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401words
“Not yet.Just be patient. A few more days, once my position is secure.”He dismissed me.
His words left me crestfallen,disappointment and anger burning inside.
“It was always ‘a few more days.”How many times had I heard that?
My cousin,noticing my mood,assumed we were fighting and tried to lighten the atmosphere.
“Hey,that suit looks sharp!Makes you look energized!”
My husband finally looked up,a smile breaking through.“Good eye!It’s new—Armani,cost over$1,500!”
My cousin’s smile stiffened.
He and I co-own a bespoke tailoring shop where the cheapest suit starts at$4,500.
My husband bragging about a$1,500 suit was laughable to him.
Completely oblivious, my husband kept boasting.
“Take a look at these new leather shoes—they cost $750!”he said proudly.
My cousin,also the general manager of a luxury hotel with millions in assets,couldn’t stand it and excused himself.
As the servers brought the food, I saw a table full of all-vegetarian dishes, and my heart sank.
I pulled a server aside.“Where’s my salmon?The king crab,the lobster?Why aren’t they here?”
The server checked the menu.“Sorry,ma’am,your husband changed the order.It’s now a$4,500 package.”
Furious but unwilling to blame the server,I clenched my fists,calmed myself,and said,“Please refund the difference.”
“Your husband already took the refund,”the server said,uneasy.
I bit back my anger,waved him away,and returned to the room.
Grabbing my husband’s hand,I whispered,“Why’d you change the menu without asking?What’d you do with the refund?”
He avoided my eyes and stammered,“I…I was trying to save you money.”
“Save money?When we booked,I said I’d pay,and you didn’t object!”I was livid.
Tears welled up and spilled over.
Seeing me challenge him, he lost his temper.
Pointing,he shouted,“It’s just money!What’s yours is mine!Stop making a scene.”
A fuss?He disrespected me,deciding everything without me.
The room quieted.My mother-in-law smirked,saying,“An improper woman needs teaching,hmph!”
His aunt chimed in,“Exactly!She doesn't know her place, daring to criticize my nephew? Look at her status!”
My cousin’s face darkened.He lit a cigarette and gave her a sharp, half-smiling glance.
“If my cousin’s status isn’t enough,whose is?”
“Her?Please.Big talk,”my husband’s aunt scoffed.
Furious,my cousin slammed the table and stood up,but I grabbed his arm,shaking my head,not wanting him to reveal my true identity.
Seeing this,he took a drag of his cigarette and sat back down, fuming.
My husband’s relatives thought my cousin was just posturing to defend me,mocking me further.
My cousin sighed and remained silent.
