A Ruling Passion – Chapter 1432

Zoey did not say anything more, but her husband, pretending to be drunk, murmured under his breath, “Wow, they treat their workers so well, but their actual relatives? Nope, that’s too much! Jesus, I get it, we aren’t related by blood. But Zoey’s still your aunt and deserves your respect, too.”

Mark abruptly hurtled his fork and spoon to the table, got up, and stormed upstairs. Henry and Mary, dragged into the fray out of the blue-simultaneously put down their utensils, their food untouched.

Arianne forced the flames flaring inside of her from spilling out to the open. “Here’s what you’re missing, Mary and Henry aren’t just “some workers” to me. They are the family who watched me grow, which means they’ve been in our lives way longer and more significantly than my supposed aunt and uncle. When Mark went missing and we were in a very dark place, where were you two, huh? But when he’s back, alive and well, you come right back, wagging your tails and showing your faces! Humor me this, what would happen had I looked for the two of you for support during the early days after the accident? Would you have helped me at all?”

“Come on, it’s not like there was anything we could do to help substantially. If we could do something, you know we would!” Zoey protested meekly.

Arianne was so vexed that she laughed scornfully. “Oh please. Save your breath and quit pretending. At the very least, can you two stop embarrassing Harvey and mocking his dignity? For Christ’s sake, the only reason why the two of you were even allowed in this house is that we respect and value your son. If it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t even be here dining with us!” she sneered. “God, you can’t even have lunch without pissing people off. I guess this is goodbye, then. Pardon us for not wanting to see you off, but you know why. Oh, and by the way, Harvey? Please don’t take this personally. It’s got nothing to do with you and plenty to do with your parents being a colossal failure at decency. Please don’t be offended, mmkay?”