(BRENDA'S POV)

Grrrr!

The shrill sound of the oven timer cut through the air, signaling that the chickens in it were done. I hurriedly dropped the vegetables I was chopping and rushed to turn it off, exhausted from the pressure of multitasking.

I was cooking the family dinner in commemoration of my mother–in-law's return from her business trip abroad, which also doubles as her birthday.

Honestly, I wasn't feeling too well today. My body ached, and my head throbbed, but I had to push through the exhaustion if I wanted to escape my mother–in law's wrath. Besides, I had an important school reunion to attend this evening, and I know she wouldn't let me attend if I don't finish cooking and cleaning on time.

It is ironic that since I got married to my husband, Desmond, I'm the only one my mother–in law insists cooks for her, despite the number of chefs and maids in the mansion. But despite my efforts, she always found fault in everything I do. It's like I can never do anything right in her eyes.

Letting out a sigh, I shoved the thoughts behind me, concerning myself with the task at hand. Carefully, I removed the chickens from the oven, placing them on a tray to cool. Just as I was about to start plating them, Arya, one of the maids, walked in.

"Madam, I'm sorry, but we're out of oranges for your husband's mother's juice," she announced, a worried look on her face.

My heart sank, and I turned around to face her. "What do you mean we're out of oranges? How come you're telling me this now?" I asked, trying to keep my cool.

"I'm sorry, Madam. I didn't realize until now," she said, lowering her head.

A wave of fear and panic washed over me. No oranges meant no fresh orange juice, and no fresh orange juice meant trouble. Big trouble. My mother-in-law never eats a meal without her favorite juice.

Oh, God. I'm finished!

"Quick!" I ordered, taking wads of cash out of my dress pocket, and handing it to Arya. "Take this money, go to the fruit market and buy some oranges."

She took the money, and without delay, hurried out of the kitchen.

I returned to the chickens, my heart thudding. Time was against me. Desmond had left almost an hour ago to pick up his mother from the airport. I could feel sweat now trickling down my spines as I hurried to finish up with the dinner preparations, while praying that Arya returned on time.

But just as I was about to plate the chickens, I heard the sound of a car driving into the compound. My heart skipped a beat and I rushed to the window to take a peek. My breath hitched in my chest when I saw my husband's car pulling in, with my mother-in-law seated in the front seat.

"Oh, no, no, no," I muttered, panic returning. The fruit market was miles away, and Arya wouldn't be back in time.

I knew I was in deep trouble as I turned away from the window. But I decided to focus on finishing up with dinner. I would rather be scolded for the absence of the juice than a delayed dinner.

As I returned to cooking, I heard Desmond's voice and his mother's, as they walked into the house. "Desmond, I'm starving. I hope Brendan has prepared something decent for dinner," my mother-in-law's voice echoed, reaching me in the kitchen.

I exhaled sharply, and braced myself for whatever was about to come because it was going to be a long evening.

A few minutes later, I was done with dinner, and it was time to serve, yet no sign of Arya. With my heart in my mouth, I set the table, trying to ignore the feeling of dread in my stomach. Afterward, I took my position at a corner of the dining room, just in case my attention was needed.

Just then, my mother-in-law walked into the dining room with Desmond, and a pretty woman I had never seen before. I was surprised to see her, and wondered who she was. For a moment, I looked at her as she took a seat beside my mother-in-law, and I couldn't help but feel inadequate. The woman was elegant, and I stopped myself from comparing her to my tattered self.

"Come here, Brendan!" My mother-in-law barked, speaking to me for the first time since she returned. "Serve our food!"

I obeyed, walking from my spot to serve them. As I served the food, my mother-in-law's eyes scanned the table, and her face fell. Even before she said the words, I knew what they were.

"Where's my juice?" she asked, her voice stern.

"I… I'm sorry, Ma. We ran out of oranges and Arya went to buy them, but she's not back yet," I stuttered.

"I knew there was no way this dinner would be a perfect affair without you ruining it," my mother-in-law bellowed, her face red in anger. "You're so useless, Brenda!"

I cringed, willing myself not to drop the spoon and plate in my hand and run off.

"I wish Skyline, here, was my daughter-in-law instead," She went on, pointing to the pretty lady.

Oh, her name was Skyline?

"She's perfect for Desmond, unlike you, who can't ever get anything right!"

I felt a sting from her words, and my eyes watered. I paused and snuck a look at Skyline, and it turned out she was looking at me too, a smirk on her face. Quickly, I tore my gaze away and focused on serving the food.

And while my mother-in-law went on with her abuses, I drowned her words out. It would hurt less if I paid no heed to them. And when I was done, I stepped away and returned to my position.

They began to eat in silence, and a few minutes into it, my mother-in-law broke the silence, her voice tinged with excitement.

"Skyline will be working in our company as Desmond's new assistant," She announced, a happy grin on her face. "And she'll be staying with us until she finds a house of her own."

I shifted on one leg, uncomfortable with the announcement. I wanted to say it aloud, but I knew my opinion held no value.

Desmond didn't seem okay with the newest, too. "Mother, I don't think –" he started to say, but she cut him off.

"Nonsense, Desmond! I know how much I had to persuade Skyline to return to the country with me. She's the best for the position, and will help our company advance with her foreign ideas that are yet to be known by our competitors."

Desmond shut up, looking embarrassed. I scoffed silently, stopping myself from rolling my eyes. I dislike my mother-in-law for being so controlling. But then, their affairs were not my busy, at least they've made it so.

To keep my mind busy until dinner was over, I decided to think of something else. But just then, something struck me; the school reunion! I looked up at the war clock and gasped, I was running late.

I swallowed hard and walked over to the table, standing a few meters away from my mother-in-law so I wouldn't offend her.

"Excuse me, Ma," I said politely. "I have a school reunion to attend tonight, and I promised my classmate I'd attend. May I be excused?"

She looked up at me, sizing me up and down with a scowl on her face. "We're not done with the mediocre dinner you prepared, and you want to leave?"

I ignored her rude words and pressed on. "I'm sorry if the dinner was not up to your taste, Ma. But I really need to go. My friends are waiting."

"You can't go," she said, and my heart squeezed painfully. "Not after you almost ruined my dinner with the absence of my juice. Now go back to your position and let me eat this rubbish you cooked in peace!"

I lowered my head, my eyes brimming with tears, as I turned to leave, but Desmond's words stopped me.

"Mother, please let her go. I promised her best friend, Hailey, that she would attend the reunion after she begged me nonstop for weeks," Desmond said.

My mother-in-law waved her hand dismissively. "She can't go, Desmond. She has to clear the table after we're done eating.

"But there are maids to do that, right, Mother?" Desmond persisted.

His mother whipped her head to face him, angry that he was defying her order. "What does it matter to you, Desmond? Why are you insisting she attend the reunion after I clearly said she can't?"

"Because she deserves to. Brenda deserves the gate away after toiling all day to prepare dinner."

"How dare you, Desmond? You're taking her side against me? My decision is final, she's not leaving this place!" His mother yelled, her face reddened now.

"Well, I insist that she goes for the reunion!" Desmond said, this time, his voice was loud and firm, taking me and his mother by surprise.

I couldn't believe it. Desmond was actually defending me, standing up to his mother for me. I felt a lump in my throat, as my eyes glistened with tears. This had to be another Desmond because the Desmond I knew stopped defending me years ago.

What changed?