The Villain Mom Awakens — Going Viral by Parenting on a Reality Show-Chapter 240: Happy Birthday, Aunt

"You..." Jane Chandler’s brow furrowed. "What do you mean, ’your Shaw family’? Are you not one of us?"

"That’s a funny question. Let me ask you something. In all the years since I married into this family, have you ever once treated me like I belonged? You berate me, then try to sweet-talk me so you can squeeze more out of me. Do you really think the world works that way?"

"And how many times do I have to tell you? My son is very smart. If you call him slow again, I swear I’ll slap you. You can go ahead and broadcast it to all of high society if you want. That is, if you’re not afraid of bringing shame and a bad name to the Shaw family."

Jane Chandler was genuinely furious this time. She gritted her teeth. "So that’s how it is. Having someone to back you up really makes a difference. You’ve certainly grown a spine."

Naomi Kenway said, "I won’t see you out. But if you’re too slow about it, my bodyguards will drag you."

Jane Chandler stormed out of the luxury van.

Naomi Kenway’s mood instantly lifted. Before, she had always held back, feeling it was improper to argue with an elder like Jane Chandler. ’But it seems the key to a happy life really is to be a little shameless.’

*

"Are all the documents ready?"

Ethan Shaw strode upstairs with Liam Sherman in tow.

"Everything’s ready. This acquisition is a sure thing."

Ethan Shaw pushed open the door to the private room. A moment later, his brow furrowed deeply, but he managed to maintain a basic level of courtesy. "You’re the representative from the Chandler Group? Are you alone?"

Clementine Coleman, sitting opposite, was just as confused. She sized up the man before her. He was certainly as handsome and distinguished as her mother had described, looking every inch a titan of the business world.

’But... why did he bring an assistant?’ she wondered. ’Does this sort of thing really require an assistant?’

When she didn’t respond, Liam Sherman repeated, "Miss, did you hear me?"

"Ah, oh... so the gentleman in front must be my blind date, right? Hello! I’m Clementine Coleman. My last name is for a bright future, and my first name is for sweetness, like the fruit!"

"President Shaw..." Liam Sherman hesitated, then asked, "Miss, are you perhaps in the wrong room?"

"The wrong room?" The oblivious Clementine Coleman stood up to check the room number. "It’s the right one. No mistake. Then... is this gentleman not Aunt Chandler’s son?"

Ethan Shaw’s expression turned thunderous. He pushed the door open and walked straight out, with Liam Sherman scrambling to follow, a pile of documents in his arms.

Clementine Coleman was completely bewildered. ’He just left without a word? He’s so handsome, but he has no manners at all...’

Fuming, Clementine Coleman gritted her teeth, unlocked her phone, and started furiously typing a post for a short-video platform:

[OMG you guys, you won’t believe this! My blind date today was so pretentious he brought his own assistant. He was handsome, sure, but had the manners of a rock. He said like two words and then just walked out, leaving me here. OMG you guys, who has to deal with this kind of thing?!]

Once she was done editing, Clementine Coleman hit post. Having vented, she felt much better. Still, she thought for a moment before pulling out her phone to complain to her mom.

Mrs. Clementine Coleman picked up right away. "Clementine, how did the blind date go?"

"Don’t even ask. I don’t know if he wasn’t interested in me or what, but he was here for less than a minute before he just turned and left. What kind of guy does that? I waited all this time for him, and he just walks out without a word. Zero class."

"That... can’t be right. Ethan Shaw is famous for being proper and poised. How could he..."

"Proper and poised? You should have seen the terrifying look he gave me as he left! It was like he wanted to eat me alive."

*

Today was Jenna Shaw’s twentieth birthday. It was also the day the Shaw and Ford families were set to officially announce their engagement. The announcement was supposed to happen shortly after Jenna returned to the country, but it had been postponed until now because Walter Ford’s company was too busy.

The Shaw family absolutely doted on Jenna, going so far as to buy an entire island just to celebrate her birthday. All the invited guests were from families with close business ties to the Shaws.

Susan Hughes, being advanced in years, did not attend the birthday party. However, rumor had it that the day before, she had gifted Jenna a piece of jewelry. It was an antique, one of the items from Susan Hughes’s own dowry.

Naturally, Naomi Kenway had to attend on such an important day. Ethan Shaw had already gone to the island the day before, so Naomi and Ian traveled over on the day of the party.

Naomi first took her son to the dressing room to see Jenna. Despite the size of the room, Jenna was there all by herself. She wore an exquisite gown, but her eyes were slightly red.

"Jenna..."

Jenna was startled for a moment, then quickly walked over with a smile. "Naomi, you’re here! Do I look pretty today?"

"Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful," Naomi praised generously. "And your skin is flawless today, as smooth as a peeled egg."

Jenna, flattered, cupped her face in her hands.

"Jenna, have you been crying?" Naomi reached out to wipe a lingering tear from the corner of her eye. "Is something upsetting you?"

Jenna nodded, her voice subdued. "I had a fight with Walter Ford two days ago. And now... I feel so lost. Do I really want to get engaged to him? He always uses such sharp words to hurt me. It feels like my love for him is being worn away, little by little. But I still like him so, so much. I’ve dreamed about our wedding day for so long... I just don’t know if he feels the same..."

"I know he doesn’t like me that much. People online always say that time can change anything, but I don’t know how much more time it will take..."

Naomi pulled her into a hug, gently patting her back. "Jenna, if you had a pair of high heels that you absolutely loved, but they didn’t fit right and gave you blisters, would you keep wearing them? You can change your shoes every day. You certainly wouldn’t wear that one painful pair all the time. But what about marriage? The cost of walking away from that is immense. This is about the rest of your life. You have to think about it very carefully."

"But Walter Ford isn’t a pair of shoes. I can’t even imagine... Besides, you can get shoes altered to fit you. Wouldn’t that stop them from hurting?"

"It’s easy to alter shoes, but it’s hard to change a person. When it comes to love, only you can know how it truly feels. You really need to think this through for yourself, Jenna."

Jenna nodded. "Am I being pathetic, Naomi? I don’t understand why Walter Ford has become like this. We used to be so close. He took such good care of me, but then one day, he just... changed."

Naomi soothed her, "Don’t overthink it, Jenna. Why he changed is his problem, not yours. Today is your birthday party. Promise me you won’t cry, that you’ll be happy, okay?"

Jenna nodded and took a handkerchief to dab at the corners of her eyes.

"Come here, Ian," Naomi said. "Do you remember the present you wanted to give your auntie?"

Naomi thoughtfully put on some music, and Ian Shaw began to dance to the cheerful tune. He would occasionally sing a line or two along with the track, his voice sweet and boyish.

When the song ended, Ian Shaw motioned for Jenna to bend down, then gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Happy birthday, Auntie!"