Off to the side, Cindy Hunt saw that Yancy Shaw wasn’t really paying attention to her. She pursed her lips, searching for another topic. “So, what does your family do? How many people are there at home?”

The members of the Shaw family shot her irritated looks.

Cindy Hunt had always loved to compare—no matter the occasion, she wanted her own kids to come out on top of the Li sisters.

In her eyes, it didn’t matter that Nina Shaw had married a rich businessman; they obviously had no real feelings for each other. Sooner or later, a loveless marriage would fall apart.

As for the man Lauren Shaw married, sure, he was good-looking, but he was just a doctor. His annual salary couldn’t possibly be higher than her own son-in-law’s.

Her vanity ballooned. She glanced at Mother Li, paying no attention whatsoever to her clear displeasure.

Yancy Shaw looked at her coolly and parted his thin lips. “Just a small business, nothing fancy. We don’t make much.”

Cindy Hunt instantly felt a surge of superiority. She looked over at Mother Li with a gaze practically radiating pride.

Her look seemed to say: See? Neither of your daughters married as well as our Yuan Yuan.

Lauren Shaw glanced at the man sitting beside Vivian James, then at Nina Shaw. When the sisters locked eyes, they instantly knew what the other was thinking.

She put down her chopsticks, dabbed her mouth with a napkin, and casually asked, “So, Cousin-in-law, what are you doing these days?”

The ‘Cousin-in-law,’ Toby Ward, looked over at her, startled.

He wore glasses and appeared cultured, but his presence was nowhere near as strong as Yancy Shaw or Xavier Quinn.

Before he could answer, Cindy Hunt jumped in, “Oh, your cousin-in-law’s doing great! He’s a project manager at a big company now. He makes several million a year!”

“Our Yuan Yuan really married the right man—he’s sweet, gentle, and now they have a son and a daughter. She doesn’t have to worry about a thing.”

Everyone knew very well the kind of tiredness Vivian James had gone through after marriage—two kids in three years. Cindy Hunt just left that part out.

But somehow, everything she said just dug under your skin.

She hadn’t just bragged about her own son-in-law; she’d made sure to throw shade at Yancy Shaw and Xavier Quinn, too.

Xavier Quinn and Nina Shaw had been married for nearly two years now, but there was still no sign of a baby.

Vivian James’s child stirred in her arms and suddenly began to cry. Even with makeup, Vivian James couldn’t quite hide how tired she’d become these past two years.

Lauren Shaw chuckled. “Auntie, look how exhausted Cousin is! Two kids in three years—you’ve worn her out, haven’t you?”

Cindy Hunt’s face darkened, but that was nothing compared to how sour she was about to be.

Lauren Shaw arched a brow at the silent Toby Ward. “And look at Cousin-in-law—he’s nearly bald from all that stress! Earning millions a year doesn’t come cheap, huh?”

She turned her gaze to Cindy Hunt, whose face had turned a truly ugly shade by now.

Mother Li tried to hide her smile, scolding, “Sheng Sheng, how can you say that about your cousin and cousin-in-law? That’s not polite.”

“But I’m just telling the truth. Cousin, did I make you angry?”

She batted her big, innocent eyes at Vivian James and Toby Ward, putting them both a bit on the spot.

“Everything you said is true.” Toby Ward smiled awkwardly in agreement.

Cindy Hunt shot him a glare, and Toby Ward promptly shut his mouth.

“Alright, enough quarreling. It’s Grandma’s birthday—let’s just keep it pleasant.” Owen Shaw gave Lauren Shaw a meaningful look.

Lauren Shaw got the hint and bowed her head to keep eating.

Cindy Hunt, realizing Lauren Shaw wouldn’t be an easy target, shifted her sights to Nina Shaw, who’d been quiet the whole time.

“Ning Ning, I’ve heard Xavi Quinn’s got a big business in Hong Kong. How about you arrange a position for your cousin? Doesn’t matter what.”

Nina Shaw glanced at her, then at Jay James, who was sitting beside her.

Jay James was her son, twenty-five this year. After graduating college, he’d lazed around at home, tried job hunting, but never lasted more than a week in any firm before getting fired.

Just recently, he’d gotten into a company thanks to Toby Ward pulling some strings, but Jay James assumed his brother-in-law ran the whole show and promptly managed to offend everyone.

He’d lasted two days before nearly getting himself sued by his superiors.

Nina Shaw wasn’t about to clean up that mess.

She smiled. “Xiao Jie’s talented—hard to believe he can’t find a job! Besides, there’s nothing in Hong Kong that’d suit him.”

Cindy Hunt opened her mouth to retort, but Zachary James cut her off.

“You know what kind of person your son is. Stop trying to drag others down with him.”

Zachary James was the head of the family. Years ago, he opened a factory, but it had gone under in recent years.

As the saying goes, there’s always someone who can rein you in. After his words, Cindy Hunt went quiet for once.

As the tension faded, Lauren Shaw stood up with her wine glass. “It's Grandma’s birthday. Let’s all wish her a happy birthday together!”

Everyone enjoyed the meal, though not everyone left content.

When it was time to leave, Cindy Hunt’s face was stormy. She left without saying goodbye.

Owen Shaw gave Lauren Shaw a thumbs-up. “Getting her to shut up, Sheng Sheng, you’re something else!”

Lauren Shaw grinned. “You flatter me.”

Everyone knew Cindy Hunt was impossible; every family meal with her was just an excuse for her to needle anyone from the Shaw family.

No one was fond of her antics, but there wasn’t much they could do—cutting off family just wasn’t an option.

Grandma patted Owen Shaw’s hand. “Yaowen, look, both your nieces are settled down already. Aren’t you the least bit anxious?”

Owen Shaw, who’d just tried to be invisible amidst all the drama, had survived Cindy Hunt only to fall prey to Grandma.

“Exactly. You’re not getting any younger. I’ve been setting you up with some matches recently—you should go meet someone suitable tomorrow.” Mother Li chimed in, having clearly been plotting this even before he’d come home.

Owen Shaw wore the face of a man doomed to endless matchmaking…

On the way home—

Both Yancy Shaw and Lauren Shaw had drunk a fair bit.

In his new role as Shaw family’s son-in-law, Yancy Shaw hadn’t been able to avoid drinking.

Xavier Quinn and Owen Shaw had even teamed up to get him tipsy, and by the end, all three were in equally rough shape.

Even so, Owen Shaw couldn’t resist bragging about outlasting the two drunken nieces’ husbands as he prepared to leave.

But then, Grandma glanced at him, her voice oddly soft: “See? Both your nieces’ husbands have someone to take care of them when they’ve had too much. Doesn’t that sting a bit?”

Owen Shaw: ...

No doubt about it—that was his real, savage mother.

Lauren Shaw called for a driver and helped Yancy Shaw into the car.

Meanwhile, Xavier Quinn had booked a hotel nearby on the south bank of the river.

Grandma stood at the doorway, reminding them to be careful on the road.

Once they were in the car, Yancy Shaw, who’d been leaning against Lauren Shaw’s shoulder, suddenly sat up straight.

“You’re not drunk?” Lauren Shaw looked at him in surprise.

“Did you really think your husband would be down for the count after just a few drinks?” With his tolerance, not even Yaowen and Xavier Quinn together could overpower him.