The first morning after getting married should have been a happy moment for Keira Namira.
Sunlight streamed through the bedroom window, illuminating Keira's face as she finished preparing a simple breakfast. She wore a cream apron, her hair neatly tied back.
Toast, an omelet, and a cup of hot coffee were already waiting on the dining table.
Christ Manuel Blanco came downstairs, adjusting the sleeves of his shirt.
"That smells amazing," he said with a smile.
Keira blushed.
"I didn't know what you liked yet, so I kept it simple for now."
Christ pulled out a chair and took his wife's hand.
"I don't care what I eat. As long as you cooked it, it'll be delicious."
Keira let out a soft laugh.
"You're such a flirt."
"I'm not flirting. I'm being honest."
The warmth between them slowly helped Keira forget what Mrs. Anggun had said the night before.
But the peaceful atmosphere lasted only a few minutes.
Ding-dong...
The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it," Keira said.
The moment she opened the door, her smile faded.
Mrs. Anggun stood outside with a flat expression. Behind her were two household staff members carrying several large suitcases.
"Mom... Mrs. Anggun."
Mrs. Anggun stepped inside without asking permission.
"Christ."
Christ immediately went over to her.
"Mom?"
"What is this?"
Mrs. Anggun looked around the house.
"This house is far too small for the Blanco family."
Christ gave a faint smile.
"It's big enough for us."
"Us?"
Mrs. Anggun's voice rose.
"You're my only son, Christ. After getting married, the two of you should be living in the main house."
"I already told you, Mom. I want to live independently."
Mrs. Anggun let out a long sigh.
"Fine."
Her gaze shifted to Keira.
"In that case, I'll be coming by often starting today."
Keira only nodded quietly.
Without waiting for a response, Mrs. Anggun immediately began touring the house.
She opened the kitchen cabinets.
Looked inside the refrigerator.
She even inspected the laundry room.
Keira followed nervously behind her.
"Hmm."
Mrs. Anggun picked up a plate.
"Why did you buy tableware like this?"
Keira was confused.
"What's wrong with it, Mrs. Anggun?"
"It's cheap."
Keira fell silent.
Mrs. Anggun opened the refrigerator again.
"There's nothing but vegetables, fruit, and meat?"
"Yes."
"Christ deserves better than food like this."
Keira swallowed.
"I cook according to what he likes."
"Likes?"
Mrs. Anggun laughed sarcastically.
"You've only been his wife for a few days."
"Do you really think you know my son already?"
Her words pierced Keira's heart.
Christ had just finished taking a phone call and hurried over.
"Mom."
"What is it now?"
Mrs. Anggun smiled sweetly.
"I'm just teaching your wife how to be a homemaker."
Christ looked at Keira.
He saw his wife standing there silently with her head bowed.
He knew.
Keira had been hurt again.
By lunchtime, Mrs. Anggun deliberately asked Keira to prepare lunch.
"You said you could cook, right?"
"Yes, Mrs. Anggun."
"Then make five different dishes."
Keira nodded.
She got busy in the kitchen.
One hour passed.
Then two.
At last, all the food was ready.
Chicken soup.
Butter shrimp.
Stir-fried mixed vegetables.
Grilled fish.
And pudding for dessert.
Mrs. Anggun sat elegantly at the dining table.
She tasted the soup first.
Then she set down her spoon.
"Too salty."
Even though the seasoning was just right.
She tried the fish.
"Too tough."
Then the shrimp.
"Too sweet."
Keira clenched her fingers beneath her apron.
She knew her cooking wasn't that bad.
But Mrs. Anggun was deliberately looking for faults.
Christ tasted the food too.
"Huh? It's delicious."
Mrs. Anggun immediately glared at her son.
"Your taste in food has declined since you got married."
Christ sighed.
"Mom."
"Keira's been cooking since this morning."
"The least you can do is respect her effort."
Mrs. Anggun stood up.
"I'm only telling the truth."
She picked up her bag.
"Before she becomes a wife of the Blanco family, she has a lot more to learn."
With that, Mrs. Anggun left just like that.
The front door closed.
The house immediately fell silent.
Keira was still standing there in a daze.
Her eyes began to redden.
"I really failed, didn't I?"
Christ walked over.
"Hey..."
He gently lifted Keira's chin.
"Don't listen to everything Mom says."
"But my cooking really is terrible."
Christ scooped up a spoonful of soup and ate it.
"If it's so terrible, why am I having seconds?"
Keira stared at him.
Christ picked up another shrimp.
"See?"
"Gone."
Keira couldn't hold back a small smile.
"I'm serious."
Christ took both of his wife's hands.
"As long as I'm still your husband, you don't need to change just to earn someone else's approval."
"Even Mom's?"
"Even hers."
Keira nodded slowly.
Though her heart felt a little lighter, she realized one thing.
Mrs. Anggun's visit today hadn't been an ordinary visit.
It was the beginning of a far more difficult trial.
And Mrs. Anggun hadn't yet used every method at her disposal to make Keira leave her beloved son.