Kyle Cooper, Wayne's older brother, gently nudged Lucy's elbow, but she simply flicked him off with a glance and continued, "If you're not giving me a gift, just say so. Don't drag me into this."

My heart dropped, and I couldn't bring myself to reach for the gift.

Gloria slammed the gift down on the table. "What's your problem? Are you jealous now? Mel's thoughtful. She cares about Michael and me and actually does stuff to help us out.

"Of course, I'd get her something. But you? You come home just to eat and laze around. You honestly think I'd give you a gift?"

Gloria was unraveling, and it was clear she had a deep-seated grudge against Lucy.

Lucy shrugged nonchalantly and remained silent.

I forced a smile. "There's no need for a gift, Gloria. You're Wayne's mom. It's only right that I help out."

I noticed Lucy letting out a soft sigh out of the corner of my eye.

Gloria broke into a hearty laugh, took my hand in hers, and praised me endlessly for being such a thoughtful daughter-in-law. She smoothly returned the small gift to her pocket.

Suddenly, Emily, who'd been silently eating, cried out, "Why are there pickles in my salad?"

She spat the chewed-up salad onto the table. "I said no pickles! I hate them! Mom, didn't you tell Melanie?"

"I did! I don't know how they ended up in there," Gloria blurted out.

Emily's glare shifted to me.

I waved my hands frantically. "I didn't know. Gloria never said anything..."

My voice trailed off as Wayne pinched my arm to silence me.

Gloria's face darkened. "I never told you? I told you earlier that Emily doesn't eat pickles and asked you to leave them out. How could you forget?"

A lump formed in my throat. I wanted Wayne to say something on my behalf, but all he did was shake his head.

Emily slammed her utensils onto the table. "Forget it, I'm not eating! How am I supposed to enjoy Christmas Eve like this?"

Gloria gently ran her fingers through Emily's hair, soothing her. "Calm down, it's Christmas Eve. Don't let it ruin your mood. I'll have Melanie make a few more dishes without pickles. Mel, go make something else, and no pickles this time."

She ordered me around as though it were nothing. I was so stunned that I couldn't even respond.

Emily was two years younger than me but had gotten married two years ago. She had done next to nothing since arriving at the Cooper residence. Gloria and Michael practically waited on her hand and foot.

And now, Gloria was expecting me, the new daughter-in-law, to head back into the kitchen and whip up more food for Emily. I was never spoiled like Emily, not even when I was at home with Mom and Dad!

Noticing I was still sitting, Gloria urged, "Get going! What are you waiting for, Mel?"

Wayne leaned in close and whispered, "Why don't you just make a few new dishes? Emily's not a fan of pickles."

But it wasn't about the pickles at all!

I frowned at Wayne, unsure of what he was trying to do. Was Gloria actually picking on me like Lucy claimed?

Wayne seemed torn, his fingers tugging at my sleeve. "Babe, just think of it as doing this for me, okay?"

I remembered Mom's advice—treat others the way I wanted to be treated. I had to give a little of myself first, and others would recognize my kindness in time.

Things were spiraling out of control. Emily looked like she was on the verge of tears, and Wayne was practically begging me with his eyes.

I swallowed my frustration and headed back to the kitchen to prepare two more dishes.

After I placed the dishes on the table, Emily poked at them with her fork.

"Who even eats this on Christmas Eve? Are you trying to mess with me, Melanie Stone? I barely make it home for Christmas Eve, and I don't even get to taste any meat, huh? Have I lost my place in this family just because I'm married?"

Her voice rose with each word, and before I knew it, she dropped her fork and started crying.

Gloria quickly stepped in to comfort her. "Absolutely not. You'll always be our little princess. Kyle, Wayne, your dad, and I would never let you suffer."

Then she turned to me. "Mel, go make a honey-glazed ham. Emily loves it."

I couldn't hold back any longer. I pointed at the smoked ham on the table and said, "It's right here. I didn't put any pickles on it."

Gloria paused, clearly surprised by my defiance. She cocked her head, her gaze lingering on me.

"Did you not get what I said? Smoked ham isn't the same as honey-glazed. I told you to make a honey-glazed ham, so do it. What's with all the questions?"

She only said a few words, but it felt like she had turned into someone else entirely. Just moments ago, she had been so warm and kind. Now, she was practically unrecognizable.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. No one had ever spoken to me like that before! I shot a furious look at Wayne. He gently squeezed my hand, trying to calm me down.

"Mel made dishes without pickles, Mom," he said. "And look, we do have ham on the table. It's Christmas Eve. Let's just eat."

I thought that would finally put an end to it, but it only made Gloria blow up even more.

"How useless!" she screamed. "What, are you becoming like Kyle, forgetting all about me and Emily the second you found a wife? What kind of brother would side with an outsider to hurt his sister?"

"No, no, I didn't!" Wayne answered hurriedly. He was trying to reach a compromise.

My heart sank. I could see where this was heading. Sure enough, he turned to me with those pleading eyes and said, "Babe… Maybe you could—"

"Wayne," I cut in, my voice sharp. "Do you even hear yourself? Did you forget what we agreed on?"

He had promised to stand by me, so we could protect each other as husband and wife. I remember how those words had filled me with warmth back then.

People often said that conflicts with in-laws were usually tied to the husband's involvement, but I believed that with Wayne acting as a mediator and me doing my best to get along with Gloria, we'd manage just fine.

Before stepping into the Cooper residence, I had expected harmony in their family life. But instead, I found this.

I looked at Wayne, who seemed meek and apologetic. It was then that I realized just how hollow his promises had been. When he saw my face darken, he knew I was mad. Still, Gloria wasn't done.

"Melanie, what's with that tone toward Wayne?" she asked sharply. "We're just asking you to make a few dishes for Emily. Why are you getting so defensive? And now you're taking it out on Wayne.

"He told me your parents are well-educated, but I'm not seeing much of that in you! Didn't they teach you to show respect to your in-laws?"

"Mom, please stop," Wayne said.

"Who are you to criticize my parents?" I shot to my feet, rage surging inside me.

I shot a heated glare at Gloria, clenching my fists.

Gloria, however, seemed completely unbothered. "What's this about? Why are you standing? Are you trying to threaten me? Listen up, this is my place, and everyone here is a Cooper! Whatever Emily feels like eating, you're the one who has to make it.

"That's how things work around here. And what about your parents? What's the big deal if I mention them? I was just speaking the truth, wasn't I?"

I was so furious that I was gasping for air.

Wayne gently touched my arm and said, "Mel, babe, hold back a little and talk less."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Talk less? Are you deaf, Wayne? After all this time, you still don't get who needs to talk less, huh?"

"That's enough!" Wayne barked.

I froze in place.

"That's my mom. She's the one who raised me! So what if she says a thing or two? You've already cooked a bunch, so what's one more dish for Emily? You're her sister-in-law now. Why make a big deal out of it? You've never been like this!"

His words hit me like a slap, leaving me in shock. I couldn't fathom how the person who once treated me with respect and love could change so suddenly.

I yanked my hand away from his, knocking the plates before me. They crashed to the floor, shattering into a thousand pieces.

Michael, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up. "Is this the woman you picked, Wayne? Getting worked up over something this small? How could you marry someone like her? Back in the day, someone like her wouldn't even have been let near the Coopers!"

He pointed a finger at me and angrily hurled his wineglass to the floor. It shattered, sending shards flying and cutting my hand. Tears rolled down my face.

It suddenly dawned on me that Mom's words were wrong. Some people just didn't deserve any kindness.

Wayne saw the blood on my hand and hesitated for a second.

But Gloria continued her tirade. "She's making a scene over something as simple as looking after her in-laws. Imagine if word of this gets out. Our entire family will be laughed at.

"Your dad and I put everything we had into getting you through college, and this is what you do in return? Marrying a woman with no sense of propriety? It's disgraceful!"

Michael and Gloria kept throwing insults my way. Wayne's expression grew colder. When he finally looked at me again, there was no trace of warmth left in his gaze.

He seized my wrist and snapped, "It's Christmas Eve, Melanie, and you've turned this whole thing into a disaster. You're being completely immature. Apologize to my parents and Emily, now!"

I stared at him in disbelief. A chill began to spread through me.

He hadn't noticed my injury, my tears, or how drained I was after cooking for the Coopers all by myself. He didn't see how they'd been picking on me—and even worse, he was siding with them.

"What did you say?" My voice was shaky.

"Apologize to my family!" Wayne growled, his jaw tight with anger.

I snorted in fury, yanked my wrist free, raised my other hand, and slapped him hard across the face. The sharp crack rang like a gunshot, and the room went eerily quiet.

"I'm not apologizing for a damn thing!" I yelled.

The silence stretched for a few seconds before someone broke it with a clap.

Lucy, who had remained silent up until now, got up and made her way over to me. She threw her arm around my shoulders, clearly excited and overjoyed.

"I thought you were just some pushover who'd let them walk all over you," she said. "But it looks like you've got some backbone after all. I like that."

Lucy cast a steely glance at the Coopers, her hands pressed flat against the edge of the table as she continued, "Gloria's right about one thing, Melanie. Everyone here is a Cooper, except for the two of us. Now, let's make this a Christmas Eve to remember for the Coopers!"