Ch. 2891..2900

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2891-"Must you be so rude and harsh? I guess you can never expect nice words from a despicable person." Sadie crossed her arms and glanced condescendingly at Rita. She could not stand how Rita treated the marriage to the Parrs as elevating her to a higher social class.

Rita chuckled. "Only a bumpkin like you would think that way."

Sadie's expression then changed abruptly, for she detested being called a country bumpkin, especially by Rita.

"Who are you calling a bumpkin?"

"I'm merely stating the truth. You are a country bumpkin, aren't you? Your entire being screams 'village girl"."

"What did you just say?!" Sadie seethed. "You don't know anything! I'm the most fashionable person in school. The girls in school take cues from me all the time when choosing which clothes to buy. You're the ' village girl' here! Just look at how you dress! Who are you to call me unfashionable when you're not even fashionable yourself?"

Sadie was arguing incoherently, while Rita found herself growing calmer as she observed Sadie's agitation. "Then those girls must be all bumpkins too. Only bumpkins would ask for advice from someone like you."

Rita towered over Sadie, so even the simplest of attires was effortlessly elevated because of her stature. Clad in some rather plain garments, Rita's sophistication could only be appreciated by those with an attention to detail.

Standing tall against the doorway, her silhouette stoked Sadie's jealousy even further. "If you say another word, I'll tell Dad and let him decide who's in the wrong here! I bet he won't be happy to hear that you're already stirring up trouble as soon as you come back home!"

A victorious smirk played on Sadie's lips as she imagined Rita being reprimanded by Vince. Rita was speechless, wondering what it was she did that gave Sadie the impression that she was scared of Vince. Even if he scolded her, his words would be nothing more than water off a duck's back.

She was Vince's biological daughter, after all, and that was a distinction that set her apart from Sadie. Vince's scolding did not rattle her at all, but the same could not be said for Sadie. Unlike Rita, Sadie had to tread carefully in the family and frequently avoided showing any disdain for Rita in Vince's presence.

Rita had the luxury of doing whatever she wanted in contrast to Sadie who did not have such a privilege. Besides, Rita did not think that Vince would side with another man's daughter over his own.

Rita might not have realized it yet, but that was one of her pillars of strength.

"I'm not going to engage in these arguments with you. Your mother wants me to tell you that it's time to eat. Her hunger pangs will get worse if you don't go down soon, and her baby will be affected by that too. See what works for you."

Rita then descended the stairs, leaving Sadie trailing behind in envy.

Oh, look at them coming down together! I told you Rita was talking to her. Why else would Sadie take so long to come down? We all know how much she enjoys it when it comes to food."

Vince nodded approvingly. "Now that you're both here, we can start eating now. You mentioned wanting some pork shoulder, right? Here, have some."

Karen chimed in, "You'll need to support each other as you grown older. Petty arguments once in a while are fine, but what matters most is living in harmony."

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2892-Vince nodded in agreement.

Rita and Sadie soon took their places at opposite ends of the table. As soon as Sadie sat down, she lowered her head in dejection.

Vince asked casually, "What's wrong? Did you have a bad night's sleep?"

Tears welled in Sadie's eyes as she lifted her head.

Rita could only marvel at Sadie and Karen's increasingly dramatic performances. She felt that they ought to dabble in an acting career, as Sadie

would be able to make a name for herself and have an outlet to put those acting skills to good use.

Having to deal with their charades was exhausting. There were times when Rita had to put up an act too if she wanted to escape swiftly from a particular predicament.

Rita struggled to contain her laughter as she thought of all that while reaching for her favorite dish.

"It's nothing, Dad. Rita doesn't come back often, so let's not dwell on it any longer. Let's eat. You said you were hungry, didn't you, Mom? Go ahead and have more of your favorite dish."

Vince could no longer feign ignorance after seeing Sadie's attempts at reconciliation. He set down his cutlery and glanced sternly at Rita.

"Didn't I just tell you to call her down to have a meal together? Why do you always have to complicate things and make her unhappy?"

Rita nearly questioned her own ears. "What did I do this time? I was just standing outside her room! You saw that, didn't you?"

Sadie then interjected, "She's right. She didn't do anything at all. Come on, Dad, let's enjoy the food before it gets cold."

"Then why are you so upset if Rita didn't do anything? I know things haven't been easy for you because you're not my biological daughter, but I've vowed to treat you as my own from the day your mother and I got married. The least I should do is make sure you're being treated well."

Karen swallowed the food in her mouth and attempted to mediate with Vince.

"It's normal for the girls to argue from time to time. They'll move on soon enough. This is the sort of thing you should stay out of."

"Why are you trying to smooth things over?" Vince asked. "Your own daughter doesn't even dare to m complain to me because you spoil Rita so much and shield Rita from the consequences. Don't you know that spoiling a child isn't the right way of parenting?"

"Why are you both blaming me for this?" Sadie asked. "If a stranger saw us like this in public, they'd think I've done something terrible!"

Karen frowned. "That's not true!

Didn't Rita turn out just fine? I've never spoiled her to the point where she became entitled, did I? Now tell me what happened, Sadie. Don't cry crocodile tears in front of your father!

Tell the truth!"

"Why are you both blaming me for this?" Sadie asked. "If a stranger saw us like this in public, they'd think I've done something terrible!"

Meanwhile, Vince was furious at Rita's nonchalance as she continued to eat her food in apparent indifference to the unfolding drama .

'What's with that attitude, Rita? Your aunt is trying to defend you, and your sister is pleading on your behalf. Do you think everything revolves around you? Show some empathy, for goodness' sake! Where's your sense of basic human courtesy?"

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2893-Rita never knew that she had become such a troublemaker in her father's eyes.

"Fine. If you say I'm in the wrong, then please enlighten us on what exactly I've done to offend you, and why that somehow made you decide to put on this act in front of my father," Rita retorted. She leaned back in her chair and smirked at Sadie.

Sadie frantically waved. "I'm not accusing you of anything! This is just a misunderstanding on Dad's part. "She turned to Vince and tried explaining, "Rita didn't do anything. It's all my fault! I was just upset when I woke up. It has nothing to do with Rita. Don't take all this the wrong way. I miss Rita a lot now that she doesn't come back often."

Rita's smirk only fueled Vince's anger. "Unbelievable! Show some respect, Rita.

Now that I've seen you threaten Sadie right before my eyes without even the slightest hesitation, I can't imagine what you've done to her when I'm not around. Apologize to Sadie right now, and promise me you'll never behave this way again."

Vince had no idea what Rita had done, but her demeanor stoked his anger so severely that he felt the need to demand that Rita apologize to Sadie.

Sadie lowered her head and cried as she tried to dissuade Vince, but Rita could spot the smug little grin on Sadie's lips from across the table. "I don't mind apologizing, but I need to know what it is I'm apologizing for. Why don't you tell me what it is I've done, Sadie? Or perhaps you haven't figured out what lies you were planning to tell them to make me look bad?"

"You're crossing the line!" Vince slammed his fist on the table in frustration.

"Tell that to yourself!" Rita flung her utensils aside, stunning everyone present.

No one had expected her to have the audacity to throw cutlery in front of her father!

"You made a mess of the marriage that I arranged for you, and now you can't even show some respect to me! It's unbecoming of you to throw your utensils in a fit! I can't imagine how you'll treat me when I get older," Vince thundered.

Karen added fuel to the fire. "Your father is right, Rita. Throwing your cutleries away like that is very rude! Your father's words might sound harsh, but he's only mad at you because he cares for you. You know how happy he is that you came back after so long. Why don't you just apologize to him so we can all move on?"

"I wasn't talking to you, Aunt Karen. Don't butt in the conversation. You speak as if you're trying to defend me, but you're indirectly trying to convey that I've done something wrong. All I did was head upstairs and tell Sadie that it was time to eat. What else did you expect me to do in that short time frame? Your daughter's tears have nothing to do with me. It's you who failed as a parent," Rita retorted as she rested her arms on the table.

"I'm not surprised, though. I can imagine how challenging it would be to raise a well-behaved daughter with an ex-husband like that," Rita added casually.

Sadie felt a chill run down her spine when Rita casually mentioned am Sadie's biological father in front of Vince. Before Sadie could react, Karen intervened with a sudden outburst. "Enough of your nonsense!"

Karen's abrupt anger caught Vince off-guard, and he glanced at her with pression.

Karen had to force a smile as she said, "I just wanted to say that Rita was still a child when Sadiewas born. She couldn't have known what sort of person he … was before.

Anyway, I just want the two girls to stop bickering, that's all."

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2896-"I wasn't speaking to you, was I?" Sherman turned and gave Sadie a glance that silenced her from continuing her sentence.

The look he gave her was like a splash of cold water, extinguishing the joy she felt upon seeing him.

Karen seemed a little displeased as she pulled the stunned Sadie over to her.

Sadie was always one to seek attention without regard to the situation, but doing something like that in front of Sherman was nothing short of digging her own grave. It was as if Sadie was oblivious to Sherman's flaring anger after noticing the bruise on Rita's face.

Sadie did not read the room at all in her rush to defend Vince. That being said, Karen was nonetheless a little heartbroken to see how sad Sadie was. After all, Rita's affection for Sherman was undeniable, but Vince had opted to marry Rita to Sherman instead.

The mere thought stoked a fire of resentment within Karen. She wanted Sherman to marry Sadie, but Rita was the lucky one who got that chance.

Even Vince cast a disapproving glance at Sadie's stubbornness. What Sadie ought to have done was look in the mirror and reflect on her status. She ought to know that Sherman would never be interested in Sadie, even if he was not with Rita.

As much as she tried to disguise her protests as defending Vince, they were nothing more than just an attempt to leave an impression on Sherman. It was petty, to say the least.

Vince was not one to place too much emphasis on one's bloodline and background, but it was difficult for him not to compare Sadie to Rita after raising them for so many years. Rita was clearly light-years ahead in countless aspects.

Sadie lacked decorum and only spent her days dolling up and flaunting herself.

Worse still, she made little effort to study.

Karen, who never saw the bigger picture, was the only one who would continue encouraging Sadie even as Sadie went down the wrong path. She did not think that Sadie's academic success was any of Vince's concern. In her view, he should just focus his attention on Rita's academic aptitude.

Vince could lecture Sadie all he wanted, but he knew more than anyone that Sadie was not his biological daughter. Her obedience was all a facade, and Vince ought to know that he would never put his hopes on someone else's daughter to take care of him in the future.

That was why he hoped that Karen would conceive his son soon and ensure that the Russells had an heir.

Rita felt a little awkward when Sherman looked at her so closely. Her face was burning not in pain but in shame.

She removed Sherman's hand from her face and said, "I'm fine. It's just a small bruise."

Sherman's brow furrowed. "Do you have to endure this often at home?"

Rita was just about to shake her head in response when her father com interjected "No, not at all. I never slapped her before. I just lost control of my temper today."

The servant, sensing some tension, discreetly went into the kitchen and brought out some more food.

"We were just about to have a family meal, by the way. Please join usm Vince suggested, "We'll have the kitchen prepare some more food.

Any special requests?"

Rita agreed silently with Vince's suggestion, as she felt that it would be improper to let Sherman eat those leftovers Although they had hardly touched the food and had been busy arguing, Sherman finally relented when he saw Rita gazing earnestly at him.

"I'll let you choose. I trust your taste," said Sherman.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2895-Rita could no longer contain herself when Vince brought that up. She pushed her chair back and rose to her feet before addressing her father condescendingly, "I've never asked you for anything, and this will be the only time I'll ever make a request with you.

"Please stop begging Sherman for money. I'll provide you with whatever you need, and it's not like the company needs financial assistance after the recent injection of capital. Why are you asking him for more? Can't you at least let me have some dignity?"

Vince immediately stood up and slapped her to silence her. "I can't believe I ever raised such a heartless daughter! Are you going to tell me you've fallen for Sherman? You mean nothing to him, so stop pretending! Whatever monetary request I ask from him is between him and me. You just need to keep quiet and cherish your time with him while he's still interested in you. You'll come crawling back home anyway when he gets tired of you and divorces you. That's when you'll begin to appreciate how much foresight I have."

"Foresight? Does visiting the Parrs and begging them again count as part of that foresight? It's shameful to see the Russell Group's president stooping to such lows." Rita's words grew bolder, stripping Vince of all dignity.

Karen and Sadie remained silent for fear that they might be caught in the crossfire.

Vince raised his hand and delivered another slap. Rita braced herself and closed her eyes, but someone pulled Vince back and intervened just as the slap was about to land. After stumbling over, he looked up and saw that it was Sherman who pulled him back.

His displeased expression morphed into a sycophantic grin as he said, "Ah, my son-in-law is here! Why didn't you let us know earlier? I would have had the kitchen prepare some of your favorite food!"

Rita gazed at Sherman in astonishment. "Why are you here?"

He was supposed to be at the office the entire day, and they had not had any contact for almost two days. She was surprised that he would know where to find her, and in the nick of time, no less.

"Why do you think so? If I hadn't shown up in time, you would've just stood there and let him slap you. That's a pretty dumb thing to do if you ask me," Sherman scolded Rita and was not happy to see her swollen cheek.

Rita, on the other hand, merely looked at him in shock and showed no signs of pain.

Vince scratched his head awkwardly and explained, "It's a shame that you had to witness this scene. I'll admit it's one of the more embarrassing aspects of our family. We were discussing certain issues, and Rita went out of line. I was just teaching her a lesson in my capacity as her father. It's no big deal."

However, Sherman ignored him and frowned as he began to check Rita's cheek. The anger emanating from him seemed to be manifesting visibly, causing Vince to tremble.

Sadie was eager for his attention and stood up in the hopes of catching Sherman's notice.

"Yes, my elder sister should've set a good example, but she didn't and my dad had to discipline her. He's really sorry that the situation became like this. Dad wouldn't have gotten this angry if Rita hadn't been so rude as to throw her cutlery during the meal.

We know how much you're worried about Rita, but you need to-"

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2894-Vince then reflected pensively. "That's good. I hope you don't let me catch wind of you contacting anyone you shouldn't have. You know how much resolve it took for me to bring you out of that place, and you've also promised me you'd never look back to your past. I can safely say that I've fulfilled all my responsibilities to both of you over the years, and I've been able to give you whatever you wanted. I don't want any of you dredging up the past, and that goes for Rita too."

He then turned to Rita and said, "Just because you're my daughter doesn't mean you can act however you want. You haven't even apologized for what

happened earlier. Who taught you to throw your cutlery like that? You used to be so well-behaved at home, but your attitude changed completely as soon as you married the Parrs. How do you expect to set a good example for your sister?"

"Are you getting senile? When did I have a sister? You're not seriously going to tell me that you're raising someone else's daughter as your own, right? Am I supposed to take care of her in the future too? You can't expect me to take care of her and the baby that's on the way."

"Hic… Hic… I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry! I shouldn't have upset you by wasting your time upstairs. Please don't threaten Dad anymore! I'm happy enough with things as they are! I wouldn't expect any sort of extra care from you in the future.

And I promise I won't get involved with the Parrs. They're your in-laws, and the last thing I want is to embarrass ourselves in front of him."

"What are you talking about? What do you mean, you won't get involved with them? Aren't Rita's in-laws a part of our family too?"

"Rita warned me not to have anything to do with her husband. Otherwise, the Parrs would look down on us and make things difficult for her. I'm aware of the situation, and I'll keep my distance from them in the future."

Rita crossed her arms and wondered when she mentioned all that to Sadie. As far as she knew, she never brought up Sherman's name to Sadie. It was Sadie who lusted after Sherman to the point where Sadie would not hesitate to pull off all sorts of tricks.

Everything could have been settled easily if it was just a simple quarrel between Rita and Sadie, but Sadie's words made Vince feel like he had just been slapped in the face. He wondered what Sadie meant by saying that she would be getting Rita in trouble.

After all, it was because of Vince that Rita was able to marry Sherman in the first place. Had he not swallowed his pride and pleaded with the Parrs to preserve Rita's innocence, they would never have noticed Rita's existence in the first place.

Yet, there Rita was, prioritizing her husband's family above the Russells' It was not what Vince had in mind initially. He pushed Rita to marry Sherman so he could take advantage of the Parrs!

He found it appalling that Rita would show such reluctance to let them Russells interact with the Parrs when even Sherman had yet to mention anything about it.

Who do you think you are, telling us what we can or can't do? Your husband hasn't even said anything about any of this. Raising you wasn't easy, but now you seem happy just watching our family crumble! I never would've thought that my daughter would grow up to be so heartless!"

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2897-"Okay, let's have Donna whip up something quick. She's got quite the knack for cooking shrimp. You'll have to give them a try!" Rita momentarily forgot the throbbing pain on her cheek. It was Sherman's first proper meal at her home as her husband. The timing and circumstances were not ideal, but she was still eager for him to relish her favorite dishes.

Sherman nodded politely. "Sounds wonderful."

Vince then interjected, "Donna has been part of our family for a long time. She came along when I married Rita's mother. Rita grew up with Donna's cooking, and Donna knows her preferences perfectly. If you're okay, you can bring Donna over to the home too. She'll be more than happy to prepare your meals." Sherman did not immediately decline. Instead, he glanced at Rita to seek her opinion.

Rita did not know how to respond. They were not living together at the moment, and she wondered where Donna would stay after moving out of the Russells. Splitting her time evenly between Rita's and Sherman's places would be cumbersome.

"If you want, we can move to the house at Southerhill. It's a wedding gift from my parents, and we can move in anytime. It's very close to your workplace, and Donna could take care of you during the day while I'm at work."

"Oh…" Southerhill's land was a piece of luxury that not even the richest could afford to get. Even the Russells could only dream about having such a land, yet Sherman was so nonchalant about it. He seemed to be telling Rita that she was free to choose whether or not to stay there.

Vince grew a little restless and was fervently hoping his daughter would agree.

Sherman then fed some soup to Rita and said, "Have some soup to ease your hunger. You don't need to give me an answer right away. It's not like the house is going anywhere."

Vince pressed on, "What is there to think about? Southerhill is closest to your workplace, and it'll be so much more convenient to move there. Besides, you'll have Donna look after you too."

Southerhill was also relatively close to Sherman's parents' place, a factor that Rita took into consideration before nodding. "Let's bring Donna with us."

Rita sipped her soup and realized that it was still rather hot. She ladled some for Sherman and said, "You should have some, too. Donna's cooking is the best."

The two of them were conversing quietly with each other and ignored Karen and Sadie sitting across from them.

Sadie lowered her head and clenched her jaw. "The clams in this soup are overcooked. There's nothing special about it. The next time you come, you should try Donna's signature cream of spinach soup. That's what you call an amazing soup! My sister seems to think that every soup is delicious, and I wouldn't want you to be under the impression that our family's taste buds are faulty."

"You don't need to worry about that," Rita replied, "we can have Donna's cream of spinach soup whenever we want after she moves in with us."

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2898-Rita then remarked casually, "Must Sadie feel the need to speak her mind all the time? Doesn't she feel embarrassed?"

Sensing that an argument was about to brew over, Karen intervened hastily, "Ahem! Donna can cook whatever they want after moving with them to Southerhill. You don't need to worry about them, Sadie.

"In fact, I think you should drink more of this soup even if you don't really like it. Just look at how thin you've become. You're practically just skin and bones. You need to eat more so your brain has the energy to cope with your studies in school. And besides, you ought to cherish these last few days that Donna is still around."

Sadie did not seem grateful at all when Karen filled her bowl with soup. She felt the need to hate things that Rita liked, so she pushed the bowl away in disgust and nearly spilled its contents.

Sadie tensed when Vince glanced over, but she remained stubborn and said, "I told you the clams are overcooked, Mom. I don't want any more soup, and even if I did, I can take some myself. Don't trouble yourself to fill my bowl. You don't need to worry about me."

"Oh, silly me. I'm sorry I hadn't paid attention and filled your bowl even though you just said you didn't like it. I'll have your portion, then."

Vince scowled at their antics and was particularly displeased by Sadie's constant complaining of the clams in Sherman's presence. It was clear that she was trying to make herself appear knowledgeable, but she never stopped to think that the food she turned her nose up at was provided for by Vince. Had Vince not saved them from their dire situation back then, she probably would never have had the chance to taste clams!

It was preposterous for Sadie to belittle Rita in front of Sherman on top of trying to drive a wedge between them. Sadie probably thought too highly of herself.

Fortunately, Sherman ignored her and finished the entire bowl of soup.

"You have good taste," he remarked to Rita. "It was a lovely soup."

Rita beamed with delight when she heard Sherman's praise. Before long, Donna swiftly brought out a few more freshly cooked dishes.

Rita wasted no time in serving Sherman her favorite dish and eagerly encouraged him to try it. She was probably the only person there who naively treated his visit as nothing more than a simple meal together.

Meanwhile, Vince stood nearby and was eager to find an opportunity to slip in a comment requesting more funds to be injected into Russell Group. Parr Group was wealthy after all, and it was only just for them to share some of that success with the Russell Group.

Their families were already connected through marriage anyway, and his daughter would eventually inherit some of the Parrs' wealth too. Receiving a portion of that wealth in advance would do no harm.

Rita saw through her father's intentions and deftly kept Sherman engaged in conversation, thus diverting all attention away from Vince.

"This is another highlight. The vegetables are from our garden, and Donna picked them fresh," Rita interjected and swiftly changed the subject.

She then turned to Vince and said, "Less talking, more eating, Dad. There are a lot of different dishes here that Sherman needs to try, and I'll have to return to the company with him after we're done eating." Vince snorted. "Are you so busy that you can't even spare some time for a meal with your father?"

Rita chewed her food and spoke as if she was short on time, "But I'm having a meal with you right now. You're at an age where you're not that busy anymore, but Sherman and I have plenty of other responsibilities! Besides, once we've all had our fill, you should take a stroll in the garden with Aunt Karen. It'll help with digestion, and a bit of exercise on Aunt Karen's part will be good for my little brother.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2899-Rita had Vince wrapped around her finger, and the mention of his unborn son immediately caught his attention. He passed Karen some cutlery and remarked, "You should be eating more during this period. Remember to have a balanced diet, though.

"I'll take a stroll with you after the meal. I'm not too busy these days, so I'll be happy to keep you and our child company."

Karen was visibly pleased. "You don't have to stay with me every hour of the day. I didn't need to be pampered when I raised Sadie before."

"That's because you hadn't gotten the luxury you have now. This baby is ours, Karen. I promise none of you will suffer," Vince assured, caressing her hand.

Sadie felt like the odd one out, as she had no blood ties to the Russells and could only have a genuine connection with Karen. Alas, Karen seemed so fixated on Vince and their son that Sadie became something of an afterthought.

Sadie dared not imagine what might happen if the child in Karen's womb was a boy. She probably would have no place in their family anymore, and Karen would not even be willing to spare her a glance. After all, she already had another child to pin her hopes on, and Sadie could not fathom the sheer extent of wealth that Vince would leave to him.

Sadie gripped her cutlery tightly. The food tasted like ash in her mouth, with nothing left to lose, she could only cling to her own resolve.

Sadie glanced at the man across from her, knowing that she would be set for life if she could marry him. She needed to plan for her future.

If Sadie kept her foolish thoughts to herself, Rita could at least pretend that the meal was an enjoyable one, especially since Sherman would have the chance to savor the dishes she had cherished since her childhood. Rita valued that moment of tranquility with him, but Sadie had been too persistent with her nonsense at the table.

Sadie said, "You seem to like Donna's cooking a lot. Maybe you and Rita can come back home more often to have dinner with us? Mom and Dad would be thrilled to have you around, and I say this beca-"

"These lemon pepper chicken wings are my favorite!" Rita cut in sharply. "Try them, Sherman. Donna's recipe gives them an extra crispiness. And by the way, Sadie, you should learn to enjoy the food instead of talking at the dinner table. You must be thirsty after that chatter. Have some soup."

A servant promptly refilled Sadie's bowl with soup after receiving a nod from Rita. Sadie's expression soured, and even her mother did not speak up for her.

Rita had already diverted the conversation from its unpleasant course earlier, yet Sadie just had to bring up another topic. Sadie seemed not to have noticed that Sherman did not glance at her even once, and Sadie's apparent obliviousness left Karen fuming.

The Day I Kissed An Older Man Chapter 2900-Were it not for the huge dining table that separated them, Karen would have been tempted to give her daughter a gentle pat as a signal to stop her nonsensical chatter. Sadie's actions were only setting herself up for embarrassment. Sherman seemed to view her as non-existent, and there was really no point for her to try to get close to him.

Sadie set the soup aside and said, "I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but I'm just telling the truth. Take today, for example-your husband's sudden arrival caught our parents off guard. I think we can all agree it's not very hospitable of us to receive him as a guest when our meals were not even prepared yet. If word of this gets out, our reputation for hospitality will be tarnished. And I don't think I need to remind you that your husband is an esteemed guest. You know that better than anyone, and you should at least be considerate of his status."

Rita chewed her food and shot Sadie a glare. She knew what Sadie's intentions were. Sherman's presence at the Russells was a chance for Sadie to have more interactions with him, and it seemed as though her covetous thoughts toward Sherman had not entirely dissipated yet.

Sadie lacked even the most basic sense of decorum. Although her living conditions had improved dramatically after she had joined the Russells', she failed to pick up on even the smallest bit of etiquette and decorum. It was highly inappropriate for an unmarried girl like her to ask her brother-in-law to come over more often, and she did not seem to realize just how embarrassing that would be for her family if anyone outside of the family found out. Her attempts to manipulate Rita with that only showed just how out of her mind she was.

Sherman did not fire back as he was in Rita's home. He knew that he had to give Rita enough space to uphold her dignity, and his presence by her side in such times of need was all that was required.

Rita heaped some food onto Sherman's plate and wiped her mouth with a napkin before saying, "I didn't know you had the final say in this household."

Sadie immediately adjusted her expression and snickered. "What are you implying by that? I would never overstep our boundaries like that. I'm just conveying Dad's thoughts. If you believe me, you can ask him yourself. He wants you to come home more often, but it's never easy for a father to express such thoughts.

She then turned to Vince as Vince was wiping his mouth. "Your sister is right. You can't just stop coming home after getting married. I've raised you for so many years, and I'm still not used to the thought of you being married to someone else. This was your mother's home too."

The 'mother' he referred to was Rita's biological mother, and Karen was not happy to hear that. The bedroom she and Vince slept in was not the master bedroom but an adjacent one. The decision to sleep in that room sparked several disputes between Karen and Vince. He refused to sleep there with Karen because the room still bore the memories of him with his ex-wife.

Initially, Vince intended it to be a place of memories for him and Rita, with Rita frequently seeking solace there during her frequent childhood nightmares. That was the only place where Rita could feel her mother's presence.