The Bride Widow
Chapter 86: Ch 86: Lower your expectations - Part 1

Chapter 86: Ch 86: Lower your expectations - Part 1

When the party of three came back, the mood in the car was a little sour. Daniel felt the awkwardness in the air, but he refused to say anything about it.

The trio entered the house as one before James walked toward the table and noticed the invitation lying innocently at the table.

"Father, look at this. This is my grandmother’s party invitation. I think it is for her birthday party. Do you want me to open it and read it?"

James asked, now trying to distract himself from what he felt. He gripped the invite harshly as he looked at his father for permission.

Daniel was not in the mood to listen to whatever nonsense his mother wanted to tell him, but he also knew he should not ignore her message.

After all, he had already ignored her when she came to visit. Any more, and he would lose his mother’s support and a way to marry Sharon.

"James, give that letter here. I will read it myself. For now, you and Sharon should go to sleep. Tomorrow will be a hard day for you both."

Daniel talked to his son, but James looked conflicted. He wanted to know what his grandmother had written in that letter, but as soon as Daniel got it, he felt alone.

Knowing his father and his stubbornness once he had made up his mind, James realized that he wouldn’t be getting his way this time.

Sharon knew how stubborn her partner was as well, and had it been any other day, she would have tried to get an answer from him. But today was not her day, and she felt dead tired at the thought of even moving around.

That’s why she decided just to take her lover’s advice and grab James’ arm to pull him out.

"Let’s go to bed, James. Your father needs more time to sort out his feelings about what happened. We should not interfere with him."

Whatever James wanted to say got stuck in his throat as he followed after Sharon. His eyes continued to look at that letter, but James felt his father would not tell him what it was about.

Daniel continued to smile as he watched his son and lover leave the room. Once he was alone, he opened the letter.

His mother’s message was simple but cold. It asked him to come to her birthday party with only James.

She was asking him to leave behind Sharon and Anabella, and that was a huge thing for her mother to say.

"For a person who loves her reputation more than anything to say something like this...I have a feeling that she is up to something."

Daniel had not gotten along with his mother since he was young. He found that old lady too manipulative and hard-headed, often causing problems for him and what he loved.

This was a simple request on paper, but Daniel felt a chill down his spine.

He was so lost in thought that he did not even notice how long he had been sitting on the sofa.

When he realized what had happened, it was late, and he needed to sleep. He tried to get up, but his legs decided to be uncooperative, causing Daniel to collapse and his legs to shake as he tried to stand up.

He lay in the living room like a heap and waited for his body to listen to him again. That was how Anabella found him - in a small heap and trying to get up from his position.

The female omega quickly turned around; her first instinct was to pretend she did not notice her husband and what he was doing.

But Daniel did not seem to mind being found out. He looked at Layla before he opened his mouth.

"Did Mother tell you not to come to her birthday party? What are you going to do? Are you going to follow Mother’s instructions?"

As someone stuck collapsed, this was not what Anabella expected him to ask. She felt her throat go dry before she forced her lips to make some noise.

"Well, whatever your mother asked of me is none of your business. Besides, you got that invitation card, right? You should know what your mother asked us to do."

Anabella replied in an easy voice.

Unlike Daniel, she did not seem to care that she was not invited to that party as his partner. She had no desire to attend in the first place, so this worked out in her favor.

Her careless reply made Daniel feel agitated.

The alpha inside him raged at the fact that his ’wife’ did not want to head out and be with him.

He knew this was unfair and that there were double standards on his part, but Daniel could not help but feel annoyed.

"You don’t care that Mother is excluding you like this? Mother is excluding Sharon, and I feel mad. How can you remain as calm as you are?"

Daniel asked as he tried to force his growl back. His emotions were getting out of hand, and he could not control it.

Slowly, his pheromones made their way out, and Anabella made an annoyed face when she looked at him.

"Tsk, I already knew your mother does not like me, so I never expected her to treat me well. She is living up to my expectations, so I have no problem with her.

You only feel disappointed with her because you have expectations for her, and she does not live up to them. So, it is your fault."

Anabella pointed out, and Daniel’s temper rose even higher. He was already agitated and did not take Anabella’s criticism too well. He ended up lashing out at her and almost harming her in the process.

Unfortunately for her, she underestimated Daniel’s self-control, and he lunged at her to show her why she should not mess with him. His hands gripped Anabella’s shoulder tightly enough to leave a mark on it.