Chapter 3: The Mother-In-Law Has Arrived
The interview went well. Alva had a nice appearance, good skin, and a gentle aura that was well–suited to cosmetics sales. She started working the very same day.
Alva worked in the Itokin Building. It was the largest shopping mall in Virginia and catered to mid–to–high–class consumers. It saw high volumes of traffic every day.
Alva worked hard. She was the first one to come in and the last one to leave every day. She learned about cosmetics, took notes, shadowed other clerks as they sold products, and put what she learned into practice immediately. In just a few days, she was already familiar with the process.
The store manager noticed her effort and was very satisfied with her work ethic.
One day, Alva successfully sold one of their products and was seeing the customer off when her phone rang.
Alva said to the store manager, “Manager, I have to take this call.”
Bosses tend to like hardworking and motivated employees. Naturally, they can be very accommodating to said employees.
“Go ahead.”
Alva walked inside the storage room with her phone. When she saw the word mother–in–law displayed on the screen, the smile on her face froze and was soon replaced by
nervousness.
A year ago, when Uriah wanted to marry her, the Irwin Family strongly disagreed. But no matter how much they insisted otherwise, they could not deter Uriah.
They had no choice but to compromise, but the two elders had never recognized her as their daughter–in–law. Uriah fiercely defended her and told her that she had no obligation to give in to her in–laws‘ demands. Aside from the first time Uriah brought her home to meet his parents, she had never laid eyes upon them again over the course of a year.
Now that Candice Florice was calling, it was impossible for Alva not to be nervous.
“Mom.” Alva’s voice was so soft and gentle that there was no way you could hate the speaker.
“I’m waiting for you at the Thia Restaurant next door. Get over here now.”
Candice’s tone was awful, but she seemed levelheaded. She didn’t lose her temper with Alva over the phone.
That said, her mother–in–law hung up after saying her piece.
Alva looked at her phone and thought about calling Uriah to tell him about her meeting with his mother.
But after considering their current relationship, Alva slid her phone into her pocket and went outside to ask the store manager if she could get off work early.
Ten minutes later, Alva arrived at the restaurant next door and the waiter led her to the private room.
Aside from Candice, there was no one else in the room.
Alva walked over and muttered softly, “Mom.”
Candice looked at Alva, her eyes sweeping from the top of her head to her feet and back again, her brow knitting tighter and tighter, “Have you forgotten who you are?”
She had something to do over here and stopped by to see her son as well, but before she could go see him, she saw her daughter–in–law selling cosmetics.
When did the Irwin Family run out of money for their daughter–in–law to take up such a mediocre job?
The very thought made Candice twist her features into an ugly scowl.
But instead of answering her, Alva looked at her in surprise.
Mom doesn’t seem to know that Uriah and I are divorced.
Candice’s expression darkened when Alva didn’t say anything. “Are you listening to me or not?”
What kind of family were they? No wonder her son had also thrown etiquette out the window once he left the house!
Alva reacted and hurriedly waved her hands, “That’s not it, Mom. I…”
She was interrupted by Candice before she could finish her sentence, “What isn’t? I saw you with my own eyes! Do you want me to catch you red–handed before you admit it?”
“Alva, I’m telling you, the Irwin Family won’t abide by such shameful behavior!”
3/5
Candice was extremely furious.
I’m really unsatisfied with this daughter–in–law. She doesn’t understand a thing. What did Uriah ever see in this woman?!
The more she thought about it, the angrier Candice got. She stood up and said, “Go back to your home right now. I forbid you from doing these kinds of jobs again. Just stay home and be a full–time wife. Otherwise, don’t say that I’m bullying you just because I’m your mother–in–law!”
Alva knitted her eyebrows and felt a little anxious, “Mom, listen to me. It’s not what you think.”
She was now certain that Candice did not know about her divorce from Uriah, but since she had signed the divorce papers and Candice was now present, she didn’t need to hide it.
However, Candice thought she was trying to conceal the truth. She didn’t want to listen to Alva, so she took her bag
and left.
Alva went after her, but when she stepped out of the room, she bumped into a waiter.
The waiter was carrying a meal. When they collided, the meal in the waiter’s hand spilled all over Alva and landed on the floor.
A strong fishy smell directly hit her nose. Alva’s stomach instantly turned inside out. She couldn’t hold back, covered her mouth, and threw up on the spot.
Candice heard the sound and turned to see Alva covering her mouth and vomiting.
She realized something, and the color drained from her face. Candice quickly went to Alva’s side and shouted, “Alva!”
