Chapter 12

After careful consideration, Zachary decided to go. It wasn't Wendy's threat that swayed him. It was just that he wanted to take this opportunity to inform his in-laws about his and Wendy's impending divorce. While he held no fondness for Harold, he did have a sense of gratitude toward Wendy's mother. Throughout his five-year marriage to Wendy, Harold had always treated him with disdain, throwing cold remarks at every chance. But Wendy's mother had always seen potential in him and treated him well. Every time they met, she expressed concern for him, asking how he was and showing him a warmth that felt almost familial. She even scolded Wendy a few times for neglecting him, which sometimes led to Wendy snapping back at her, claiming her mother was forgetting her own daughter for the sake of a son-in-law. Thinking about Wendy's mother, Zachary felt that, even if they were to divorce, he owed Wendy's mother a proper explanation. It was a matter of basic respect for someone who had treated him like family. "Tonight, I might not be able to cook for you," Zachary said to Anya, his tone apologetic. "Maybe you can make do with something simple?" "That's fine. Just make up for it tomorrow!" Anya replied, her disappointment apparent but her tone accommodating. Zachary smiled in appreciation and nodded. As they stepped out of the building, Anya offered, "It's not a great time to get a cab. How about I drive you to Wendy's house?" It was rush hour, and finding a cab would indeed be challenging. The nearest bus and subway stations were also a bit of a walk away. Realizing this, Zachary hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "If it's not too much trouble." "No trouble at all. I drive you, and you cook for me. It's a fair trade, isn't it?" Anya quipped with a grin, her smile radiant as she briskly walked towards her red Ferrari parked nearby. Moments later, Anya pulled up to the curb with the car, and Zachary got in, giving her the address of his in-laws' home. The rest of the drive passed in silence. When they reached his destination, Anya parked the car and watched as Zachary entered the gated community. Wendy's parents lived in a spacious suite in a high-end riverside complex. The place was over 200 square meters in size, surrounded by a serene environment, and valued at more than eight million. Zachary rang the doorbell. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing his mother-in-law, Fiona Lynch. She was wearing an apron and holding a spatula. Her face was lit up with a warm, affectionate smile. Fiona called out enthusiastically, "Zachary, you're here! Come in quickly and have a seat. Wendy, get Zachary some water! And I'm making your favorite shrimp croquettes. Dinner will be ready soon!" Her warmth was as familiar as ever. When she looked at Zachary, it was as if she were looking at her own son. A comforting warmth spread through Zachary's chest. He nodded with a smile, changed into the house slippers, and made his way to the living room. Fiona, satisfied, returned to the kitchen. In the living room, Harold sat on the couch, legs crossed as he read the newspaper. Wendy was sitting nearby, playing on her phone. She glanced up when she heard Zachary come in, but after giving him a brief look, she went back to her phone, uninterested. The atmosphere was tense, but Zachary had grown used to it. Instead of sitting down, he headed straight for the kitchen to help Fiona with the cooking. Before long, the last dish was ready. Zachary took it upon himself to set the table and pulled out a chair for Fiona. "You're always so considerate, Zachary!" Fiona beamed and shot Harold and Wendy a glare. "Not like these two who sit around like lords waiting to be served!" Once everyone was seated, Harold, as per usual, began criticizing Zachary. Fiona, trying to keep the peace, attempted to defend him, but Harold's reproach only intensified, and he seemed on the verge of losing his temper. Wendy didn't care. She simply picked up her fork, ready to dig in. Just as she picked up a buffalo wing and was about to take a bite, Zachary spoke up. "Dad, there's no need to be so angry. I've already decided to divorce Wendy." The room fell silent, the shock written on each of their faces. Harold was taken aback. Though Wendy had mentioned divorce before, he'd dismissed it as mere empty words. Wendy's face went pale, her expression frozen. Fiona was the most visibly shaken. She asked, "Divorce? Why? Why would you want to divorce?" She put down her fork and looked at Zachary with a mix of heartbreak and concern. Then, she turned to Wendy and slapped her on the back of the head. "Wendy, what did you do this time? I've told you so many times! Work isn't everything. Family is what matters. "How many times have you ignored Zachary's feelings because of your job? Is that how a wife should behave?" Fiona scolded, her voice laced with both anger and frustration. Wendy protested, feeling wronged. "Mom, why are you hitting me? I wasn't the one who brought up the divorce!" Fiona snapped. "Even if you didn't, so what? I know Zachary's temperament. He wouldn't ask for a divorce unless you did something to seriously hurt him! He loves you, and everyone can see that!" She jabbed her finger in Wendy's face. "You foolish girl! Haven't I told you in private? Zachary is a good man. You have to cherish him. Why can't you understand that? "What will it take, huh? For you to lose him, watch him marry someone else, and then feel the regret?" Fiona pressed. Wendy had been ready to argue, but when she heard her mother mention the idea of Zachary starting a family with someone else, her mind flashed back to the voice of the woman in that phone call earlier. She fell silent. Seeing Wendy quiet down, Fiona turned back to Zachary with a look of pleading in her eyes. She said softly, "Zachary, I know you're angry and hurt right now. But please, can't you hold off on the divorce for my sake? Let's sit down as a family and talk things through. Can you give it another chance?" This was the first time Fiona had ever spoken to Zachary in such a tone. It made Zachary feel a mix of guilt and sorrow. Fiona had treated him like her own son since the day he married Wendy. She understood him better than anyone else in this household. Every time Harold scolded him, Fiona would secretly give Harold a piece of her mind and find Zachary to comfort him. He remembered once, in passing, mentioning he was a premature baby and that his health had always been weaker. Ever since then, Fiona would spend hours every day making soup for him, and she did this for a whole month without fail. Fiona once said, "It doesn't matter what you were like before, What matters is now you're my son too, and I'll take care of my son." Thinking of that, Zachary's resolve began to waver. Not because of Wendy, but because of Fiona. He couldn't bear to see her hurt. Seeing Zachary hesitate, Fiona was about to say more when Harold suddenly slammed his hand on the table. "Zachary, are you even a man? Using divorce as a threat? What kind of behavior is that?" "For five years, Wendy has worked tirelessly to build her career, going to and from work every day. Hasn't she contributed just as much as you have?" Harold demanded, his tone sharp with disapproval. "You can't even manage the household properly, and now you want a divorce? Is this how you act as a husband and a son-in-law?" he continued, glaring at Zachary with a look of stern authority. Wendy lowered her head slightly, but a faint smirk played at the corners of her lips. Fiona was furious. She scolded, "Harold, what's wrong with you? Yes, Wendy has contributed, but so has Zachary! If it weren't for him, do you think Wendy could focus on her career without worry?" Harold barked, his brows furrowing. "Shut up! It's your fault for spoiling him all these years! They say a mother's overindulgence spoils her child, and it's absolutely true." He snapped and shouted at Fiona, "If you hadn't always contradicted me and spoken up for him, would he have turned out this way? "He has no respect for his elders, doing whatever he pleases! He doesn't care about us at all, and yet you keep defending him. Are you losing your mind?" Harold, uncharacteristically, was raising his voice at Fiona. Her chest heaved with anger, and her face turned red. Fiona shot back, "Fine! It's all my fault, is it? Harold, I've had enough! If you want to keep living like this, be my guest, but I'm done!" Fiona stood up, her face set with determination, and grabbed Zachary's arm. "Zachary, come with me. Since this family doesn't need us, we'll move out! I refuse to stay in a house that treats us like this!" she declared, her voice resolute. Harold growled, "Ridiculous! Fiona, you're not a child. Stop acting like this and threatening to leave." Fiona retorted coldly, "Think what you want. But if Zachary leaves this house, so will I. If the two of you don't apologize to him today, I won't back down." She was firm in her stance, dragging Zachary toward the door. "Enough!" Wendy couldn't sit still any longer. She shot up from her seat, her eyes red with fury. She yelled, "Zachary, are you happy now? Is this what you wanted, to turn this family upside down? All for a divorce?" "If that's what you want, fine! On Monday, I'll go to the courthouse with you to finalize it. But right now, get out! Get out of my house!" Her voice was cracking with anger. "I never want to see—" Before Wendy could finish, Fiona stormed over, raising her hand and slapping Wendy hard across the face. Fiona's voice shook with fury. She said, "You foolish girl! How could I have raised someone so thoughtless?" She had done everything she could to fix things, to save Wendy and Zachary's marriage. But this ungrateful girl just couldn't see it and was acting out instead. Did she really think that raising her voice meant she was in the right?