Inside was the ne-the one that had been ordered two months ago, given to the wrong person, and sold. And now, here it was, right in front of her. Hannah felt nothing.


    She nced at it, then closed the box without a word and pulled out a chair to sit down.


    The maids, who were waiting to serve, stood frozen, their eyes darting nervously toward Lionel.


    Lionel''s expression, which had started as expectant, slowly darkened with every second of Hannah''s silence, until his face was a thundercloud. He stared at her, utterly baffled by her calm. This was her favorite ne. Why wasn''t she excited, thrilled, grateful?


    A heavy silence fell over the room.


    When no one moved to serve her, Hannah said, "Breakfast."


    The maids still didn''t dare to move, stealing nces at Lionel.


    He pressed his lips into a thin line, a dark look in his eyes, and finally gave them a slight nod.


    With his permission, they sprang into action, bringing out the food. Everything on the table was one of Hannah''s favorites.


    "Madam, the master specifically requested these for you yesterday," one maid said, eager to please. She went on to describe the origin of the bamboo shoots, the farm the pork came from, and even noted that the soy sauce for the greens was her favorite brand.


    Hannah ate without a word, her expression nk, as if she hadn''t heard a thing. The maid smiled awkwardly and retreated, looking to Lionel for guidance.


    "I know you don''t like Lily and Cora, so I''ve spoken to my mother. They won''t being back to the house anymore," Lionel said.


    Still, Hannah''s expression didn''t change. She drank her soy milk with one hand and scrolled through her phone with the other.


    Lionel let out a frustrated breath and put down his spoon. "Hannah, I''m talking to you. Did you hear me?"


    "Isn''t that how it should have been all along?" she said, her eyes finally lifting from her phone. Her tone was one of genuine confusion. "We''ve been married for three years, and for three years, the people your mother sent have walked all over me. The new maid was openly bullying me. And you''re only just now seeing it, only just now doing something about it."


    "Am I supposed to be moved to tears? Should I get on my knees and thank you?" Hannah raised an eyebrow, her appetite gone. She found the whole situation ridiculous. "Go ask your friends if any of their wives get bullied by the staff like this."


    She knew Lionel must have seen what Lily and Cora were doing. But because they were his mother''s people, and because he didn''t love her, he had let happen, again and again. If it hadn''t blown up like it did, she would still be putting up with it.


    Hannah sighed and stood up. "Lionel, everything that''s happened is because you allowed it. You''re the one to me."


    She opened the ne box and picked up the chain. "And another thing. Don''t give me secondhand gifts that were meant for someone else and rejected by them. I''m not that cheap."


    With that, she tossed the ne into the nearby trash can, took a picture of it, and posted it to her Facebook page with the caption: Re-gifting secondhand trash. How disgusting.


    She had to admit, she was surprised


    that Lionel had retrieved the


    ne and had the staff make her favorite breakfast. But there was no real thought on sincerity behind either gesture. It all screamed, what I did for you. It was a lot of effort. You should be thanking me."