Chapter 1The Price of Filial Piety

After my year-end bonus hit my account, my husband, Liam, and I went out for the omakase dinner we'd been drooling over for ages.

We hadn't even taken a few bites when my mother-in-law called.

She was sobbing, out of breath:

"Your dad... went to the hospital today."

My husband panicked and shot up from his seat:

"What's wrong? What did the doctor say? Stop crying and tell me first..."

My mother-in-law rambled on, starting from three days ago when my father-in-law chipped his tooth on a hard bone, all the way to how cold the doctors at the hospital were.

Half an hour later, she finally got to the point:

"The doctor said, in his situation, he needs a dental implant."

My husband sighed in relief:

"I thought it was something serious. Then just get the implant."

My mother-in-law hemmed and hawed:

"It's a bit expensive."

"How expensive could it be?"

"Eighty thousand."

My husband fell silent.

I quietly savored the delicious food. The anxious and apprehensive mood I'd had for days finally settled completely at this moment.

"Liam? Liam? Are you listening?" My mother-in-law's shrill voice seemed to pierce through the receiver.

Liam looked at me and said in a low voice:

"I'm listening. I'm out right now, I'll call you back later."

I sneered inwardly.

I'd bet anything my mother-in-law wouldn't hang up.

Every single time my in-laws asked him for money, this was the routine.

First, my mother-in-law would lead the charge with crying and wailing. If Liam agreed immediately, the call would end there.

If Liam didn't agree, then it was my father-in-law's turn.

The mother-in-law was responsible for crying, the father-in-law for scolding.

Heavy accusations like "unfilial," "raised you for nothing," and "what's the point of living" would come crashing down.

In the very end, Liam would always compromise.

This time, of course, would be no exception.

I counted silently in my head.

Three, two, one.

Sure enough, the next second, my mother-in-law said:

"I'll put your dad on the phone."

Liam frowned and sighed.

His demeanor was becoming more and more like his father's.

On the other end of the line, my father-in-law sighed heavily.

"Sigh, I know I'm putting you in a tough spot. Given our family's situation, forget it. It's all my fault for being useless, who told me not to make money when I was young?

"I'm getting old anyway. If something really happens, I've lived long enough. Sigh... let's not talk about it. You and Chloe go ahead and enjoy your meal, don't fight over this little thing."

Liam anxiously interrupted:

"Dad, don't say such unlucky things..."

Answering him was the beep, beep sound of the call disconnecting.

He hurriedly called back.

No one answered on the other end.

He stared at me.

I stared at the omakase chef's hands.

These hands are really beautiful.

Just for these beautiful hands, I could eat thirty more pieces.

The sea urchin is so fresh.

It melts in the mouth.

But in the end, I only ate one piece.

Because Liam blew up at me.

He said:

"My dad is in this state, how can you still have the appetite to eat?"