A harsh wake up

The taxi driver was stunned when he came to a stop in front of a highly expensive and luxurious residential area. He did not expect that this crazy-looking woman would be a rich Missy when he picked her up.

However, he was not wrong if anyone had seen her on the street they would have thought that she was a madwoman. 

He turned around and saw Ari getting out of the car, though she did not seem like one of those high-profile ladies, her elegance and beauty made up for her messy appearance. 

After taking a few more looks, the taxi driver naturally drew a few assumptions on his own. If this woman was not crazy, then there could only be one more reason for her to look like this… heartbreak.

The lady did not say anything as she took out a few bills and handed them to him, "Go and enjoy a good dinner with your family." 

When the taxi driver saw that the woman had handed him a hundred dollars, he was stunned. He looked at Ari and then said, "There is no need for this, miss." 

Ari smiled and then pushed the hundred dollars in the hand of the taxi driver before saying, "You were the only one who showed me kindness tonight. Take this as your reward." 

She turned on her heels and then walked away, leaving the taxi driver behind. He looked at the hundred dollars in his hands before muttering, "Who in the world would hurt such a kind woman?" 

****

Ari walked past the clean cobblestone path that led to the Nelson house. Though she was not drunk, her feet were unstable as she tumbled on the invisible pebbles. A few times she tripped but somehow managed to climb her way back on her feet.

Finally, she arrived at a manor which looked grand with dim golden light glowing at the front doors. In front of the mansion was a fountain with four women sculpted on each side, each of them was holding a vase in their hands as water poured out from the vase. 

Ari walked up to the fountain and looked at the water that was shallow but enough for one to drown and stared at her reflection in the rippling water. 

She shook her head and scoffed, "I might have really lost my head. Why am I even thinking of such things? Is it even worse killing myself for that heartless man?" Her heart, which had once burned with affection and love for Noah, finally turned into nothing but a pile of ashes. "I need a Power Nap before my mind starts getting even more crazy." 

Ari headed up the marble stairs with a limp and pushed the doors open before heading inside the house but no sooner did she step inside, a figure darted towards her, and before she could understand what was going on, a crisp slap landed on her face. 

The sharp sting on her cheek sobered her thoughts a little. 

She raised her hand and touched the cheek that was slapped, and then raised her head to look at the woman. Her eyes filled with shock as she looked at her mother-in-law, Mrs. Nelson. 

With her hair tied up in a messy bun with a few strands dropping on her forehead and round glasses resting on her nose, the woman was glaring at her with her brown eyes. She was dressed in a grey loose shirt and black pants while staring at Ari as if she were looking at the scummiest woman on earth. 

"What is the meaning of this mother?" Ari asked with a hint of anger in her voice. 

"Don't call me mother, I cannot bear this title from your mouth," Mrs. Nelson sneered as she crossed her arms in front and questioned Ari as if she were a criminal waiting for her verdict. "Tell me, did you go to the Muse Bar and then make a fuss at Ariel's homecoming party?"

Ari's eyes flickered. She should have known that Ariel would not drop the matter. Given how much Mrs. Nelson doted on her, Ariel must have informed Mrs. Nelson everything such that she could bring Ari to 'justice'.

"Did Ariel tell you this?" Ari asked with a slight tremor in her voice. 

Her sister-in-law, Glynn, who was a copy of her mother except having brown hair, snorted and then chimed in between, "A good thing too. Or else we wouldn't have known that you acted like a shrew in front of the many second-generation rich heirs. How embarrassing." She then looked at Ari, who was a mess and curled her lips in disdain. "Not only did you act like a shrew, but you also look like one." 

"I didn't——"

"HOW DARE YOU DENY IT?" Mrs. Nelson shrieked as she pointed at Ari with an angry expression. "I have heard all about it, not only did you make a gigantic show, but you also threw water and whatnot at my son! You even hurt the son of Mrs. Baker! Do you even know how embarrassing it was for me?"

Ari was speechless. She looked at her mother-in-law before dropping her hand that was clutching her cheek that was slapped. She asked, "Did you even hear why I made a fuss?" Before her mother-in-law could say anything, Ari added, "Or do you expect me to cheer your son when I find him kissing another woman when he is married to me?" 

Mrs. Nelson was quite surprised when she saw Ari retort. She had never seen this woman open her mouth in front of her ever since she married her son, but not only did Ari's actions not calm her down, instead they fuelled her anger as she scolded Ari harshly, "Do I need to remind you how you married my son? If not for the fact that you chased Ariel away on the day of the wedding… she would be Mrs Nelson! Do not forget your position, Ariana Harlow!" 

She paused and then added, "Anyway, my son is excellent. what is wrong with him chasing his happiness when you cannot give it to him?" 

Ari simply stared at Mrs. Nelson. She was either crazy or too stupid because she did not understand what Mrs. Nelson was trying to say. Was she trying to gaslight her by saying that she was not good enough for Noah and should not make a fuss, even when he was cheating on her? 

Was marriage all about who held more grandiose power? The stronger one could walk on the heads of their spouses as they wanted. 

But then again, Ari couldn't understand the complexity of the thoughts of others, as her personality was different from the rest of the people. However, even if her personality was different from others, Ari knew one thing for sure and that was ——

She was not wrong, and no amount of blame or gaslighting was going to shake her up. 

Ari curled up her lips and then said, "Don't worry, mother. Very soon, your son can chase his happiness. Since he wants it so desperately, it would be too much of me to not give it to him."

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