CHAPTER 404: CHAPTER 404: PANDEMONIUM

The next morning, after washing up, Paige Sterling came downstairs. Mrs. Hawthorne was sitting in the dining room. She saw Paige about to head out and frowned.

"Paige, where are you going?"

Paige said, "Auntie, I’m going to work."

"Work?" Mrs. Hawthorne looked completely disapproving. "Paige, you lost your mother at a young age, so there were things no one taught you. But now that you’ve married into The Hawthorne Family, I must teach you the rules of being a daughter-in-law. We women, once married, should stay at home, support our husbands, teach the children, and quietly avoid being in the limelight. No matter how much you achieve outside, it’s not as important as maintaining a good family, don’t you think?"

Now that she had returned to the Hawthorne Family, there was no place for Paige to do as she pleased.

Work? Ha, wishful thinking.

"Paige, I can overlook past matters, but from now on, you can’t show your face outside. You must fully support Julian in his career at home. As for the company, now that you’ve married Julian, the company naturally belongs to him too. You can rest easy handing over the company to Julian; he’ll manage it well..."

Words like these would probably anger any modern woman, especially a strong woman like Paige Sterling.

So, sitting beside her, Simon Hawthorne cautiously glanced at Paige, fearing pandemonium might break out at any moment.

However, Simon noticed that Paige didn’t seem to show any signs of anger.

"Auntie, it’s the 21st century, and the country encourages women to start businesses and to be self-reliant, lifting half of the sky. We should echo the country’s call."

Mrs. Hawthorne said, "Those are just words; you think that’s serious? No matter what era it is, women’s responsibilities and duties won’t change. Supporting the husband and teaching the children is your duty. If you have time to listen to outside nonsense, why not stay home and arrange flowers or hone your cooking skills..."

If Paige kept running outside and didn’t stay home, how would she get a chance to deal with Paige?

And to handle Paige, you first have to clip her wings and lock her in a cage...

"Besides, you’ve been married to Julian for so long now, right? Why hasn’t there been any reaction with your belly? Have you been to the hospital for a check-up? Passing down the family line is a big deal. As the eldest daughter-in-law of the Hawthorne Family, it’s your duty to continue the family line. These days you shouldn’t go anywhere and quickly give birth to a son with Julian. A woman needs a son to rely on in her later years..."

Mrs. Hawthorne also received a modern education; she didn’t take such nonsense seriously. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have eloped with a social youth back then.

But now, she’s confident enough to use them to restrain Paige.

Even Simon Hawthorne felt a bit embarrassed. It’s said that mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law are natural enemies, and he thought his mother and Paige could avoid that. But he didn’t expect the pandemonium to start so soon.

Simon quickly said, "Mom, this is between big brother and sister-in-law, they have their own plans, don’t you think you should leave it alone?"

He felt that his mother truly didn’t need to meddle. He also thought his mom was open-minded and wouldn’t interfere in these matters, but now it seemed otherwise. His mom seemed to enjoy crushing her daughter-in-law.

Simon suddenly also lost interest in the idea of marriage...

And seeing Simon standing up for Paige, Mrs. Hawthorne was already angry, "Why shouldn’t I interfere? I’m her mother-in-law, so I can manage her, right? Overall, I don’t care how others are, but this is the Hawthorne Family’s rule, these are my basic expectations for a daughter-in-law. If you can’t do it, then soon..."

Paige didn’t argue with Mrs. Hawthorne. Seeing Julian Hawthorne and Old Master Hawthorne coming down the stairs, she said, "Auntie, I understand."

Very obedient, and Mrs. Hawthorne was quite satisfied.

Originally, she had a lot more to say to Paige, but now that Paige suddenly became so obedient, she didn’t know what to say next.

However, what Mrs. Hawthorne didn’t expect was that after breakfast, Paige still went out with Julian and didn’t come back all day.

The next day, she continued going out and returning only at night, doing her own thing, as if she hadn’t taken those rules seriously, completely disregarding her.

Mrs. Hawthorne’s face looked very displeased. On the third day, when Paige was going out again, she stopped Paige, "Stand right there!"

Paige smiled politely, "Auntie, do you have something you want to tell me?"

"You can still smile?! I see you don’t have any respect for me as your mother-in-law!"

Paige said, "Auntie, you’re overthinking. Even if I don’t see you in my eyes, you’re in my heart. Otherwise, why would I smile at you?"

Mrs. Hawthorne stared hard at Paige, almost wanting to tear that fake smile off her face.

Now, in the Hawthorne Family, Paige was being perfunctory to her; Old Master Hawthorne, Julian, even Simon sided with Paige.

She felt like she didn’t return to give Paige grief, but instead, she was just giving herself grief.

Simon, seeing her so upset, tried to comfort her, "Mom, if sister-in-law really stayed home to support and teach children, it would be a loss for the whole country. We’re all citizens of Veridia; don’t we have to consider the country?"

Mrs. Hawthorne snapped, "Shut up! Whose son are you, really?"

Simon, "..."

He hadn’t often stayed around Mrs. Hawthorne before, and every time he met with her, she was always gentle and kind.

He always thought his mother was a gentle woman.

But now, Mrs. Hawthorne’s actions had shown him that what he’d seen before might not have been real at all.

His mother wasn’t just not a gentle woman; she was even somewhat mean.

She had a whole arsenal of tactics against daughters-in-law.

Thankfully, it was Paige; otherwise, she wouldn’t have gained any advantage.

If it were someone else, they might have already been driven away.

Mrs. Hawthorne still didn’t think anything was wrong with her actions, and she kept shouting, "I don’t believe the world can’t run without her? You’ve all fallen for her spell, siding with her, disregarding me!"

Simon looked helpless, "Mom, it’s really not like that..."

What time are we living in now, still insisting that sister-in-law stay at home as a housewife?

Isn’t this just burying her talents?

He didn’t know what big brother and sister-in-law were thinking, knowing full well that mother-in-law and daughter-in-law meet could mean pandemonium, yet they still moved back at this time.

Alas...

Quickly, Julian Hawthorne also came down, ignoring the angry Mrs. Hawthorne and left directly with Paige.

Mrs. Hawthorne, pointing angrily at Julian, "Does he even consider me his mother?"

Simon, "Mom, big brother has always been like that, not especially targeting you..."

Mrs. Hawthorne, "..."

In the afternoon, when Julian and Paige returned, Simon faced them helplessly and said, "Mom is sick again."

Julian asked calmly, "Has the doctor been by?"

"They’ve been by." Simon sighed, "How did Mom’s mindset become so narrow-minded?"

It’s not that her mindset became narrow-minded; it’s just when it comes to Paige, she becomes narrow-minded.

Julian didn’t say that out loud.

Some mother-son relationships are just fleeting connections; he truly had no feelings for Mrs. Hawthorne. Trying to fake feelings would be impossible for him.

So, when Simon wanted Julian to check on Mrs. Hawthorne, Julian didn’t agree.

Paige, however, said, "How about I go see her."

Simon looked at Paige, "Sister-in-law, maybe it’s better not to go."

He was truly a bit afraid of a mother-in-law-daughter-in-law pandemonium.

Even though it was always his mother causing chaos, Paige had always been gentle and uncomplaining.

But his mother could create pandemonium all by herself.

Anyway, Simon was a bit afraid of his mom now.

Paige chuckled softly, "The one who ties the bell must untie it. Auntie’s heart trouble was caused by me. Perhaps I can persuade her to feel better."

After saying that, Paige went into Mrs. Hawthorne’s room.

Simon was about to follow, but Julian said, "Come on, let’s go to the study. Let me see your new project."

Simon immediately felt distressed, feeling that Julian’s relentless torment was about to begin again.