Chapter 112 - Cinderella Problems (1/2)
”The greatest lesson in the story is actually knowing your own worth…”
Knowing your own worth? Yanee was not exactly sure what Ria meant by that. She wondered if it was knowing your own strengths and weaknesses and working your way around it.
”I told you that my story was like Cinderella, right?” Ria reminded her and she nodded. ”But how do you think Cinderella really fared when the prince swept her off her feet and brought her to the palace?”
Urgh…
Opposition. Bullying. Discrimination.
There was no way a commoner would not be reminded of her origins— just as Ria was bullied and abused by her mother-in-law. Even if the prince loved Cinderella, it didn't apply to the people around him.
”I love Michael. But at the same time, I was also insecure. He fought with his own mother for us to be together. After we got married people might think I have won, but no. As you already know there was never a day that passed by that I wasn't made aware of how I was unworthy of being Mrs. Chen.” Ria snorted.
”And I let the abuse go on because I thought I owed it to her for taking her son from her. I thought that if I put up with it, a day would come that she'd realize how I really love her son and we could form a truce. But you know what? When you set your eyes only to the people around you, you learn to be afraid of making errors and you gradually lose sight of yourself. You let things happen to you and people take that for granted.” Ria sighed.
”The only reason why Michael's mother was confident in hurting me was because of myself. It's because I let her. Did I deserve all that? No, but I let it happen,” Ria said.
Her tone was neutral but Yanee could see the flash of self-derision in her eyes. It seemed that even if everything's alright now, she still regretted not standing up for herself before.
”Anyway, the bottom line is… never lose sight of who you are. It's alright to compromise but never put up with anyone who doesn't respect you. Don't change who you are for someone else's convenience either.”
Ria squeezed her hand and Yanee squeezed her back as if to tell her she was there for her. She hadn't known Ria for a long time, but surprisingly, she felt really comfortable with all of the ”sisters” although she was overwhelmed by them the first time she saw them at the party.
Hearing her story just made her feel closer to her.
”I'll remember this lesson very well,”Yanee told her and Ria grinned.
”Well, I cannot see you having problems with your in-laws,”Ria told her out of the blue startling Yanee.
EHHHHHHHHHHH
How did the conversation suddenly go this way?
Ria chuckled at what must be a very stupid expression on her face. ”Why are you so startled? You've been here for two days. Don't tell me Little Tohru still hasn't introduced you to his parents?”
Yanee shook her head as she put her hands up as if to ward her words off. ”No, no, no— I mean yes, but not the way you think.”
Oh?
Ria's eyes rounded in interest as she leaned forward. She looked like a typical girl eager for gossip that Yanee didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
”What way are you talking about then?” she prompted and Yanee had no choice but to explain.
”I mean, we arrived yesterday so I met his parents yesterday. But we haven't… you know— I mean we were not together yesterday… and…”Yanee's voice trailed off as she turned red.
She wanted to explain that they only got together today officially so they haven't had an opportunity to tell the elderly couple about it— not that Yanee was looking forward to it. She was nervous!
AAAARGH
She mentally pulled at her hair. Why was she acting like a love-sick teenager?
Ria laughed. ”I get it, I get it. You don't have to be so flustered,” she said as she patted her shoulder.
Yanee blew out some air as she relaxed back on the hot spring.
”I don't know why, but these days, I feel like you guys love teasing me a lot,” she complained.
”That's because you're so cute,”Ria told her, not denying the fact that they loved to tease her. ”But don't worry, we bully Little Tohru too.”
The image of the sisters ganging up on the potato made Yanee giggle. It was not hard to imagine at all. Based on how they acted with him, it was totally possible.
”Uncle and Auntie are very nice people. You don't have to worry about them not liking you,”Ria told her, and Yanee of course agreed.