Chapter 4

Cary ordered me around like it was the most natural thing in the world. "Go make my dad some tea. Eighty percent hot, not too hot."

"Why are you cutting the fruit so slowly? My sister's hungry. Hurry up and bring out the snacks."

His parents didn't hold back either, acting like the reigning emperor and empress dowager.

First they complained the water I poured was too hot, then that the fruit I'd bought wasn't fresh enough.

And when his sister griped that her phone was too laggy,

he didn't say a word. He just pulled out Mr. Lawrence's new phone.

"Bet you didn't expect that. Your brother already had it ready for you. Here, take it."

His sister practically jumped for joy.

Then he shot me a look, daring me to say something.

I looked away and said nothing.

For dinner I made six dishes and a soup, and by the time I set the last bowl of soup on the table, Cary and his family had already dug in.

His father speared a shrimp and frowned, picking at it. "Fern, this is way too bland. Do you not use salt when you cook?"

"A man works himself to the bone out there and can't even get a decent meal when he comes home. What's the point of taking a wife?"

"Oh, come on, Fern's still young, she's still learning." His mother swatted his father's arm, then turned to me. "Fern, honey, once you're married, I'll teach you. Cary likes strong flavors, he likes it spicy. You have to cook to his taste."

"You two have been living together for over half a year now, you're as good as husband and wife. Why not just go get the license before the new year?"

"Our family doesn't go in for all that vanity and show. We won't be giving any bride price, otherwise it looks like we're buying a person."

"But you're an only child, so when your parents get old, they'll have to depend on our Cary to support them. Which means the dowry can't be small."

"Have your parents throw in a car worth around eighty thousand as a dowry, put it in Cary's name. When he gets his promotion, it'll give him some face driving it around."

His father chimed in. "Once you're married, you focus on getting pregnant. The first one has to be a boy. If it's a girl, you keep going until you give us a grandson. The Gibson family line can't die out."

Cary glanced at me and made a show of smoothing it over. "Come on, why bring all that up? Fern already knows. She's sensible, she won't make things hard for me."

I didn't argue. I just gave a faint smile.

That night, Cary started divvying up the rooms like it was his call to make.

He put his parents in our master bedroom, his sister in the guest room, and himself on the living room couch.

He looked at me. "Fern, just bear with it for one night. Go make yourself a bed on the bathroom floor."

"The bathroom?" I repeated.

Cary dropped his voice, irritated. "Do you have any sense at all? My parents finally came for a visit. You're the younger one here, would it kill you to give a little? Besides, I'm the one paying the rent on this place. You live where I tell you to live."

I gave a small snort and pulled out the suitcase I'd already packed.

"No need. I happen to have a business trip today."

Cary shot up, furious. "My parents just got here and you're leaving on a trip? Who's the attitude for? You're not even married in yet and you already have no respect for your in-laws?"

I looked at him. "The company assigned it. If I don't go, I have to quit. Are you going to support me?"

That shut him up. He waved me off, annoyed. "Fine, fine, go. Real mood-killer."

The next morning I woke up in my hotel room.

Cary texted me: I'm at the store. Send some grocery money quick, my mom says she wants two free-range chickens.

I opened the transfer screen and calmly sent him four dollars.

He lost it instantly and called me, sputtering with rage.

"Four bucks? What am I supposed to do with that? You handing out change to a beggar?"

I checked the time.

By now, my dad should be at the door with the agent and building management.

I explained, all innocence. "Four dollars isn't enough?"

"Your coworker's wife feeds everyone on two dollars a meal. I already doubled it for you."

He choked, then exploded. "Are you out of your mind, Fern? You just wait!"

He slammed the phone down.

About half an hour later, his call came through again, his voice frantic.

"Where are you? Why did a bunch of security guards just throw my parents out of the apartment?"

"They're saying the place isn't being rented anymore! And they want me to cover some difference, tens of thousands of it! What the hell is going on?"