The Price of Pride

On New Year's Eve, my in-laws, Richard Prescott and Leona Reed, had flown back to have dinner at my place.

However, our butler, Rupert Williams, had only prepared two plates of cold lobster rolls even though I had specifically reminded him that Leona was allergic to lobster.

Rupert looked at me with his usual stiff expression and said, "Mr. Shaw, I understand that people from your background like to take advantage of situations. Your parents showing up for a free holiday meal doesn't surprise me."

He added, "But as Ms. Jaclyn Prescott's most trusted butler, I have a duty to protect the Prescott family assets from being touched by questionable individuals, even if it's just a dinner. That said, I'm not heartless enough to let two elderly people go hungry.

"Here are some leftover expired lobster rolls. Your parents can eat them and leave. Ms. Prescott is very busy with work, and I can't have her come home later only to deal with your poor parents."

I froze for a moment, then realized he had mistaken Jaclyn's parents for mine. He was deliberately trying to humiliate me like he always did.

I was about to explain when Richard and Leona, furious, turned to leave.

However, Rupert called for the security guards to block their way. "I can understand that people from rural areas might lack proper manners, but wasting food is still a bad habit. Since the lobster rolls have already been prepared, I insist you finish them before you go."

My father-in-law, Richard Prescott, held a powerful position for years, and no one ever dared to treat him like this. He exploded in anger on the spot.

He barked, "Jaclyn Prescott, that ungrateful brat! Has she forgotten who gave her every penny she has? How dare she let this pompous butler insult her own father? This is outrageous!"

My mother-in-law, Leona Reed, was equally furious. "Richard, we need to have a serious talk with Jaclyn when we get back. Since when does a butler get to overstep the man of the house and boss people around?"

The man of the house? I could not help but smile bitterly at that.

Ever since Jaclyn hired Rupert, I was treated worse than the servants. After we got married, she forced me to quit my job under the pretense that someone needed to manage the household, and now I had to submit a formal request to this butler just to get money for necessities.

Knowing Rupert, I knew he would not let this go easily. So, I positioned myself in front of Richard and Leona, trying to reason with him.

"Rupert, these are Jaclyn's parents. Her mother is allergic to lobster. If Jaclyn finds out you tried to feed her parents lobster rolls, she won't let you get away with it."

Rupert simply sneered. "Mr. Shaw, you don't actually think that just because you married Ms. Prescott, all your poor relatives automatically become her relatives too, do you?" Your two bumpkin parents actually dare to call themselves Ms. Prescott's parents? Where is your shame?"

As he spoke, Rupert's expression darkened.

He turned to the bodyguards and barked, "Why are you still standing there? Hurry up and make Ms. Prescott's parents eat the lobster rolls I specially prepared for them."

The guards only took orders from Rupert. Immediately, they yanked Richard and Leona out from behind me and shoved their faces down toward the lobster rolls.

Both of them were in their 50s and no match for the strength of these young, burly guards. In seconds, their faces were smeared with filling and bits of the rolls.

I shouted in shock, "Rupert, have you lost your mind?! I've put up with how you treat me all this time! But these are Jaclyn's parents! Tell them to stop right now!"

I rushed forward, trying to pull the guards away, but Rupert had his men hold me back.

He leaned close to my ear and whispered so only I could hear, "So what if a country boy like you married into a wealthy family? You're still under my control! Today, I'm going to make you watch how your parents cry and beg for mercy!"