“Vivian, it’s late, and as you can see, we haven’t prepared dinner.”
Ethan’s mother opened the door, clearly intent on sending me away.
Ethan’s father didn’t even speak further.
To the Reed family, I was always an outsider.
“Mom, Dad, we’re back!”
Just then, the door opened. Ethan walked in, holding Julia’s arm.
At the sight of them, his parents beamed.
“Julia, you’re here! Come in, sit down! We’ll prepare dinner for you,” his mother said warmly.
When Julia saw me, she quickly ducked behind Ethan, her eyes red.
“No, Auntie. Someone doesn’t welcome me. I should go,” Julia said timidly. At this, Ethan’s parents’ expressions hardened.
“Vivian! Are you bullying Julia?” Ethan’s father snapped coldly. “Let me tell you—she’s more worthy of this home than you are!”
“You claim you bought this Oolong? Then take it back! I don’t want it!” He hurled the tin across the table.
Ethan’s mother chimed in.
“Vivian, Julia is just a girl from a small town. How could she manage such an expensive gift? How much thought must have gone into it!”
“You bought a few dollars’ worth of tea from a street stall and dare to claim you gave it? How shameless!”
“We didn’t prepare dinner for you tonight. Leave at once!”