone in no time.

But once I'd finished it, my head grew heavier and heavier, and before long I fell asleep.