Chapter 8: Brother-in-law, I'm Worried About You

However, upon entering, Heidi Cooper noticed Maria Long, Stephen Cooper, and Fiona Cooper sitting at the dining table, staring at each other. The atmosphere felt a bit off.

"Um, what's going on? Why isn't anyone talking? Where's brother-in-law?" Heidi sat down cautiously, sensing the unusual atmosphere.

"What brother-in-law are you talking about?" Maria Long asked with a displeased expression.

"What? Joseph Wilson, my brother-in-law," Heidi was momentarily confused.

"He's not your brother-in-law anymore," Maria Long said with disdain.

"What? How is he not my brother-in-law anymore?" Heidi was completely baffled.

"I divorced him. He's already left," Fiona said coldly.

"What? Divorced?"

"Sis, are you crazy? Why did you drive him away? What did he do to offend you?" Heidi was perplexed.

"He and I are from two different worlds. I, Fiona Cooper, look down on men like him," Fiona said with indifference.

"No, I don't know how he falls short. He's always been diligent, honest, and humble."

"You don't want to marry that Charles Martin, do you? Sis, you've gone mad. Charles Martin is not a good person," Heidi said, utterly bewildered.

"I never said I wanted to marry anyone. Eat your food," Fiona said emotionlessly, poking at her rice bowl.

"Calling him brother-in-law all day long, what's so good about that loser? Eat your food. Do you need to manage your sister's affairs? Why do you care so much about that Joseph?" Maria Long said irritably.

"Enough, let's all eat. Stop discussing that outsider," Stephen Cooper finally spoke.

"You..." Heidi was momentarily speechless.

"Enough, stop talking. Just eat!" Maria Long gave Heidi a turkey leg, trying to shut her up.

Heidi had nothing to say. She instinctively took a bite, but as soon as the food entered her mouth, she spat it out with a disgusted expression.

"Pfft... Pfft! What the hell is this? Why is the food so awful today? What's going on?" Heidi looked miserable.

"Awful? How is it awful? Your mom was busy today, so your dad cooked. Just make do with it!" Maria Long glared at Heidi.

"Mom, you have no self-awareness about your culinary skills. Your cooking is even worse than Dad's. I'm not eating. This life is unbearable. I'll go eat instant noodles by myself." Heidi stood up and returned to her room in a huff.

"Hey, you..." Maria Long was helpless seeing this.

"Is it really that bad?" Maria Long couldn't quite believe it.

"It's a bit unpleasant," Fiona had already eaten some. Although it was bearable, the food couldn't compare to what Joseph cooked.

Maria Long also tasted a bite.

"Pfft, pfft..." As soon as the food entered her mouth, she spat it out.

Stephen Cooper watched this scene with an innocent expression. His cooking skills were poor, but Maria Long's were even worse. Fiona took after her mother, with a similar level of skill.

"Stephen Cooper, what are you doing? You can't even cook a few dishes properly. Is salt free?" Maria Long exploded in anger.

"You've all gotten used to that loser's cooking. Besides, as a grown man, I can't spend all day studying how to cook, right?" Stephen Cooper said, a bit exasperated.

"I'm full. I'll go back to my room first," Fiona stood up and left for her room.

Maria Long and Stephen Cooper sat at the table, both in a bad mood.

"We can't go without eating in the future. Let's hire a housekeeper," after a long while, Maria Long finally spoke.

"That's the only way," Stephen Cooper also had a sullen expression, looking at the table full of dishes, feeling quite helpless.

Heidi returned to her room, still full of resentment.

"What's the big deal? Who does she think she is? She really considers herself a goddess? You're so high and mighty, you're so great, no man in this world is worthy of you," Heidi tossed her things on the bed, grumbling incessantly.

After taking off her outer clothes, she lay directly on the bed and took out her phone. She found Joseph's phone number and called him right away.

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently switched off. Please try again later," the voice prompt indicating the phone was off came from the other end.

"What's going on? Why is it switched off?" Heidi tried calling several more times, but the message remained the same.

Left with no choice, she could only send messages.

"Brother-in-law, where did you go? Why is your phone switched off?"

"Brother-in-law, what's wrong? Are you okay? Reply to me when you see the message!"

"Brother-in-law, you're not thinking of doing something stupid like committing suicide, are you? Don't do anything foolish. If you need any help, just tell me..."

"Brother-in-law, can you at least reply? You're making me really worried about you..."

"Brother-in-law?"

"..."

Heidi sent many messages in a row. She lost count of how many she had sent.

Previously, Joseph's phone was always accessible 24/7, and he would reply to messages instantly. He never disappeared like this and was basically available whenever needed, always responding to everything.

After sending numerous messages, she finally stopped.

Perhaps brother-in-law was heartbroken and didn't want to see anyone from the Cooper family anymore. It made sense. All these years, this family had always treated him as an outsider.

Thinking this way, Heidi stood up, took her cup, and went out to get some water.

"Joseph Wilson? Joseph Wilson? Get me a glass of water. Also, I'm going to wash my feet. Prepare the foot bath water for me," at this moment, Fiona's voice came from her room. Hearing these words, Heidi was a bit exasperated.

"Joseph, are you deaf or dead? Can't you hear me talking?" When there was no response, Fiona stormed out of the room.

"Sis, are you crazy? What Joseph? Didn't you drive Joseph away?"

"From now on, get your own foot bath water. Or see if Charles Martin, whom you'll marry in the future, is willing to get foot bath water for you," Heidi shook her head and sighed.

Hearing these words, Fiona remembered that Joseph had left and felt awkward.

"I... forgot," Fiona opened her mouth, but in the end, only uttered this sentence.

"He's a man, after all. Don't keep ordering him around. People have dignity. Serving you all day and getting scolded. He must feel liberated now. You're on your own!" Heidi took a sip of water and slowly walked back to her room.

Hearing Heidi's words, Fiona rubbed her forehead.

"Am I going crazy? Joseph is gone. Why am I calling for him? What an exhausting day," Fiona sighed, shook her head, and also returned to her room.

Back in the room, Fiona sat down and wearily slumped over the table.

A few minutes later, she took out her phone and stared at it, lost in thought.

"Did I... go too far?" After a long while, Fiona murmured this sentence.