CHAPTER 16: CHAPTER 16: AN OUTSTANDING MOTHER-IN-LAW

My mother-in-law’s voice sounded from outside, "Henry, Zoe, are you asleep yet?"

Henry immediately stuffed the divorce papers under the blanket and went to open the door, "Mom, why are you still up so late?"

"I was just about to sleep, but I saw your bedroom light was still on and wanted to check if you were asleep," my mother-in-law said, standing at the door talking to Henry.

"Mom!" I took off my face mask and went to the door, playing along in a couple’s act with Henry, "Henry and I were just about to go to sleep."

Saying this, I slipped my arm through Henry’s, sweetly leaning on his shoulder.

Henry glanced at me without a word, not showing any expression.

"It’s indeed very late. Your father is attending a business summit the day after tomorrow and came to City A unexpectedly. He’s not planning to stay at a hotel, so he’ll stay with you for the next few days," my mother-in-law said with a smile.

My in-laws usually live in City C, but the two places aren’t very far apart.

I put on a happy expression, "That’s great, it’s been so long since I last saw you and Dad. I’ll take you out for some good food these days, really relax and enjoy."

"Alright, alright, you two should go to bed early too, don’t let your sleep be delayed," my mother-in-law reminded Henry and me before turning and leaving.

In a previous life, I had a misconception that Henry was a person who did his own thing and rarely listened to his family. So, I focused all my attention on him, thinking that as long as he fell in love with me, the rest of the Preston Family wouldn’t matter.

Later, I saw him working hard for Azure Vaughn’s recognition and blessing from the Preston Family, only then did I realize that family meant a lot to him.

If I had a good relationship with my in-laws, or if I were pregnant, maybe in the previous life the one who lost wouldn’t necessarily have been me.

Shutting the door, I breathed a sigh of relief, and Henry and I stared at each other.

"You sleep in the bed; I’ll take the sofa, or do I sleep in the bed and you take the sofa?" I started worrying about this dilemma.

Henry casually lay down on the bed and replied lightly, "No need for that effort. Do you think anything will happen between us if we sleep together?"

I have to admit, Henry’s way with words is quite sharp.

"Alright then," I said without further ado, lying down on the other side.

This was the second time since Henry and I got married that we shared a bed, the first being our wedding night, and he didn’t touch me.

We lay back-to-back as if the other person didn’t exist.

After a while, I still spoke up, "Can you give me Ivan Underwood’s WeChat or phone number?"

Henry didn’t say anything, so I turned over and looked at the back of his head. Was he asleep?

"I want to give him a piece of my mind," I added.

"Already done that," Henry’s cold voice came through, simple and blunt.

Alright then, I just closed my eyes again, trying to sleep, when the muffled sound of thunder came from outside the window. It seemed a thunderstorm was coming.

With a loud clap of thunder, I grabbed the blanket and pulled it over my head.

The rolling thunder couldn’t drown out Henry’s gritted voice, "Zoe Hathaway!"

I peeked out, looking at Henry’s displeased face, and explained in a small voice, "Sorry, I’m afraid of thunder."

"How is that my problem?" Henry never showed me any gentleness. He simply snatched the blanket back.

"Boom!" Another thunderous explosion, and like an arrow released from a bow, I shot into Henry’s arms. Divorce could wait for tomorrow; getting through the current crisis was more important.

Henry’s body visibly stiffened, seemingly unable to accept it.

Who could accept hugging a White Witch on a stormy night? Even I found myself a bit bony.

Henry pried my arm off, his expression a full five stars in unpleasantness, "Don’t touch me, ok?"

"Then don’t steal my blanket," I replied, suppressing the surge of embarrassment and bitterness, pretending to be calm.

Henry kicked the blanket back to me with one foot, then got off the bed to find another blanket, making a bed for himself on the floor.

I wrapped myself into a cocoon with the blanket, my eyes landing on Henry on the floor, my mind envisioning his future with Azure Vaughn. If Azure were afraid of thunder, he would surely want to hold her tightly.

That night, I dreamed again of the previous life, the kind of despair and unwillingness that left an indelible mark on my heart.

The next morning, when I woke up, there was no sign of Henry on the floor.

I got dressed and went downstairs. Laura Lawson was already making breakfast, other servants were cleaning, my mother-in-law was in the garden trimming the flowers and plants damaged by last night’s storm, and my father-in-law was practicing Tai Chi.

"Dad, Mom, you’re up so early?" I went out to greet them politely.

"At our age, we can’t sleep too long. We get up to move around," my mother-in-law said with a smile.

I went over and naturally took my mother-in-law’s hand, ignoring her slightly surprised look, and chatted with her, "Mom, I have a friend who owns a jewelry store. She recently acquired a pair of lavender jade bracelets, very beautiful, but she urgently needs money now. I thought since you love collecting jade, I bought them for you. I’ll pick them up in the next couple of days and give them to you."

My mother-in-law loves collecting various precious jades. We even have a dedicated collection room at home. I was deliberately catering to her preferences to build a closer relationship.

It’s not really about winning Henry back but more about wanting to make his and Azure Vaughn’s relationship a bit rockier, a small act of revenge.

Sure enough, my mother-in-law’s eyes lit up, "Lavender jade bracelets? Great, when you get them, let me see. If they’re suitable, I’ll pay you, I’ll buy them!"

"No need for payments between us, I’ll bring them to you in the next couple of days," I replied sweetly.

I do have a pair of lavender jade bracelets, a gift from my mom a couple of years ago, valued in the seven figures. If this can make my mother-in-law like me more as her daughter-in-law, and be more picky about Azure Vaughn in the future, I think it’s worth it.

"I know you have a filial heart, but I can’t let you give it away for nothing. You still deserve what’s due," my mother-in-law said, patting my hand kindly.

I shook my head, "Mom, don’t say that. As the younger generation, we can’t always be by your side to take care of you, so we can only make up for it with money. As long as you and Dad are happy and healthy, any amount of money is worth it."

My in-laws exchanged a glance, probably a bit puzzled since I had never said anything like this in the five years of our marriage.

My father-in-law stopped, dusted off his sleeves, "Zoe, the thought is what counts. We have no other wishes, just want to have a grandchild soon. You and Henry need to step it up!"

As this was mentioned, my mother-in-law seemed to remember something, she pulled me aside and spoke somewhat hesitantly, "Zoe, have you and Henry been checked at the hospital? Is it that rascal, messing around, who messed up his health?"

My heart skipped; for the first time, I realized my mother-in-law was so outstanding. Her first suspicion in this matter was her own son rather than her daughter-in-law.