C10 10

Chloe headed straight to her sister’s house.

Knowing she usually prepared breakfast for the family of three, and having moved out only yesterday, she worried whether her sister had managed to wake up in time to cook. She stopped at a nearby stall and bought breakfast for her sister and her nephew.

As for her brother-in-law... based on the time, he should have already left for work. Chloe pointedly didn't buy a portion for him.

She unlocked the door and entered, only to find her sister, Kate, already busy in the kitchen.

"Sis."

"Chloe, you're here!" Kate stepped out of the kitchen, her face lighting up when she saw her sister. "Have you eaten? I’m making noodles; want a bowl?"

"No need, I’ve already eaten. Did you start the noodles yet? If not, don't bother—I brought breakfast for you and James."

"I haven't started yet. I woke up late today," Kate admitted, looking a bit haggard. "Your brother-in-law already ate out. He even gave me a scolding before he left, saying I do nothing but look after the kid all day, yet I can't even wake up early enough to make him a meal."

Kate looked deeply hurt.

Raising a child was anything but easy. James had run a low fever last night, and she had been terrified it would get worse. She hadn't slept a wink, constantly soothing the boy as he woke up crying. Her husband, meanwhile, had slept like a log. When the crying occasionally disturbed him, he simply snapped at her for being unable to handle a toddler.

"He has no idea how exhausting it is. Sis, this weekend, you should leave James with him for two days," Chloe suggested. "Let him see for himself how 'easy' it is. Maybe then he’ll stop complaining that you 'do nothing' at home."

"He’s perfectly capable of making his own breakfast. There’s no law saying a wife has to be a personal chef. How is James?"

"He had a low fever last night and was very restless. It finally broke toward dawn, and he’s sleeping soundly now. I only got a few minutes of shut-eye myself before your brother-in-law woke me up to yell at me for the breakfast."

Chloe’s temper flared. "Why did he have a fever? Even if it's down now, you need to take him to a doctor later to make sure it doesn't come back. And as for your husband... his son is sick and instead of helping, he yells at you? Sis, now that I’ve moved out, is he still insisting on that 'AA system'?"

Kate sat on the sofa and opened the container of rice noodles. "He’s still insisting. He says I only know how to spend money, not earn it. He kept complaining about the 'immense pressure' he's under and said that since we’re a family, I need to shoulder half the household expenses."

"This has his sister’s fingerprints all over it," Kate muttered as she ate. "Ever since that woman got married, she’s been obsessed with controlling her brother’s household. He used to be so good to me, but his sister has poisoned his mind."

Kate despised her sister-in-law. The woman loved to stir up trouble and drive a wedge between the couple. Every time she came over for dinner, she would find something to criticize, and a fight between Kate and her husband would inevitably follow.

The sister-in-law constantly mocked Kate, saying it was a waste for her to have so much education just to sit at home "spending her brother's hard-earned money."

The irony was that before Kate resigned, she had risen to the position of Financial Director with a very impressive salary. She had sacrificed her career for love and marriage, only to be met with insults from her in-laws. She didn't even spend money on herself—any new clothes or makeup she had were gifts from Chloe. Yet, even then, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law would claim that because the items were in the house, they were "joint property" and she shouldn't be so "wasteful."

"Sis, why don't we put James in kindergarten? You can return to work. I know you’d earn just as much as he does," Chloe said, her heart aching for her sister.

"Your brother-in-law wants to wait until James is three or four. Tuition is getting more expensive every year. Between the mortgage, the car loan, and the money he sends his parents, he doesn't have much left. If it weren't for the money you give me, we’d be completely broke."

"If you can afford the tuition, send him," Chloe urged. "It’s good for James to socialize, and more importantly, it gets you back on your feet. A woman needs her own income, married or not. Don't believe that 'I'll take care of you' nonsense anymore. It’s only been three years and he’s already lost his patience."

Chloe paused, then lowered her voice. "Sis... do you think he might be seeing someone else?"

Kate jumped. "I doubt it. I know his income down to the cent; he doesn't have the spare cash to keep a mistress."

"But his attitude toward you is getting worse by the day. You have to start planning for yourself. You can't just be a stay-at-home mom who gets no appreciation."

Kate went silent for a long time. "We'll see. Don't worry about me, Chloe. I can handle my own life. What about you? When does your husband get back from his trip?"

"It’ll be a while. He works for a huge conglomerate; he's incredibly busy."

After confirming Chloe was settling into her new home, Kate urged her to get to the shop.

Chloe rode her e-bike toward the bookstore, her mind still preoccupied with the mess of her sister’s life. Lost in thought, she failed to notice the traffic around her.

A sudden flash of black metal jolted her back to reality.

She gasped, swerving violently to the side to avoid a collision. She skidded to a halt, her heart hammering against her ribs.

The vehicle she had almost hit also slammed on its brakes.

Chloe looked at the car. Her eyes widened. It was a Rolls-Royce. A car that cost more than she would make in ten lifetimes. Behind it sat several identical black sedans—likely a fleet of bodyguards.

In a city like Toronto, luxury cars weren't rare, but hitting one was a financial death sentence.

Chloe quickly offered a frantic apologetic bow to the driver, revved her e-bike, and sped away before anyone could roll down a window to scold her.

Inside the Rolls-Royce, the driver turned to the man in the back seat. "Lord, that was the Young Lady."

David’s face was a mask of cold fury. He had seen everything. Chloe had almost driven right into the side of his car. She was clearly distracted, weaving through heavy traffic while her mind was miles away.

Is she looking for a death wish? he thought grimly.

If she wants to die, she should find a different way. I don't want her blood staining my tires.