Chapter 122
Chapter 122
“No need, Mom. Rupert grabbed the special meal he had ordered just for Claudia 3 Bering her food. I made sure to per something she can eat.”
“Rupert, ask Claudia what she wants to eat, and let me know. I’ll cook whatever the likes Peyton was surprisingly considerate. “Think of it as our way of making up for staying here?
“Alright.” Rupert nodded and headed back to the bedroom
Rupert placed the dishes in front of Claudia one by one “Claudia, I ordered all your favorites. Get up and eat while it’s will hot.”
Claudia didn’t respond at all.
Rupert tiptoed closer and whispered, “Claudia?”
She was lying on her side, completely still, with her eyes closed like she was asleep.
He had heard that pregnant women got sleepy easily, so she was probably just asleep.
Rupert pulled the thin blanket over her a little more and muttered, “Alright, sleep first”
Then, he left the room and went to the dining area to sit with his parents.
“What does Claudia want to eat?” Peyton asked
“She’s asleep,” Rupert said, picking up his chopsticks. “I’ll ask her later and let you know?
By nine–thirty, Peyton and Jimmy were getting ready for bed.
Rupert played some games for a while and finally went back to the bedroom at ten–thirty. When he tried to turn the doorknob, he realized it was locked from the inside.
He knocked gently, pressing his whole body against the door and lowering his voice so he wouldn’t wake his parents. “Claudia, open the door.”
No response.
“Claudia?”
Still nothing.
He didn’t dare to raise his voice or make a fuss. If his parents saw that Claudia had locked him out of their bedroom, they would probably blame her again.
There was a spare room that had been set up as a nursery, so he figured he’d just crash there for the night.
Once Claudia calmed down, he could go back to their room.
The next morning, Claudia only got up after she was fully awake, but she still didn’t leave the room.
She had no interest in seeing Jimmy or Peyton. She felt like her territory had been invaded, like she could never have the freedom she once did.
Frustration built up inside her, but she had no one to vent to. She called Maisie, and the moment she spoke, her voice was
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Chapter 122
choked with tears. “Mom… I miss you”
“Baby, what’s wrong?” Maisie’s heart clenched as soon as she heard her voice. ‘Did Rupert do something to you?
“Yes… but also no.” Claudia knew Rupert was still on her side.
It was just that she couldn’t accept his parents moving in, and she had ended up taking it out on him. He was just caught in the middle.
But if she didn’t let out her frustration, she would suffocate. And besides, if he couldn’t handle his own parents, then he deserved to take some of the blame.
“Then what happened? Tell me everything.” Maisie said gently.
“It’s his parents…” Claudia told her everything that had happened the day before. “That’s why I’ve been in my room since yesterday. I haven’t even eaten.”
“His parents are so old, yet they still don’t know how to behave? Meddling in a young couple’s life like this? Rupert promised us he’d treat you well, that he’d listen to you. I need to have a word with him.
“All he does now is defend them, so don’t go easy on him,” Maisie said angrily, upset that her daughter had to suffer.
“But what am I supposed to do? Stay locked in my room forever? If this keeps up, I’m going to lose my mind.” Claudia was beyond frustrated. “Mom, I want to come home.”
“No way,” Maisie shut that idea down immediately. “No matter what, this is your home. You’re the mistress of the house. They’re just guests. There’s no reason for you to leave–if anything, they should be the ones to go.”
“But I can’t win against them,” Claudia said bitterly.
“Listen to me…” Maisie started giving her advice. “Got it?”
“I’ll try,” Claudia said, committing Maisie’s words to memory.
“I refuse to believe they’ll still stick around after this,” Maisie said with a cold laugh.
“Mom, you’re the best,” Claudia said sweetly.
“You’re my precious daughter. Of course, I love you the most,” Maisie sighed, “If I had known, I wouldn’t have let you marry Rupert.
“The only reason we agreed to this marriage was because his sister was supposed to marry Ryan. We thought we’d all be family in the end.
“But that wedding never even happened, and they ended up owing Ryan one million dollars instead.
“When we discussed the marriage back then, I told you to think it through carefully.
“Without the Watson family as in–laws, the Reed family is nothing.
“But you were naive. You said you loved Rupert, and that he loved you too–that your love was real.
“Now, do you see? When a man has to choose between his wife and his parents, he’ll always choose his parents.
“They are his real family. You, the wife who married in, will always be an outsider.
“Claudia, you’re still young. You don’t understand yet.
“Take this as a lesson–next time, think about yourself first.
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“If you weren’t pregnant and your name wasn’t on the house deed, I wouldn’t even be wasting my breath. I’d just tell you to divorce Rupert.”
“Mom, Rupert’s actually really good to me. It’s just his parents who don’t know their boundaries, Claudia defended him.
“You always take his side, but does he even know that?” Maisie sighed, “Claudia, if anything happens, tell me. Don’t keep it all to yourself and suffer alone. As long as I’m here, no one gets to bully you
“Mm. Thanks, Mom.” Claudia’s eyes turned red.
A knock sounded from the door.
“Claudia, are you awake?” Peyton’s voice came through. “Rupert said you didn’t eat dinner last night. It’s already eleven. If you’re up, come out and eat something. You skipped breakfast too–your body can’t take this.”
“I have no appetite. I don’t want to eat,” Claudia said coldly.
“Claudia, we shouldn’t have just shown up at your place yesterday. That was out of line. Jimmy was too hot–tempered and said some harsh things.
“He knows he was in the wrong, so he sent me to apologize. Don’t hold it against him, okay? Your health is more important. Don’t starve yourself just to spite us.
“I made your favorite century egg sandwich–come out and try it.” Peyton coaxed patiently.
“I said I’m not eating.” Claudia wasn’t having it.
“If you don’t want to come out, I’ll leave some oatmeal and side dishes outside your door. Just take it when you’re ready. Give me a few minutes.” Peyton went to the kitchen and scooped up some oatmeal that had cooled enough.
“Claudia, I left the oatmeal by the door. For your own sake, and the baby’s, eat something. If you need anything, just call me -I’ll be here.”
Inside the room, Claudia looked thoroughly annoyed. She turned to Maisie and muttered, “So damn irritating.”
To Claudia, the Reed family’s sudden humility was just an act to secure a place in her home. It wasn’t real concern.
“If you don’t want to deal with them, then don’t.” Maisie backed her up. “But you still need to eat. Just bring the food in, eat it, and leave the dishes outside for them to clean up.
“They’re the ones insisting on doing this–you didn’t ask them to. So just take it easy and enjoy it.”
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