The Despised Son-in-law: From Rags to Riches

Chapter 15: Nicole’s Cooking

Joe smiled as he had never smiled before throughout their drive back home. This was the smile from the bottom of his heart! He had never thought he would get the opportunity to take revenge on Daniel!

Barret felt the same way when he saw how happy Joe was. "Master, I didn’t let you down, did I?"

"No, Barret, you're amazing. How come you are so good at fighting?”

"I learned a little when I was young."

"A little? You’re a pro! What did you learn?"

"Well, judo, karate, almost all types of hand-to-hand combat. I just know a little bit about each."

"Hey, you are being too modest, I would say you know more than a ‘little’.”

"Haha, I really just have superficial knowledge, master," Barret replied while blushing. He had never shown off his skills to anyone before so being complimented on his skills was new for him.

"How about teaching me some things? I also want to learn. Had I known how to fight, I would have been saved from so many occasions of being beaten up. I would not have to run away from Daniel. I could have faced him."

"Master, I told you that violence is never the best solution to a problem. If the reason you want to learn is simply to fight with others, then I certainly won't teach you.”

"Well, you can assume I’m trying to learn to defend myself. Is this reason good enough?"

"Master, I am very serious. You should always think about how to solve the problem with your head instead of your fists."

"I don’t agree with you Barret. Today, would it have been useful to use your head? If you had not beaten all of Daniel's gang, would that bastard throw in the towel?"

"Master, in fact, I was going to call our lawyer to sue him and send him to jail to pay for what he has done to you, but I had no other choice but to fight. Let me make it clear, this happens only once. If you get into trouble again, no more violence."

"Come on Barret, don’t be so serious, OK? If you do not teach me, I will find someone else."

"Fine, I will teach you, but you must promise that you will not use violence to solve problems."

"I promise."

"Master, you answered too quickly. You obviously don’t mean it.”

"Really? Barret, I am being very sincere."

"No, you aren’t."

"Then what should have I said?"

"You should have hesitated, and then pretended to be reluctant to agree so that it will sound much more sincere."

"Is this really necessary?" Joe rolled his eyes.

"Of course, it is. In the future, when you take over the family business, you will have to deal with all kinds of people. If you are not careful, you will be taken advantage of. So, from now on, you should learn to speak carefully."

"What the hell? Take over the family business? Do not make fun of me, please. I am just some son-in-law Joseph forced Nicole to marry. To be honest, in the entire Andrew family, no one treats me as a human being except you."

"It doesn't matter what other people think of you; it matters what you think of yourself."

"Don't give me that soul s**t, Barret. Even if I regarded myself as a King, Nicole still thinks that I am a pig."

"You don’t live for her. She is not everything in your life. Your life is infinitely brilliant, with a height that many people cannot reach in a lifetime."

Joe stared at Barret with wide eyes. The things he spoke were as if they came from a book of poetry. "I do not know if you are serious or joking Barret.”

"No. What makes you think so? What I want to say is..."

"You know what? Forget it. I don't understand your poetic s**t anyway."

"Whatever you say, master."

Back home, Nicole was watching TV in the living room. When she saw Joe walk in, she changed her previous arrogance and disdain and smiled enthusiastically. 

"Honey, you're back. Did you have fun?"

Joe seemed to feel a dull pain in his crotch just from seeing Nicole and subconsciously took two steps back.

“What...what do you want?"

"What do you mean love? I have been waiting for you. Did you go out without breakfast?"

"Yes. What's the matter?" Joe replied suspiciously.

"I made breakfast for you. Come have some."

Joe refused to move.

Nicole pursed her lips, looking upset. "Why are you being so mean? I was joking with you before. Don’t you love me? Please forgive me. I was kind enough to make you breakfast, and you are not going to even taste it? You know, this is the first time I've ever made breakfast for someone else."

Even though Joe was still suspicious of her intentions, Nicole’s coquetry made him loosen his stance. "No, it's not like that. I... I'm just not hungry yet."

As soon as he finished, his stomach began to growl loudly making Joe blush.

Nicole giggled in response. Joe realized that she had two dimples when she smiled, which he had not noticed before, probably because she was never smiling when she was with him.

"Liar! Your stomach is growling but you are saying you are not hungry. Do you hate me that much that you will not eat what I cook?"

"Of course not. I will eat! Where is the breakfast?" Joe hurriedly replied hating to see Nicole hurt.

"That's more like it. Here it is."

Joe looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a plate on the table with two hamburgers on it. Well, that is not breakfast, Joe thought but he was willing to eat to make Nicole happy.

"Go ahead and eat."

"Did you make them?"

"Mm..hmm," she hummed.

Joe eyed the burgers. They were definitely not homemade. He glanced at the nearby trash can. "Well, where did these KFC wrappers come from?"

"Why are you looking at the trash?"

"Uhh…let’s say I am used to it."

Nicole gave him a weird look. "I ate KFC last night, that is why those are in the bin."

"You never came home last night. Besides, every morning the cleaner takes out the garbage from last night."

"All right, all right. Why do you have to rub it in? I cooked it especially for you, okay? I want to be a good wife!” 

Joe smiled. "You bought the food...you didn’t cook it."

"I took the hamburgers out of the bag and put them on the plate. How is that not cooking? I will have to clean the plate later."

Looking at her straight face, Joe was completely speechless. Was that her definition of cooking? Wow, Joe thought. What a wonderful life Nicole must have lived to have that definition of cooking.   

"Oh alright, yes you cooked it. That is very kind of you. Thank you, dear."

For a moment, Nicole frowned and glared at Joe.

"What's the matter, dear?"

"Oh, nothing. Just eat it. Be sure to finish both, or I will be very sad."

Joe nodded. In fact, Joe was very hungry. He certainly could eat more than two burgers. "Sure."

He picked up one hamburger and took a bite, then suddenly spit it out. He started choking and coughing so hard that tears came to his eyes. "Why is there so much mustard? That is disgusting!"

Nicole started pouting again. "I bought you breakfast and you spit it out. I will never speak to you again."

Seeing her aggrieved look, Joe hesitated and picked up the burger again. "No, no, I will eat it."

"That's right. It's delicious, right?"

"Um... Um, yeah it's delicious." After the first bite, Joe’s face had turned red. He hated mustard! Not hated it, he despised it!

Nicole spoke sweetly and seductively, “Come on, honey, eat more. Men need their strength…after all, how will you…keep up if you do not eat?”  

Hearing this, Joe became more excited. Did Nicole mean…sex? What else could she be talking about? He grinned happily. Was Nicole really changing her attitude towards him? Was she willing to accept him as her husband?