Chapter 72 Olivia's Helplessness
Olivia leaned close to her ear and said, "Let's give gift cards worth around two thousand dollars. I gave most of my remaining money to Tanner, and now I only have three thousand left, so I can only give a two thousand dollar gift card."
Nora didn't expect Olivia to be in such a tight spot - after several years of marriage, she only had a little over a thousand dollars left. Yet Willie was taking Hazel out for meals that cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars each time. Nora felt a bitter taste in her heart.
So women should spend their husband's money when they should, otherwise another woman will spend it for them.
"Then I'll also give a gift card worth around 2000 dollars." Considering Olivia's situation, Nora felt she should protect her dignity.
Olivia patted her hand.
Nora asked her again, "Did Dad scold you again just now?"
Olivia said somewhat helplessly, "When have I ever come back without him scolding me?"
"True, that's just how he is. Sis, just let it go in one ear and out the other, don't take it to heart." Nora comforted Olivia with a few words, "Have you and Willie made up from your cold war?"
"Made up my ass." Olivia glanced at her, "There was another conflict at home yesterday."
"What happened this time?"
"Yesterday we had guests over, and I was in the kitchen helping to cook sweet soup. Someone spilled some milk on the floor - I don't know who. Eleanor came into the kitchen and scolded me, saying didn't I have eyes? Why didn't I wipe up the milk on the floor? I was cooking, so I said I'd wipe it later."
"Then she took some fruit out, and when she came back and saw the milk still wasn't wiped up, she immediately got angry and kept arguing with me. I said I was busy with the sweet soup, and if it burned, she'd blame me for that too. But she wouldn't listen and went out to badmouth me to the guests, saying I was mean-spirited, that I deliberately spilled milk on the floor because I saw her going in and out of the kitchen, trying to make her slip and fall."
After hearing this, Nora was speechless. "Does your mother-in-law have a persecution complex?"
Being unreasonable to an incomprehensible degree.
"Probably. Later, Bianca heard about it and insisted I apologize to Eleanor. But in the end, it turned outthat the milk was spilled by my husband. What did Eleanor say? She said her son must have done it accidentally. See? When her son does it, it's not intentional, but if I had done it, she'd definitely say I deliberately tried to make her fall."
"Living with someone like that is too exhausting." Nora shook her head.
Olivia sighed, "That's the difference between a son and a daughter-in-law. Whatever a daughter-in-law does is deliberate - giving her attitude, trying to harm her, disrespecting her, wanting to drive her away. But whatever the son does isn't intentional - that's just how he is, he doesn't know any better."
Nora patted the back of Olivia's hand, meaning to comfort her.
Olivia leaned on her shoulder, "You're better off not having to live with in-laws, saving yourself so much trouble."
"After you have the baby, can you avoid living with them?" Nora asked Olivia.
Olivia felt there was no hope. "His whole family has come to depend on Willie now. I'm afraid they won't leave easily. Terry's two kids' tuition is all paid by Willie - over 4,000 dollars per semester. Do you think he'd be willing to live separately? If we really lived separately, Terry couldn't even afford to raise his kids."
"True." Terry's monthly salary was only around 8,000 dollars. In a big city like South City, trying to rent a place and support two kids in school would be very stressful.
"Terry has it so good living with us now. His earnings go straight into his own pocket. Willie pays for food and housing, and Willie also pays the kids' tuition. Even though his salary is only 8,000 dollars, after living costs are covered, he's living comfortably. Plus, when he goes out to eat and drink, he uses the company card for everything - doesn't spend a penny of his own money. He saves all 8,000 dollars every month. When he buys things for his kids and wife, he also uses the company card for everything."
"How did Eleanor explain this to Willie? She said they're brothers, and since Willie has the means, he should help him out. She told Willie to turn a blind eye to Terry using the company card. Terry also takes kickbacks from the company. Eleanor says, Family shouldn't worry about these things so much."
What left Olivia speechless was that the whole family was taking advantage of Willie alone, then saying the family shouldn't worry about these things so much.
Olivia said, "Every time I mention it, Eleanor says it's between the brothers and not for an outsider like me to interfere. Then she pretends to be sick and goes crying to Willie, saying I'm stirring up trouble at home every day, saying I'm not a good woman, always creating conflicts and keeping the family at war."
"Does Eleanor want you and Willie to get divorced?" Nora increasingly felt that Eleanor didn't want Olivia and Willie to have a good relationship at all.
"Of course. She thinks I'm too much trouble. If she had someone with a softer personality, they wouldn't question the whole family taking advantage of Willie anymore. Plus, Eleanor now thinks Apex Technologies Corporation belongs to Willie alone. She thinks I'm also spending her son's money and always gives me attitude."
Nora sighed, "Don't listen to her nonsense. Apex Technologies Corporation was founded by you and Willie together. Before you got pregnant, you were at the company working every day. How did it become Willie's alone just because you got pregnant?"
"Exactly. The company definitely isn't Willie's alone. After I have the baby, I'm definitely going back to work. If Eleanor won't let the nanny help me with the child, I'll bring the baby to the company. Nora, I understand now - women need to have their own careers. Otherwise, if your husband's family are jerks, you'll be bullied your whole life." Olivia had it figured out clearly. After having the baby and recovering for a while, she would immediately go back to work. No matter how hard it was to take care of the child, she wouldn't give up her career. She wanted to take back all the power.
In the end, people can only rely on themselves.
Nora strongly supported Olivia.
The two chatted away. Once Nora started talking with Olivia, they couldn't stop.
Steven glanced at her.
He and Wayne had nothing left to say. Wayne didn't dare bring up the wedding expenses. His hands were on his knees, rubbing them together awkwardly.
He wanted to go out and play cards, but didn't want to stay here.
After a while, he said with a smile, "You guys sit for a bit. I'm going out for a walk."
Actually, he was going to play cards.
Wayne took a bottle of liquor out. With one glance, Nora understood - he was going to sell the gift Steven had given right away.
Nora felt helpless. Couldn't he wait a bit? Did he have to do it so obviously right in front of Steven?
Steven quietly asked her, "When are we going back?"
The whole house was full of women, not a single man. He felt a bit uncomfortable.
Nora leaned close to his ear and whispered, "After lunch."
The two were very close. Olivia smiled as she watched them.
Jasmine suddenly shouted irritably from the room, "When can we eat? I'm starving!"
Her attitude was really bad.
Marcella quickly went in to talk to her.
Olivia said, "I'll go in first to give Jasmine the gift card."
Actually, that's what Jasmine was waiting for.
Nora felt a bit embarrassed and said to Steven, "Sit for a bit. I'll go in to give the gift card."