Chapter 2

But as the days went by, her smiles disappeared, and she spoke less and less.

And now she was openly treating me differently, even telling me to leave in front of everyone?

This was too much.

Even if I weren't her mother-in-law, I was still the one who'd funded this restaurant.

And for three whole months, I'd paid out of my own pocket every single day to bring all kinds of people in to eat, just to drum up business for my daughter-in-law and help her build a customer base.

I'd poured my time, money, and energy into this place.

And in the end, this was what I got? This was how she treated me?

How was that fair?

I was just about to demand an explanation from my daughter-in-law.

Then my son, who'd been serving customers behind the counter, suddenly rushed over, pulled me aside, and murmured softly.

"Mom, don't be upset."

"Business hasn't been good lately, and Marcella's been under a lot of pressure. She's just been having a hard time."

"Just do it for my sake, okay? Don't hold it against her."

Looking at the strained, helpless expression on my son's face, everything I'd been feeling stuck in my throat.

It wasn't the unfair treatment that bothered me.

What I was afraid of was putting my son in the middle, caught between his mother and his wife.

I didn't want to come between them.

So I let it go.

I pushed down every bit of hurt, forced a smile, and went back to my seat, making excuses for my daughter-in-law.

"I'm so sorry, the place really is busy, so there was a mix-up."

"My daughter-in-law says everyone should order whatever they'd like. Consider it her way of making it up to you all."

As uncomfortable as I felt, I still had to save face for my daughter-in-law in front of everyone.

I couldn't let anyone think she'd been unkind to me, her mother-in-law.

It wouldn't look good for her.

Hearing my explanation, my old friends relaxed and smiled.

"See, I said it had to be a mistake."

"Susan, your daughter-in-law really is a gem. She's so thoughtful and capable."

I nodded with a smile and didn't say anything more.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, I did what I always did. I scanned the restaurant's QR code my son had given me and paid the entire bill myself.

After saying goodbye to my friends, I headed home alone.

The restaurant wasn't far from the house, just a ten-minute walk.

I walked the whole way home, my mind full of the resentment I'd seen on my daughter-in-law's face.

She hadn't always been like this.

Before she opened this restaurant, Marcella was an ordinary office worker.

She worked nine to five, and though the pay wasn't much, she always thought of me.

Every payday, she'd buy me something.

My clothes, my shoes, my skincare—you name it, she'd buy it for me.

Back then, the two of us could talk about anything, and we were as close as a mother and daughter could be.

The whole neighborhood envied me for having such a thoughtful daughter-in-law.

Then her company had layoffs, and she was laid off.

For a while, she job-hunted every day, only to be turned away everywhere she went. It was a serious blow to her confidence.

She grew withdrawn and dejected, shutting herself away at home day and night, not wanting to talk or go out.

Watching her grow more withdrawn by the day broke my heart, and I wanted nothing more than to help her through it.

So I went to my son, hoping he'd have some idea.

He told me that Marcella's biggest dream was to open a restaurant.

She just didn't have the money, so she'd never dared to try.

Hearing that, I didn't hesitate for a second. I transferred my son all the money I'd saved over the years.

"Whatever Marcella wants to do, let her pursue it without worrying about the money."

When the one million dollars landed in his account, my son's eyes turned red.

"Mom, you're so good to Marcella."

"She's going to be thrilled when she finds out."