Ms. Girard entered the room. Her parents-in-law had already risen from the sofa, and her mother-in-law approached to greet her.

With a warm smile on her face, she said, “Ainsley is back.”

Ms. Girard’s full name is Ainsley Girard.

“Mom, I’m back,” Ainsley responded.

No matter how exhausted she felt, returning home to see her parents-in-law and her son brought her a sense of peace. As long as everyone was healthy, she believed it was worth any fatigue she experienced.

Mrs. Girard said, “Are you hungry? I made some soup for you and left a bowl out. It’s still hot, and I’ll bring it out for you to enjoy.”

“The company has been very busy lately. Every night when you come home, you look so tired and have lost a lot of weight. It pains me to see you like this. Your hectic life is wearing you down.”

Mrs. Girard’s eyes grew red again as she mentioned her late son, who had passed away seven years ago. The mention of him always stirred uncomfortable feelings for her.

Ainsley, now a mother and an only child herself, often felt anxious when her son had a cold or fever, wishing she could take his place. She couldn’t imagine how devastated she would be if she lost her only son just as she entered old age. This understanding allowed her to empathize with her parents-in-law’s grief.

“Well then, I’ll have a bowl of soup,” Ainsley said.

Though she wasn’t hungry after returning from socializing, she didn’t want to disappoint her mother-in-law’s kindness. A bowl of soup was a small gesture, and she could manage to drink it.

Ainsley greeted her father-in-law again and handed her bag to a servant for safekeeping.

Her son settled on her lap, and Ainsley instinctively embraced him.

Ainsley remarked, “Dad, Mom, you don’t need to wait up for me anymore. Please go to bed early. And son, you should also head to bed early. You don’t have

The son expressed, “I have to wait for my mother to return before I can sleep. She is not home during the day, and if I don’t wait for her, I won’t get to see her.”

Unfortunately, the son did not adhere to the established rules.

Ainsley, feeling sorrowful, remarked, “I feel sorry for you.” She continued, “I’m busy with work at the company and don’t have the time to be with you.”

If she had someone to lean on, life wouldn’t be so exhausting. Only she understood the hardships of being a widow, raising a son, and supporting her husband’s family.

In the midst of her struggles, Ainsley felt a pang of envy towards Liberty.

Liberty had a younger sister, Serenity. The two sisters had relied on each other for many years, forming a deep bond.

Even if Serenity did not marry into wealth, she would still be a source of support for Liberty. If Liberty’s husband’s family mistreated her, Serenity would stand up for her sister.

After marrying into a wealthy family and receiving the backing of the York family, Serenity was not only kind to her sister and nephew but also took care of herself.

For Liberty, even if the sky were to fall, Serenity would be there to help her stand strong.

In contrast, Ainsley had living parents and siblings who were preoccupied with how to divide her husband’s family’s assets. Despite their intentions, she was determined to protect what was hers. Her mother-in-law’s family criticized her for her loyalty, reminding her that her husband’s family was not related to her by blood.

Why was she so protective?

It frustrated her to no end.

No matter how difficult and exhausting her situation became, she refused to seek help from her parents. They were like leeches; if she got involved with them again…

would cleanse the nation that her husband’s family had dominated for generations.

What would her son inherit as a result?

While her mother’s family were indeed her relatives, it would ultimately fall to her son to care for her in her old age, as he was nearer to her. Her son stood to inherit everything from her husband’s family, along with all that she had earned.

Regardless of how much she owed her parents, they always favored her brother and sister-in-law.