Chapter 7 A Chaotic Family Dinner

• Fragrant Delight was a well-known luxurious restaurant in Elliswall, so it was apparent that Anna's aunt was rich enough to hold a banquet there.
• Inside the best private room in Fragrant Delight were two round tables that could fit twenty people. Each of them had to cost at least twenty thousand Broynic Credits.
• At that moment, the room was filled with guests and happy chatter in the air.
• When Cole showed up, a beautiful middle-aged woman at the main table immediately rose to her feet and exclaimed in shock, "Cole, why are you here? How are you still alive?"
• The woman who spoke was Anna's mom, Lila.
• When the Stuart Family fell, his mother-in-law was the first to come forward and ask Anna to divorce him. However, Anna refused and was chased out of the Brown Family at last.
• During these three years, Lila and Gordon Brown, Cole's father-in-law, had never visited him once. To them, it would be better if he died because Anna could marry someone else.
• "Oh, I got it. Anna must've gathered enough money to let Dr. Howard fix you up, right?" asked Lila.
• "More or less so," Cole answered.
• All the relatives in the room began observing him.
• "So, this is Anna's husband, who had been crippled for three years!"
• "He looks like a gentleman, but I didn't expect him to rely on his wife for a living!"
• The Browns all glanced at Cole disdainfully.
• "What a disgrace. I called Anna here, not you, so why did you come here?" While glaring at him, Lila reprimanded, "Why are you still standing there like a pillar? Get over here!"
• Subsequently, he went over obediently. He sat at the table with Anna's aunt, Daisy Thomas, her husband, daughter, and son-in-law.
• Daisy's son-in-law, Henderey Jordan, was a well-dressed young man with fair skin and glasses. He spoke elegantly and seemed like someone from the system. "Thank you, elders and fellow relatives, for coming to celebrate my promotion. Here's to all of you! Cheers!"
• Seeing that everyone had arrived, Henderey raised his wine glass and said a few words before downing his drink.
• "Henderey, you're too modest. I might have to rely on you, the deputy chief of the education department, to look after me!"
• "That's right. Henderey is such a capable young man. He's promoted to deputy chief so quickly that I think he'll be promoted to Chief within two years."
• "If you do get promoted again, don't forget about us! Haha!"
• "Uncles and Aunts, you guys look too highly of me. Regardless of my position, you will still be my elders, so I'll assist whenever you need me to."
• All the relatives nodded as a compliment. Both Daisy and her husband were beaming, obviously very proud.
• At that moment, one of the elders directed the topic onto Cole. "Since you've recovered, you should learn from Henderey and find a job. Don't stay idle at home and do nothing, hoping Anna to be the breadwinner."
• Suddenly, Cole's expression turned grim, while Lila and Gordon also looked gloomy.
• Both were sons-in-law, but why were the treatments so different?
• "How about this—I'll let Henderey introduce a doorman job to you!" Daisy chimed in.
• However, Henderey waved his hand and said, "Mom, that's impossible. Not everyone can get a job in the Education Department. At the very least, he should have a Master's degree before applying for a job. From what I know, Cole only has a bachelor's degree, so that won't do!"
• "But he can't stay at home and rely on Anna for a living, right?"
• A younger sister from Daisy's side of the family offered. "My company is currently hiring male cleaners. Why don't you try it out? It's three thousand a month."
• "Hmm. Three thousand isn't that much, but with his condition, that's all he can do."
• The bunch of relatives began bringing up all kinds of opportunities. Though it sounded like they cared, they were mocking Cole for being a kept man.
• Lila and Gordon's expressions became even darker as they wished the floor would swallow them up. As for Cole, he continued to eat and drink as if he had nothing to do with all of this.
• Not being able to hold it in anymore, Lila became pissed and criticized him, "As I would expect from a loser. What else can you do besides eating?"
• "Hey, you can't blame him for that. He doesn't have many opportunities to eat at such a high-end restaurant. So, of course, he would savor this chance to eat as much as he can." Gordon sighed.
• At that moment, a loud and unhappy voice rang from outside. "What are you saying? Isn't this the large private room I booked?"
• "Mr. Welsh, I'm so sorry. I was so busy I forgot that you booked this room. The customers inside have started their meal, so how about I switch you to another private room?"
• "Another room? Do you know who the guests are later? Hurry up and tell those people inside to get out!"
• "That's not very polite, is it? The one inside is the deputy chief of the education department. How can I possibly dare to ask him to leave?"
• "What's there to be afraid of? It's just a mere deputy chief!"
• Hearing the conversation outside, Henderey, who was a little tipsy, yelled, "Who's outside? How dare you speak badly about me?" Once he said those words, the people inside the room straightened their backs confidently.
• "It's me, Matt Welsh, private secretary of Mayor Canfield!"
• With that, a middle-aged man pushed the door open.
• "Oh, f*ck!" Henderey was so shocked that he dropped his utensils. "Mr. Welsh, what brings you here?"
• "Stop trying to suck up to me. Where in the Ed Department are you from?" asked Matt unhappily as he sized Henderey up, obviously not recognizing who he was.
• "Mr. Welsh, I'm from the HR Department!" Henderey was so terrified that he stammered.
• Matt was the mayor's most trusted assistant. If Henderey offended Matt, he could kiss his career goodbye.
• "Mr. Canfield is inviting a few friends over for a meal to celebrate Old Mr. Canfield's discharge from the hospital, so he needs this large room," Matt informed in a cold tone.
• "I completely understand. We'll clear out of this room immediately!" Henderey hurriedly said while hinting at his relatives with his eyes.
• As a result, everyone picked up their plates and cutleries, ready to leave. The relatives were upset but too afraid to say anything because Matt was Tyler's right-hand man, so they could not afford to offend him.
• "Mr. Welsh, aren't you being quite rude?"
• At that moment, Cole, who had been devouring his food, slammed his fork on the table with a clang. His words shocked the others so much that they felt their hearts in their throats!
• "Cole, you idiot. How could you say that?" Henderey glared viciously at him. "If you wanna die, just f*cking do it alone!"
• Lila gave Cole a hard push from the back. "Have you gone mad? How could you say such a thing?"
• "Hey, Cole! I didn't expect to see you here!" Surprisingly, Matt was not the slightest bit angry and even ran over to greet Cole upon hearing his words.
• "It is a coincidence. I didn't expect to see you here either."
• Meanwhile, the crowd was dumbfounded. What is happening?