Chapter 7

Jeffrey returned home from work after a while. The dinner spread was vibrant. Although Lisa's meals at her home were decent, they felt inferior to the Parker family’s. However, Lisa dared not move. Instead, she observed David and Melissa taking hot towels from the servant to wipe their hands. Lisa followed suit, learning the gesture before the servant served the soup. Lisa liked starting with the soup before eating. She was unsure what was in the soup, but it was delicious. Michelle glanced at how Lisa sipped her soup and said with disgust, "It looks like someone only knows how to enjoy their food and forgot their husband had just gotten out of the hospital. After all, it's not like you come across a rare snow clam soup so often." Michelle filled a bowl with soup and placed it before Jeffrey as she spoke. She portrayed Lisa as a self-centered wife. Sure enough, Melissa frowned the next instant. Leonard smirked at Lisa. "Right? She probably doesn't know how to be a wife. She's nowhere near as considerate as my sister-in-law." Lisa swallowed her soup and calmly replied, "Michelle, you must love Jeffrey very much." "You don’t need to state the obvious. Jeffrey and I studied abroad together," Michelle said as she elegantly wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin. Lisa smiled softly and said, "You treat Jeffrey well because of love, but I only care about myself. I have no feelings for Leonard." The atmosphere at the table changed suddenly, so Leonard put down his spoon. Michelle spoke with displeasure, "Do you even realize how good and accomplished Leonard is? He's already leading a billion-dollar listed company at a young age, not to mention his good looks. “Even male celebrities don't hold a candle to him regarding handsomeness. I can't even count how many wealthy families are trying to court him. You should consider yourself lucky to be married to him with your qualities. Be grateful for your blessings." Melissa nodded in agreement. Although Lisa was the one who saved Leonard’s life, she cared about her son the most. “Indeed, Leonard is outstanding. Lisa nodded sincerely. "He’s wealthy and handsome, but do I have to love him just because he has all that? Would I love his money and his looks? I'm sorry, but I'm not that superficial." Michelle choked and said with disgust, "What do you mean? Are you saying all the other wealthy girls are superficial, and you're the only noble one?" Melissa was just as dissatisfied. She birthed Leonard when she was older and adored him. She did not understand why Lisa spoke that way. "I didn't mean it like that." Lisa noticed Michelle’s aggressiveness and innocently blinked. "I wasn't familiar with him before, and I didn't love him before we married. Should I mindlessly force myself to love him? That would be fake, don't you think?" She was right, but wealthy people preferred flattery over truth. Michelle saw how displeased her mother-in-law was. The former raised her eyebrow, saying, “You—” David interjected, "All right, that's enough. Lisa is right. She’s honest and doesn't beat around the bush. I like her." It was his second time expressing his fondness for Lisa. However, Lisa felt the coldness in Leonard’s gaze. Regardless, the two could do nothing about it. The family continued eating, and Lisa downed two servings of soup. She even devoured one and a half plates of food in one go. Michelle could no longer hide her disgust after finishing her meal. “It seems someone has been starving to eat so much food at once.” Jeffrey helplessly nudged her with his elbow, signaling her to tone it down. However, Michelle glared at her husband, completely disregarding him. Lisa feigned ignorance and looked at Michelle. "Did I overeat? I'm sorry, I didn't know there was a limit to how much I could eat here." She quickly set down her utensils, and the room fell silent. No one looked particularly pleased, but Leonard looked somewhat relieved. ‘Well, that’s the woman they forced upon me. I should let her cause them distress. Then they’ll know what I went through with her at the hospital.’ Melissa calmly reprimanded, "Who said you couldn’t eat a lot here? Lisa, don't speak such nonsense. People might think we mistreat you if such rumors spread." "Mom, don't get angry. Women from lower classes are like this," Michelle said, taking the opportunity to strike again. "I'll gradually educate her so she doesn't embarrass our family when she goes out." Lisa pursed her lips. "First, you criticize me for overeating, and now you're criticizing me for saying I'll eat less. What do you want from me?" She seemed aggrieved for a moment. Michelle's mind flashed to something her daughter frequently said, "Wolf in sheep's clothing." She felt shocked upon this realization. Before she could say anything, David scolded his wife and daughter-in-law, “Why are you two arguing over dinner? Are we running out of food? There's no end to it." Melissa and Michelle blushed when he called them out. Michelle had been married to Jeffrey for a long time, and her father-in-law had never reprimanded her at the dinner table. She got up and rushed back to the room, her eyes red with anger. "Michelle, just let it go." Jeffrey hurriedly followed to coax his wife. "I'm full too.” Leonard, who had been lazily watching the commotion, gave Lisa a half-smile before going upstairs. "I'm going with Leonard,” Lisa said, following him. She was bluffing, of course. She did not want to face David and Melissa alone, especially David, who seemed to approve of her no matter what she did. Melissa looked at their backs and muttered, "I wonder how the Jones family educates their children. She’s sharp-tongued and puts on airs. She’s not worthy of Leonard at all." "She’s not putting on airs. You guys started the fire." David spoke impatiently, "It's a blessing for young people to eat. Do you wish your son would find someone who eats less? What type of woman can have children if she only wishes to stay slender?” Melissa fell silent after hearing her husband’s. ‘His words seem reasonable.’ … Lisa followed Leonard to the bedroom on the second floor. It was her second time entering this room. Unfortunately, she could not see it well last time since she had to rush to the hospital with Leonard. This time, she could not help but take a closer look around. Leonard sneered. "Lisa, I didn't expect you to be so good at acting." "I wasn’t acting. I was speaking the truth," Lisa said as she raised her face, "Why are wealthy people so stingy? Why won't you just let me eat?" Those words triggered Leonard. He was only spectating before but grew irritated when Lisa directed the fire at him. He retorted, “Who told you to eat so much? You were gobbling food like a pig.”