That morning, Keira Namira woke up with swollen eyes.
Although she had barely slept after the incident involving the Blanco family's brooch, she forced herself to get up.
She didn't want Christ to see her drowning in sadness.
In the kitchen, Keira prepared breakfast as usual.
Her hands were busy stirring corn soup, but her mind was still filled with the voices she'd heard the night before.
"Of course she's not from a well-off family."
"Maybe she really was the one who took it."
Her relatives' words kept echoing in her head.
Without realizing it, her tears dripped into the bowl.
"Hey."
Christ's voice made Keira quickly wipe her cheeks.
"Are you crying again?"
Keira gave him a faint smile.
"No, I'm not."
Christ came closer and took hold of both her shoulders.
"Don't lie to me."
Keira finally let out a sigh.
"I just can't stop thinking about what happened last night."
Christ gently stroked his wife's hair.
"I already told you—I believe you."
"But your family might not."
"I didn't marry my family."
Christ looked into Keira's eyes with unwavering conviction.
"I married you."
That simple sentence warmed Keira's heart once again.
After Christ left for the office, Keira decided to go to the supermarket to buy a few household necessities.
She wanted to keep herself busy so she wouldn't dwell on what had happened the night before.
But as soon as she entered the supermarket, two women she recognized immediately began whispering to each other.
"Isn't that Mrs. Anggun's daughter-in-law?"
"Yeah, the one who supposedly got caught stealing the family brooch."
Keira stopped in her tracks.
Her chest felt tight.
The news had spread this quickly?
She lowered her head and chose to hurry through picking up the things she needed.
While she was choosing vegetables, a supermarket employee approached her.
"Excuse me, ma'am."
"Yes?"
"May we check your bag?"
Keira fell silent.
"Why?"
"A customer reported seeing someone take merchandise without paying."
Several shoppers immediately turned to look.
Keira bit her lip.
"I didn't take anything."
"It's just a routine check."
With trembling hands, Keira handed over her bag.
Everything inside was taken out.
Her wallet.
Her phone.
Her shopping list.
There wasn't a single unpaid supermarket item.
The employee immediately bowed.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. It seems we received a false report."
Keira only nodded slowly.
"It's okay."
But the humiliation had already filled her chest.
Everyone was looking at her as if she really were a thief.
Elsewhere...
Mrs. Anggun was sitting in a café with an old friend.
"Anggun, don't you think you're going too far?"
Mrs. Anggun stirred her coffee.
"What do you mean?"
"Keira seems like a good woman."
"Good?"
Mrs. Anggun smiled sarcastically.
"A good woman wouldn't steal a son from his mother."
Her friend sighed.
"Christ is an adult."
"Precisely because he's my son, I know what kind of woman deserves to stand beside him."
"What if Christ is happy?"
Mrs. Anggun set down her cup.
"Happiness can be found."
"But family status can't be changed."
That afternoon...
Christ came home early.
As soon as he entered the house, he saw Keira sitting on the porch, lost in thought.
"What's wrong?"
Keira gave him a small smile.
"Nothing."
Christ sat beside her.
"I know you."
"Did something happen?"
Keira finally told him what had happened at the supermarket.
Christ's expression immediately changed.
"They searched your bag?"
Keira nodded.
"Yes."
Christ clenched his fists.
"It must have been because of that rumor."
"I'm not angry."
"But I am."
Christ stood up.
"I'm going to talk to Mom."
Keira quickly grabbed his hand.
"Don't."
"Why not?"
"It'll only make the problem worse."
Christ shook his head firmly.
"The problem is already serious, Keira."
"You were humiliated in front of all those people."
Keira clasped her husband's hand.
"I just want to live in peace."
Seeing his wife's eyes begin to glisten, Christ's anger slowly faded.
He sat down again.
"If anything happens next time, call me right away."
Keira nodded.
"Okay."
That night, they had a simple dinner.
Keira cooked Christ's favorite soy sauce chicken.
"Is it good?"
Christ nodded with a smile.
"Always."
Keira let out a small laugh.
"If you praise me every day, I'll get a big head."
"So be it."
Christ fed Keira a piece of chicken.
"You deserve to be praised."
The warm atmosphere brought another smile to Keira's face.
It had been a long time since she'd felt this peaceful.
But that peace was disturbed once again.
Christ's phone rang.
The name on the screen made his smile disappear.
Mom.
Christ answered the call.
"Hi, Mom."
Mrs. Anggun's voice sounded cold.
"There's a family dinner tomorrow night."
Christ was silent.
"I want both of you to come."
"What's the occasion?"
"Your uncle's birthday."
"Okay."
"But remember this."
Mrs. Anggun deliberately emphasized every word.
"Make sure your wife minds her manners."
The call ended.
Christ let out a long breath.
"What is it?" Keira asked.
"We're invited to a family dinner tomorrow night."
Keira immediately looked hesitant.
"Do I have to go?"
"Of course."
"But..."
"You're my wife."
"The whole family needs to know how proud I am to introduce you."
Keira gave him a faint smile, even as unease filled her heart.
She knew that dinner wouldn't be just an ordinary family gathering.
Mrs. Anggun must have something planned.
At the Blanco family's house, Mrs. Anggun was speaking on the phone.
"Everyone has to come tomorrow night."
The voice on the other end gave a brief reply.
"Yes, ma'am."
"And one more thing..."
Mrs. Anggun smiled meaningfully.
"Make sure Vanessa is there too."
The call ended.
Her gaze turned to a photo of Christ displayed in the study.
"If the gentle approach doesn't work..."
"...I'll make Keira lose her dignity in front of the entire family."
Her smile slowly widened.
Without Keira and Christ realizing it, tomorrow night's family dinner was no ordinary invitation.
It was a stage Mrs. Anggun had prepared to bring down the daughter-in-law she hated most once again.