Chapter 187

Evelyn glared daggers at Winter. If looks could kill, Winter would have been stabbed to pieces.

"Ms. Jefferson, you might have misunderstood me," Ingrid said timidly, glancing pitifully at Winter.

Winter wasn't buying it. "Misunderstand what? That you have shame or even dignity?"

Evelyn snapped, "Winter, don't go too far! I'm still your elder."

"Oh, can't win the argument, so you're pulling the age card? Too bad, I don't bow to that kind of pressure. And trust me, I can go further—want to test me?"

Evelyn was speechless.

"That's enough, Winter," Miranda finally said. "Arguing with them is pointless." She wasn't interested in a war of words. Even if they won, what would it accomplish?

Her calm tone and indifferent gaze instantly angered Evelyn.

"You're just insecure, aren't you?" Evelyn sneered. "You've been with Hansel for so many years, but nothing good happened. But look at Ingrid—how long has it been? And she's already pregnant! A barren old hen like you could only fool a young and naive Hansel back then. If you think I'd ever let you into the Johnson family, you're dreaming!"

Evelyn's outburst stemmed from Miranda's consistent ignoring of her. In the past, Evelyn had treated Miranda as nonexistent; Miranda had endured it. Now, the roles were reversed, and Miranda held the upper hand. Evelyn couldn't accept this. It felt as if a dog that once groveled at her feet had jumped onto the dining table, barking and biting.

Miranda smiled slightly. "Sorry, I really don't have those kinds of dreams. Whoever wants to join the Johnson family can have at it. Whoever wants your son can take him. None of it concerns me."

"You—" Evelyn's face turned crimson.

Ingrid grabbed Miranda's hand. "Ms. Sutton, thank you for your blessings. Hansel, our child, and I will be just fine as a family of three."

Miranda's smile didn't waver. "Sure. Good luck with that."

"Thank you."

Winter rolled her eyes, pulling Miranda away. "Does she think she's in a soap opera? 'Ms. Sutton' this, 'Ms. Sutton' that… aggressive nonsense—she could star in her own show! What a waste of an acting gig! And what's with Hansel? Is he blind? How can he choose that train wreck over someone like you? Doesn't he have taste? And Hansel's mom… does she think the Johnson family has some royal throne to inherit? Does she really think the Johnson family is some paradise everyone's dying to get into? Even if it were, with her around, it'd be polluted like a stinking swamp! And calling you a barren old hen… Has she watched too many evil mother-in-law soap operas? She must have fully inserted herself into the role!"

Winter's unfiltered tirade, exaggerated for effect, was overheard. Ingrid's face soured, and Evelyn's twisted in rage. "Unbelievable! This is outrageous!"

A passerby gave Evelyn an odd look, thinking she'd stepped out of a vintage evil mother-in-law drama.