Strained Relationship

In the middle of a beautiful garden, under a clear sky. A group of women were having tea in a large gazebo in the middle of a luxurious garden with beautiful architecture.

They were laughing and telling stories to each other, but they were not laughing together but laughing at a woman who was sitting at tea with them.

Avians, sat silently with her head bowed as everyone there made her feel unworthy of sitting with them.

Her own mother-in-law's friend Sarah kept comparing their beautiful and educated daughter-in-law. A respected daughter-in-law who was so charming in everyone's eyes.

Not like her who was just an ordinary school graduate who was not even comparable to them. Her confidence seemed to be destroyed just hearing every sentence that came out of their mouths.

"My daughter-in-law loves taking care of herself, we used to go to the salon together twice a week. Of course she looks very beautiful, Melody even took beauty classes," said Diara who continued to boast about her daughter-in-law.

"My daughter-in-law Dorothy, is taking designer classes. She's very good at interior design, her brain is so creative and genius," Michel replied, not to be outdone.

"Oh? My daughter-in-law Amelia takes cooking classes. Her cooking is like a five-star restaurant. You should try it once in a while," said Hannah.

"Your daughter-in-law is amazing, unlike mine. She can't even do anything, she just sleeps at home. Very lazy," said Sarah, who continued to put Avians down in front of her friends.

Avians couldn't do much, she just listened to them silently.

"It's a waste of life if you can only do nothing, you only went to high school, nothing more. Never worked either, I wonder how disappointed her parents are," Melody chided.

Avians eyes closed, she squeezed her own dress, trying to endure the pain of being cursed at even by her own mother in-laws.

Avians had hoped to have a good relationship with Sarah in the future, that's why she decided to come to the tea, but in reality she was just being made fun of by them.

"I... I can do something. I... I can cook, do chores and stuff," Avians said trying to defend herself.

Everyone there was silent as they looked at Avians.

"I do everything myself, without having to study outside. I..."

"Heh, do you want to be a career woman or a maid? If it's just like that, a maid will do. Aunt Sarah, I wonder why your son wants to marry her," Dorothy said.

Hearing Dorothy's words made Avians' confidence, which she had gathered a little, crumble again. She just wanted to say what she could do too. She was not as great as them, but she was not as bad as they thought either.

"I also don't understand why my son would marry a clown like her. If I could have gotten a much better daughter-in-law, I would have been very happy to bring her here," Sarah replied.

'Then... Why did you invite me here?' Avians thought sadly.

They laughed again in response to Sarah's words. In the middle of their laughter, a man came and immediately pulled Avians' hand up from her seat.

They all turned to the man in surprise, as well as Avians who was suddenly pulled.

"I-Ian?"

"What were you thinking coming here?" asked Adrian in such a cold tone.

This was the first time Adrian had spoken to her in such a tone. She had seen Adrian like that, but he had never spoken to her in such a cold tone.

"Adrian, what are you doing here? We're having a tea party!" said Sarah.

"Tea party, huh? Making my wife the one of your jokes?!" he snapped.

Hearing Adrian's words made the Avians gasp in shock. Adrian was really angry right now.

"What do you mean by that?! We didn't make her a joke, she's the one who can't do anything. Unlike them, my friend's daughter-in-law is very beautiful, great and educated, while she..."

"While she's what? Are you saying Avi isn't an educated woman? Look at yourself, mom. You're educated but your attitude doesn't seem to reflect it at all!" retorted Adrian.

The man's gray eyes stared intently at all of them in the place.

"Once you dare to demean my wife with that sentence that came out of your mouth, I will make sure that all TechNC cooperation with your company is broken. I will withdraw all the funds we have given to your company," he threatened in a rather high tone.

Hearing Adrian's threat, they dared not move or say a word. If that happened, their company would go bankrupt.

"Adrian! How dare you--!"

"Mother, I told you to behave yourself with my wife. I won't repeat what I said to you twice that day if you still disrespect Avi," Adrian said before finally going to pull the Avians away from there.

"I-Ian."

Avians could only follow her husband pulling her hand without being able to say anything. She was really afraid of Adrian's nature which was far different from what she was used to seeing.

The gentle and kind figure that Avians had always seen, turned into something that was the opposite of what she was used to.

For a moment Avians wondered if all this time Adrian had only been pretending to be good in front of her and all this time he...

The man told Avians to get into his car and they both left. Adrian drove his own car, away from the place.

During the trip, Avians just sat quietly while occasionally glancing at Adrian who was driving the car.

"Ian?"

"Why did you have to come there? You knew that they would only do that to you, but why did you go anyway?" Adrian asked.

"I'm sorry. I... Just wanted to make your mom happy with me. I wanted to be on good terms with her. I thought by her inviting me to tea with her friends, she had accepted me, but apparently..."

Hearing his wife's explanation, Adrian could only let out a rough sigh. Seeing him, made Avians feel even more guilty.

"Look, you can do whatever you want and I will always allow you to. But not with three things, first cheating on me, second meeting your family and third going with my mom. Do you understand?" asked Adrian firmly.

"Yes, I understand. I'm sorry." replied Avians.

During the journey until they arrived home, there was no conversation at all. Avians went straight to their room while Adrian stayed in his study.

She lay on the bed trying to digest what had just happened.

Was this the other side of Adrian that Elena had told her about?

A side Avians had never seen in all the time she had known her husband.