I fumbled around trying to comfort her, my mind filled with the words the shopkeeper and Theo had said.

Until a ringing phone interrupted my thoughts, when I answered, Theo’s voice was impatient.

“Why aren’t you at the hotel yet? Your parents are already there. How can you make the elders wait for the younger generation?”

“Stella’s stomach hurts, I can’t leave her. What’s wrong with you? Can’t you move any faster?”

“I also need sanitary pads, but the shopkeeper said everything in the store has been sold out. Theo, what a coincidence…”

My voice was so calm I didn’t recognize myself.

Before he could speak, Stella immediately said in a sweet voice, “How could this happen? Is my menstrual cycle the same as my sister-in-law’s? That’s such a coincidence…”

“I thought Adele’s was at the beginning of the month. This change is so sudden.”

The implied meaning in her words instantly enraged Theo.

“Adele, why are you so full of ulterior motives? Since Stella isn’t feeling well, you’re following her example? It’s not unusual for a store to sell out of everything. Can’t you just go to a few more stores? Is that a valid excuse?”

“Stop making excuses for yourself. If all else fails, can’t you just use toilet paper? Your parents and relatives are waiting for you. Can’t you be a little less arrogant?”

Before I could react, the call was hung up again.

Charles looked at me thoughtfully. I was about to ask him to drive to a restroom first. Luna started crying again.

Her diaper was no longer holding and the urgent priority was to take care of the child.

When we went to the nearest mall to buy diapers, the store clerk pointed to a figure in the distance and said that Charles had bought out the entire store’s supply.

He held a black card in his hand, casually instructing the store clerks to carry the diapers.

“Yes, we want this one too. Take it all and load it into my car.”

“Money isn’t an issue. The problem is making my boss happy.”

“Who is your boss?”

“Theo Baron, the president of Baron Group. Do you know him?”

“Mr. Baron just had a son. The cost of a few diapers is nothing. Just do as I say.”

I thought Theo had finally done something kind.

Before I could even celebrate, after revealing my identity, I was publicly humiliated by that shopkeeper.

“What Mrs. Baron? I don’t know her. Mr. Baron didn’t mention her. I only listen to Mr. Baron.”

“Where did you come from? You can’t even afford diapers and you’re pretending to be rich?”

His phone screen suddenly lit up. Someone had sent a message asking about the progress.

I glanced at the wallpaper and saw it was a photo of Stella. What else was there to understand?

“Name your price. How much are you willing to sell it for?”

The other person looked me up and down with disdain.

“Ten thousand per photo, cash only. Hand it over.”

I froze in shock.

Now I couldn’t even ask Charles for help.

Luna’s cries grew louder, attracting the mall security guards who were ready to escort us out.

As I was frantically trying to figure out what to do, my phone popped up with some messages from Theo.

[It’s okay, you don’t need to come. Take Luna home and stay there.]

[Today happens to be Stella’s birthday, so we’ve changed Luna’s birthday party to Stella’s birthday party.]

[Don’t argue with me. It’s your fault for dragging your feet. We’ll just have to reschedule the first birthday banquet for next year. I have no idea what you’ve been doing all day. What’s so busy about that?]

The hotel staff hadn’t received the message and continued filming the event as planned, leaving the video for me as a souvenir.

When I opened the video, Stella stood on stage in a custom-made evening gown, with countless diamonds sparkling on the skirt, blinding everyone.

It didn’t look like a last-minute replacement. It seemed more like it had been planned all along.

“Hello everyone, I’m truly sorry for the last-minute change. It’s just that my sister-in-law, Adele, is a very busy person and couldn’t bring Luna over.”

“Everyone, don’t be angry with her. She’s a woman and it’s understandable that her emotions are all over the place after just giving birth.”

“So that everyone didn’t come for nothing, I’ve changed Luna’s birthday party to my birthday party. Welcome everyone to come celebrate my 24th birthday. Here, I want to give special thanks to one person.”

“My brother, Theo, who is also the closest person in my life...”

Stella’s group of close female friends had somehow replaced the relatives below.

Upon hearing this, they all started urging her to shout, “Give him a kiss! Give him a kiss!”

The backdrop still displayed her daughter’s photo, but it now felt incredibly ironic.

Theo looked awkward, his face turning red all the way to his ears.

“This isn’t appropriate. It’s your birthday party; I shouldn’t be the center of attention.”

“Don’t say that. Without you, I wouldn’t be here today. Thank you, Theo.”

A friend beside them winked.

“Mr. Baron is just being shy. In other countries, it’s popular to kiss on the cheek when you meet. You’re so shy, you must have feelings for our Stella, right?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Stella lowered her head and kissed him on the corner of his lips.

“Drink the wine! Drink the wine!”

The shouts grew louder and louder.

Theo no longer resisted and obediently drank the wine with her. The glass was still half-filled with ice cubes.

That was what she meant by her “menstrual period.”

The video showed the moment the two of them drank the cup of wine.

The baby’s cries shattered the last remnants of my fantasy. If my child’s father were this kind of person, it would be better to find a better father.

I knew it clearly in my heart, but tears still flowed uncontrollably from my eyes, accompanied by waves of nausea.

Charles hurriedly handed me a tissue.

“Let me take you to the hospital. With such severe postpartum reactions, how can he let you go out alone?”

“No, it’s okay.”

With red eyes, I slowly raised my head to meet Charles’s worried gaze.

“Congratulations on becoming a father. Want me to become you wife too?”

I could feel his body stiffen instantly.

“What did you say?”

“You’re already married…”

“We haven’t registered yet. He said he doesn’t have time.”

During the waiting period for the marriage registration, Theo had sent a message to his assistant at some point.

When I came out with the marriage certificate, the car was already filled with sanitary pads and diapers. There were also countless small stuffed animals.

Charles blushed and coughed.  “I bought them randomly. They’re gifts for the baby.”

“I’ve never been in a relationship or had a child before. I’ll learn as I go.”

After saying that, he took out the household registration book. My name and my daughter’s name had already been added.

Below was a thick stack of property deeds and property transfer agreements.

“I’m different from Theo. Even though I don’t know what you want, I’ll do my best.”

“If you ever get angry with me, this will be your and the child’s security.”

Holding my daughter, I finally smiled sincerely for the first time in a year.

“Thank you.”

“Now, it’s time to settle the score with them.”

I contacted the hotel again and booked the banquet hall next to Stella’s birthday party for my daughter’s birthday party.

The banquet hall was already filled with guests. But this time, they were all Baron Family relatives.

As soon as I entered the hotel lobby, Theo spotted me in the main hall. He hurried over, sized me up and looked at me with apparent disdain.

“Today is a special day, with so many friends here and you show up in your pajamas?”

“Are you deliberately trying to humiliate me and get revenge?”

I sneered.

“Revenge? You canceled my daughter’s birthday party. Who’s really seeking revenge here?”

“Friends? They’re all Stella’s friends. What does that have to do with me? Even if I ran naked, no one would look at me.”

His expression darkened instantly.

“Are you still angry? Is this never-ending? I’ve explained it to you hundreds of times. You were the one who was late and made the relatives wait. I politely let them go home, wasn’t it just to give you a way out.”

“Give me a way out? Or give you and Stella a chance to kiss? You’ve been waiting for this day for so long, haven’t you? It must have been tough.”

I snorted coldly and Theo’s eyes turned red with anger.

Just as he was about to speak, Stella walked up from behind, holding my mother-in-law’s hand.

“Adele? Didn’t I tell you to rest today? Why did you come?”

Barbara rolled her eyes.

“At least you showed up. You’re busier than the president of the United Nations!”

“If it weren’t for Theo suggesting we change it to Stella’s birthday party, the money we spent on the hotel would have gone down the drain!”

“You left so early but were the last one to arrive. Those who know say you took a taxi and those who don’t think you took the kids to the afterlife!”

I didn’t back down and retorted, “Your son bought all the sanitary pads in the store and his assistant bought all the diapers in the mall. Those who know say he’s responsible and those who don’t think he really has a new home outside!”

Theo’s face turned even darker.

“When did I ever tell my assistant to buy anything?”

“At least think before you speak! Who uses diapers that much? Did he use all of them?”

Stella’s eyes welled up with tears, her face full of grievance.

“Adele, I didn’t mean to. I just wanted the assistant to buy them as a gift for the child.”

“I really didn’t know it would cause you trouble.”

I spread my hands, giving her a “you see” expression.

Theo changed the subject and defended Stella.

“Stella didn’t mean it either. Who knew you didn’t bring any spares today?”

I burst out laughing in anger.

“So it’s all my fault? What am I supposed to say? Should I kneel down and thank her?”

“Thank her for kissing my child’s father at the birthday party? Thank her for drinking the wedding cup with my child’s father?”

Theo rushed forward to attack me, but was held back by Stella.

“What’s with the passive-aggressive attitude? Who owes you anything? You were the one who was late and I didn’t stop you from coming!”

“If it weren’t for Stella being so considerate and enduring her stomach pain to smooth things over for you, you’d already be cursed out by the relatives! Do you think you’d still be standing here?”

“There are no ill-mannered people in the Baron Family! I’ll say this one last time, apologize to Stella, reschedule the private room for tonight and treat the relatives who left today to a meal. Otherwise, this isn’t over between us!”

My expression turned completely cold.

“You don’t think I came here to rush into becoming your Baron Family’s daughter-in-law, do you? Sorry, you’re overthinking it. I came here just to attend my daughter’s birthday party.”

“If you don’t want to be my daughter’s father, there are plenty of others eager to spend money on her. I’ve already found her a new father. Good dogs don’t block the way, so get out of the way.”

Theo finally noticed the man behind me, his forehead veins throbbing.

“Say that again?”

“You want my daughter to call him ‘father’?”

I pulled out the marriage certificate and household registration book I’d just received, flipped them open and held them in front of him.

“That’s right, it’s not ‘dad.’ He’s her father now.”

“Sorry, I’m in a hurry to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. If you have time, you can come over to the next door for a drink.”

“But..”

“We start with a million-dollar gift. I wonder if your bank account has enough?”