Ashley’s lips curled into a smirk. As she was about to delve deeper, the sound of the kitchen door opening interrupted her.
“Sorry for the wait. Dinner’s ready!” Valerie and Julian emerged, bearing dishes that immediately diverted Ashley’s attention. Matthew set his glass aside, his gaze shifting from Ashley to the food being placed on the table.
Reluctantly, Ashley helped set the table. She reassured herself that Matthew was just a handsome face with no significant background, and decided there was nothing to worry about.
The dinner table was exceptionally lavish. Valerie had outdone herself with an array of dishes, including seafood and mushroom soup. In the center sat something especially impressive—five lobsters and a massive king crab.
Alden’s eyes widened at the sight of the king crab, mistaking it for a model.
“Be careful,” Matthew warned as Aiden leaned too far forward. Matthew’s quick reflexes prevented Aiden from falling out of his chair.
Startled, Aiden scurried to hide behind Julian, still wary of Matthew. Peeking out, he timidly murmured, “Thank you, Uncle Matthew.”
“You’re welcome,” Matthew replied gently.
Watching Aiden’s cautious curiosity, Matthew was reminded of Valerie’s pet hamster. The connection suddenly made sense. He realized why Valerie cherished such a timid creature.
As they settled down to enjoy the seafood feast, Julian muttered under his breath, “This is just a family dinner—isn’t this a bit much?” He considered advising Valerie and Matthew to be more frugal, especially with a baby on the way. However, recalling Valerie’s earlier instructions about not making a fuss, he held back his words.
Matthew offered a polite smile. “You’re our special guests today; it’s only natural we go the extra mile.”
Julian frowned slightly. “You really shouldn’t spend so much, though. Next time, let’s stick to simple home cooking.” His tone was sincere, reflecting his desire to economize for Valerie.
Ashley quickly chimed in, nodding vigorously. “Exactly! We’re family. A simple meal would be fine. These luxuries aren’t cheap. We could eat up half of Matthew’s monthly earnings! You can’t afford to live on just cereal for the rest of the month, can you?”
Valerie picked up on the undertone in Ashley’s comments. It seemed Ashley was worried they were showing off, potentially jeopardizing their financial stability.
Despite Ashley’s sarcastic tone, Valerie remained composed. She wouldn’t let these comments affect Matthew. “No worries, Ashley. While my income varies, Matthew’s job is quite secure, and his employer values him highly. We can manage a treat like king crab every now and then.”
Ashley scoffed inwardly, her eyes rolling imperceptibly. She found Valerie’s newfound pride excessive, prompting a further sarcastic thought: How could a driver be paid well?