Husband Hates Perfume, I Expose His Lie

Chapter 3

Nathan's expression changed.

Mia rushed to explain.

"I didn't know. Mr. Carter never told me."

I nodded.

"Then what makes you think you care so much? You don't even know what my son is allergic to, yet you dare show up here and play the devoted family member?"

Mia's tears spilled over immediately.

"Mrs. Carter, that's a terrible thing to say. I was only trying to help."

"Trying to help?"

I shoved the cake back into her hands.

"Fine. Then you eat it."

She froze.

"I..."

"Eat it," I said, looking straight at her. "Don't waste all that motherly love."

Nathan grabbed my wrist.

"Claire, that's enough."

I shook him off.

"Nathan Carter, this is your son's parent-teacher meeting. You brought this woman here as if Noah hadn't been humiliated enough already?"

Noah finally burst into tears. He threw himself into my arms, his voice trembling.

"Mom, let's go home."

I picked him up.

As I passed Nathan, he muttered, "You made quite a scene today."

I stopped.

"Really? Then guess what your mother will say when she finds out Mia nearly sent her grandson to the hospital."

Nathan's face darkened completely.

Mia cried even harder.

"Mr. Carter, I really didn't mean to."

I looked at her.

"No rush. We'll take our time sorting out what you did mean to do."

My mother-in-law Margaret Brooks arrived faster than I expected.

I'd just coaxed Noah to sleep when Margaret pounded on the door.

"Claire Morgan, come out here!"

I opened the door.

Margaret stormed in with her handbag, with Mia following close behind.

Nathan stood behind them, his face tight.

"Margaret, Noah's asleep. Keep your voice down."

Margaret sneered.

"Oh, so now you care about Noah? Did you think about how he was supposed to face his classmates after you made such a scene in front of everyone?"

I looked at her.

"I did. That's why I'd like to know how your son bringing his assistant to his own child's parent-teacher meeting helps Noah hold his head high."

Margaret choked.

Mia immediately supported her arm.

"Margaret, this is all my fault. Please don't be angry with Mrs. Carter because of me."

"Who said it was your fault?"

Margaret patted her hand.

"You kindly bought a cake. How were you supposed to know the boy couldn't eat mango?"

I laughed.

"The boy? Margaret, he's your grandson."

Margaret's eyes flickered away. But she quickly straightened her back again.

"Of course I know that! But Mia isn't our family's nanny. Why should she remember every little detail?"

I nodded.

"She's not a nanny. Then why is she in my home?"

Mia's face flushed.

Margaret slapped a red velvet box onto the coffee table. Inside was an emerald brooch.

I recognized it. It had belonged to Nathan's grandmother.

When I gave birth to Noah, Margaret said the brooch was too valuable to give me yet. She said I could have it after I had a second child.

Now it was pinned to Mia's chest.

"I gave this to Mia," Margaret said, lifting her chin. "She helped Nathan close a major project. She did the Carter family a huge favor. Don't act like some bitter wife who can't stand seeing another woman succeed."

Mia lowered her head and touched the brooch.

"Margaret, I can't accept something this valuable."

That was what she said, but her hand stayed protectively over it.

I held out my hand.

"Take it off."

Mia hid behind Nathan.

"Mrs. Carter, Margaret gave it to me."

"I said, take it off."

Nathan stepped in front of her.

"Claire, stop trying to take things from people."

I looked at him.

"This is something the Carter family gives to its daughter-in-law. Is she one?"

The living room fell completely silent.

Margaret flared up, half embarrassed and half furious.

"I can give it to anyone I want! You're just a woman living off this family. What right do you have to manage Carter family's property?"

Mia lowered her head. Her voice was very soft.

"Margaret, please don't say that about Mrs. Carter. She's just been out of the workforce for too long. She doesn't understand the kind of value we create at work."

It was a neat little sentence. Every word was wrapped in sugar, and every one of them cut.

I walked over.

Nathan instinctively tried to stop me.

I raised my hand and slapped him across the face.

I didn't hit Mia. I hit him.

The slap cracked through the room.

Everyone froze.

I stared at him.

"Nathan Carter, have you forgotten who brought in the company's first order? For the three years you were building the business, who stayed up all night revising your proposals? When your mother was in the hospital, when our child had a fever, when suppliers disappeared, who was the one cleaning up every mess for you?"

Margaret's voice sharpened.

"That was years ago. Why are you still bringing it up?"

I glanced at her.

"Exactly. It was years ago. So all of you forgot."

Mia's eyes were red.

"Mrs. Carter, a woman can't keep using the past to guilt a man."

I smiled and nodded.

"Well said. Then take off the brooch. Don't use the Carter family's past to decorate yourself."

Mia bit her lip.

Nathan rubbed his face, his voice low and hard.

"Enough. Let her wear the brooch for now. There's an important cocktail reception tomorrow, and she needs to meet the investors from Easton Capital with me."

I paused.

"She's going?"

He frowned.

"Stay out of company matters. Mia prepared the project proposal. She understands it better than you do."

A trace of triumph flashed through Mia's eyes.

I looked at Nathan.

"You're sure you want her to go?"

He was impatient.

"Claire, stop acting like you're irreplaceable."

I nodded, turned, and went back to the bedroom for my laptop.

Right in front of them, I dragged an encrypted folder into the Recycle Bin.

Nathan's face shifted slightly.

"What did you delete?"

I closed the laptop.

"Nothing. Didn't you say she understood it better than I did?"