Claudia sounded so righteous, but Anastasia couldn't take it any longer.
"Mom, no matter how much money Ethan has, it's all his. This has nothing to do with us! Also, I said I wouldn't seek a divorce. Why keep bringing this up?"
After saying this, Anastasia carried the sleeping Sophia upstairs.
Claudia was so outraged by Anastasia's reply that she stayed silent for a moment, then shouted angrily at the steps, "Who am I doing this for? This is all for you! That good-for-nothing finally made some money. What are you keeping him around for if you aren't going to get it from him before you ditch him? Seriously, you never listen to what I say!"
Charles, who had consumed too much beer, lay on the couch in a stupor. He was startled awake by Claudia's piercing shrieking and barked in disgust, "Why are you yelling? You're too loud."
Claudia immediately turned her anger on him. "You only drink and throw tantrums! You are so useless! I'm worried about this family, and you're all out to upset me. I'm very unlucky to have married a slacker like you..."
She was still weeping when the door creaked open, and Ethan arrived.
Claudia, who had looked the other way since the last time Ethan paid her rent, was resentful. Ethan's generosity in giving her fifteen thousand dollars indicated he had much more cash on hand, but he had never mentioned it before, and Claudia couldn't tolerate it. She disliked Ethan even more!
She looked up, ready to admonish him, but he bowed slightly to both of them and left.
Claudia was furious because Ethan had left before she could mock him.
"Have you no manners? Why don't you greet your elders? Hmph, poor and ill-mannered! You even concealed your stash from us. You're just a live-in son-in-law taking advantage of us. How dare you hide your money from us! You've gone overboard!" Claudia continued scolding in the living room, purposefully smashing the broom against the trash can.
Now, Ethan gently held Sophia in Anastasia's bedroom as she slept and cleaned her feet. He entirely ignored the scolding from downstairs.
Claudia's harsh words had once irritated him, but he had long decided it wasn't worth getting upset over her statements.
However, Claudia was Anastasia's mother, so Ethan need to treat her with basic respect and nothing more. However, Anastasia was ashamed. Even she considered her mother's statements incredibly harsh.
"I'm sorry, my mother... she's going through menopause and has been really ill-tempered and irritated recently. Don't take it too hard," Anastasia strained to find an explanation for her mother's actions.
Ethan smiled but said nothing. Instead, he took a soft towel, wiped his daughter's feet dry, and tucked her into bed.
Anastasia grew increasingly uncomfortable watching Ethan do all this.
A few days ago, she had gotten a high temperature after being outside in the rain. Sophia was worried about her but didn't want to leave Ethan, so he carried her into the room and slept on a mattress on the floor.
With Sophia already asleep and the two in the same room, things were awkward, especially after she had rejected Ethan's proposal that day.
Ethan noticed Anastasia's unease and said, "I have something to attend tonight, so I'll get going."
He left before she could say anything.
Although he wanted to stay and spend more time with her, he realized they both needed time and that he couldn't be overly eager.
There was no peace at the Reed home tonight.
During supper, the Reeds were humiliated in ways they had never experienced before.
Claudia, a shameless shrew, began by boasting and humiliating them at the entrance. They then ran into the usher, who purposefully ignored them and even arranged for them to sit at a small, dirty table near the door. As a result, they became the laughingstock of Emerald Coast County's most notable figures!
Following that, Gideon Boysen of Orion Industries delivered a speech, and countless families and businesses competed to collaborate with Spark Enterprises, which was a slap in the face!
Just a few days ago, they still owned Spark Enterprises!
Of course, Anastasia and Claudia's families bothered them the most!
They were the trash kicked out of the Reed family and disowned. Nonetheless, they contacted the Monroes, Emerald Coast County's wealthiest family, and even boasted about it. They would never be able to bear this!
"Grandpa, are we going to let Anastasia, her sister, and that shameless Claudia continue being haughty and trampling all over us?" Brendan's frustration grew as he pounded the couch hard.
Ethan had previously broken his right wrist, and it was still bandaged in a thick layer of gauze.
In brief, he thought Anastasia's family was horrible, and he wanted them all dead!
Thaddeus' visage was also grim. He had always been dominating, so he practically couldn't stand any opposition as the family leader.
After kicking Anastasia's family out, they didn't have a wretched life and became acquainted with the Monroes. How could the proud Thaddeus Reed tolerate this?
"Brendan, is it true that their family will be the Monroes' in-laws?" Thaddeus asked.
Brendan nodded despite his resentment. "Grandpa, when I went to their house before, I noticed Charlotte driving a special edition luxury Lamborghini worth at least a million dollars. Besides, I've heard the Monroes gave them more than just a sports car. They also gave them a villa, a few stores, and a million dollars in cash. All of the presents were brought in a box! Furthermore, I attempted to make things difficult for them at today's banquet, but the Monroes sent someone to inform them that a private room had been arranged for them. It's true."
Thaddeus remained mute, but he appeared increasingly angry.
At this point, one of the Reeds inquired, "Those things belong to the Reeds, so why should we give it to them? It should be confiscated since they are no longer part of the Reed family."