Chapter 3

I'd stripped Mia down to just her turtleneck sweater. She huddled in the corner of the couch, crying.

"I... I didn't mean to... Warren said the coat looked nice and told me to try it on..."

Warren finally snapped out of it and rushed over to push me away, standing in front of Mia:

"Claire! What's wrong with you?"

"It's just a coat! Mia is a student you're supporting—she's like our daughter!"

"Daughter?"

I pointed at the two disheveled people.

"What kind of father rolls around on the couch with his so-called daughter?"

"Warren, did you leave your brain in the bedsheets, or do you think I'm blind?"

Warren's face turned red:

"We... we were just playing around. You're thinking dirty thoughts—your mind is filthy!"

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"Warren! Open up! We came to visit you!"

Hearing the voices, Mia's eyes lit up.

She immediately wiped away her tears, fixed her hair and clothes, and rushed over to open the door.

"Happy New Year, everyone!"

Mia took the local specialties from various aunts and relatives, her face full of smiles.

If you ignored her swollen face, you'd really think she was the lady of the house.

"Oh my, this must be Mia! What a pretty girl!"

"This girl is so thoughtful, up early doing housework. Not like some people who travel for work on New Year's and don't care about family at all."

Aunt Grace pursed her lips, her eyes cutting toward me.

These relatives had always looked down on me because I didn't give them money and hadn't had children.

Mia poured tea for everyone and arranged strawberries in the most prominent spot:

"Everyone, please try these. These are organic strawberries that Claire specially bought—over a hundred dollars per pound."

"Usually Claire won't even let me eat them, but today you all get to enjoy them."

Aunt Grace ate while talking:

"Of course—she's a CEO. How could she care about us poor relatives?"

"Only Mia is kind-hearted. Warren, you need to think clearly about some things. You should marry someone who cares about family, not someone who only has eyes for money."

Warren smiled apologetically, but his eyes kept drifting to Mia.

I leaned against the cabinet, watching this farce.

"Aunt Grace is right."

I suddenly spoke, a fake smile on my face.

"Mia really is capable. Since she loves doing housework so much, tonight's dinner is all hers to prepare."

Mia's smile froze.

"Also."

I pointed at the bathroom.

"The toilet's a bit clogged. The cleaning lady is on vacation. Since Mia is so thoughtful, why don't you scrub it while you're at it?"

Mia looked to Warren for help.

Warren was about to speak when I cut him off:

"What? Does it hurt your feelings? Didn't you say she's like our daughter? Shouldn't a daughter help out around the house?"

In front of the relatives, Warren could only grit his teeth:

"Mia, then... help Claire out."

Mia went into the kitchen with red-rimmed eyes.

Watching her cough from the cooking fumes, I felt slightly better.

I sat on the couch cracking sunflower seeds, listening to Aunt Grace and the others criticize me.

Until a bratty kid suddenly pulled something out of Mia's bag.

"Mommy! Look how pretty this is!"

It was a limited edition lipstick I'd lost last month.

The living room went silent.

Aunt Grace looked embarrassed:

"This... maybe Mia accidentally took it by mistake..."

"Accidentally?"

I took the lipstick and looked at Mia, who had just brought out a dish.

"This lipstick hasn't even been opened. What, my things grew legs and walked into your bag?"

Mia's face turned pale, the plate trembling in her hands.

Warren immediately jumped in:

"I gave it to Mia. I saw you didn't use that shade much, so I gave it to her."

Mia's tears came on command:

"You gave it to me... don't you remember?"

Magnificent.

I tossed the lipstick back into her knockoff bag and wiped my hands.

"Fine. Since I gave it to you, I'll see it through."

Under the table, I sent a message to my lawyer:

[Is the agreement ready? I need it tonight.]