Chapter 451

Evelyn Langley stood at her front door, double-checking the house number.

Muddy footprints covered the pale gray hardwood floor. Snack wrappers and fruit peels littered the ground. Two black shoe prints stamped the pristine white walls like savage tribal markings.

Raucous laughter erupted from the living room, resembling a disturbed hornet's nest.

She turned to her mother.

Victoria Langley forced a strained smile, her eyes conveying: You see what I mean.

"William's daughter is back!" A permed auntie rushed forward. "Graduate school at Harvard, right? Bringing honor to the Langley name!"

"You're already twenty-five?" A floral-shirted aunt scrutinized her. "My daughter had toddlers at your age."

Seven or eight relatives swarmed around her. Sunflower seed shells rained onto her shoes.

Evelyn mumbled polite responses before escaping upstairs under the pretense of using the bathroom.

Her bedroom door gaped open.

Her stomach dropped. She hurried to inspect the vanity. The jewelry box remained untouched, but the bedsheet looked trampled by elephants.

Dinner arrived via Victoria's takeout order.

Twelve lavish dishes crowded the dining table as relatives ate with greasy enthusiasm. Great-aunt Margaret picked her teeth, then froze upon seeing William Langley tie an apron.

"William!" She yanked her nephew's arm. "Since when do men enter kitchens?"

"Just clearing plates." William remained unperturbed.

"Where's your wife?"

"Finalizing a manuscript in the study."

The old woman slammed the table. "What manuscript matters more than serving in-laws?"

"Victoria's the breadwinner here." William stacked dishes with practiced ease. "I handle domestic affairs."

The rhythmic clatter of washing-up echoed from the kitchen. Great-aunt Margaret watched her nephew's efficient movements, eyes bulging.

At 10 p.m., Evelyn had just touched her pillow—

"CRASH!"

The entire house shook.

She sprinted downstairs barefoot to find two brats frozen before the entertainment center. A 65-inch LCD screen lay shattered at their feet, its spiderweb cracks glinting under the lights.