Chapter 32 The "Mother-in-Law" From Heaven （And Their Living Nightmare）
?The next morning, Arielle decided that if she was going to be trapped in a reality show with her ex-husband, her ex-boyfriend, and four sons who behaved like highly-trained golden retrievers, she was going to do it with style.
?She emerged from her room wearing a crisp, white linen suit and sunglasses that cost more than the production crew's catering budget.
?"Mother!" Emrys jogged up to her. "The Director says today’s theme is 'Family Integration.
' We have to show the world how well we get along with the potential 'New Additions' to the family.
"
?Arielle looked over at the village square.
Lucian was trying to look "approachable" by wearing a polo shirt (he still looked like he was about to fire the village), and Lu Wei was leaning against a post, practicing his "thoughtful" face.
?"Integration?" Arielle smiled, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Oh, I’ll integrate them. Boys, fetch me my fan. It’s time for an interview. "
?Just as the cameras started rolling, four black cars pulled into the village.
?Out stepped Clara, Serena, Elise, and Fiona.
The fiancées had arrived.
?The Director squealed.
"A surprise visit from the future daughters-in-law! Let’s see how they bond with the legendary Arielle Cross!
"
?The four women approached Arielle like they were walking toward a throne.
They were nervous. They had seen the clips.
They knew Arielle was no longer the "quiet pushover" she used to be.
?"Good morning, Mother Arielle," Clara said, bowing slightly.
?"Good morning, girls," Arielle said, fanning herself lazily.
"Since you're here, let’s play a game. It’s called: 'Is My Son Actually Good Enough For You?
'"
?The sons all froze.
?"Wait," Rhett stammered.
"Mom, this isn't in the script."
?"I am the script, Rhett," Arielle replied sweetly.
?Arielle sat on a high-backed chair under a willow tree.
To her left sat the four fiancées. To her right, her four sons.
?Standing in front of her, like contestants on a talent show, were Lucian and Lu Wei.
?"To prove you are worthy of being around this family," Arielle announced, "you must assist the girls in their 'bonding' tasks. But there’s a catch.
If you fail, you have to spend the night in the village's communal barn.
With the goats."
?Lucian’s eye twitched.
"Arielle, I am the CEO of—"
?"You are a man with a hammer and a dream, Lucian," she interrupted.
"Now, start scrubbing."
?Task 1: The Gourmet Disaster
The task was for the "couples" to cook a traditional meal.
?Lucian was paired with Clara (Rhett's fiancée).
?Lu Wei was paired with Serena (Zayden's fiancée).
?Lucian, trying to impress Arielle, tried to flip a pancake.
It flew into the air, hit a low-hanging branch, and stayed there.
?"It’s... an avant-garde installation," Lucian said, staring at the branch.
?"It’s a disgrace to flour," Arielle remarked from her chair.
"Five points from Gryffindor—I mean, from Lucian.
"
?Meanwhile, Lu Wei tried to chop vegetables with "theatrical flair.
" He swung the knife so wide he accidentally sliced the Director's chair in half.
?"I was practicing for my next action movie!
" Lu Wei defended.
?"You’re practicing for a lawsuit," Zayden noted, recording the whole thing.
?The sons weren't just watching; they were actively sabotaging.
?When Lucian tried to bring Arielle a glass of water to "smooth things over," Emrys "accidentally" tripped and spilled a bucket of glitter all over his father.
?Lucian stood there, sparkling in the sunlight like a billionaire vampire.
?"You... you're covered in glitter, Dad," Rhett said, trying to hold back a laugh.
?"I can see that, Rhett," Lucian hissed, looking like he was about to implode.
?"You look very... festive," Lu Wei mocked.
?Ten seconds later, Darian "accidentally" bumped into Lu Wei, sending him face-first into a pile of freshly picked tomatoes.
?Now it was a war: The Sparkling CEO vs.
The Tomato Actor.
?Arielle turned to the fiancées.
"You see, girls? This is why men are a hobby, not a necessity.
"
?The four fiancées, who had spent their whole lives being told to be submissive to the Cross men, looked at Arielle with pure, unadulterated worship.
?"Can we stay with you instead?" Elise whispered.
?"Of course," Arielle said. "We have wine and no egos in my room. "
?True to her word, Arielle sent Lucian and Lu Wei to the barn after they both failed the "Family Integration" test miserably.
?The cameras caught a "Secret Night Feed" of the two most powerful men in the entertainment and business world sitting on hay bales.
?Lucian: "I have glitter in places glitter should never be.
"
Lu Wei: "I smell like a salad."
Lucian: "I hate you.
"
Lu Wei: "I hate you more. But did you see the way she laughed when the goat ate my script?
"
Lucian: (Sighs) "It was a very nice laugh.
I haven't heard it in ten years."
?A goat bleated in the background, chewing on Lucian's expensive polo shirt.
?Inside the house, Arielle was having a "Midnight Feast" with the four fiancées and Lin Yue (who had snuck in through the window again).
?"So," Arielle said, leaning back. "Let’s talk about your contracts.
Who wants to know how to negotiate for a 50% increase in 'Personal Freedom' clauses?
"
?The girls leaned in, eyes wide.
?"You're not like a mother-in-law," Fiona said softly.
"You're like... a Revolutionary."
?"I'm just a woman who realized that if you don't build your own table, you'll always be begging for a seat," Arielle said, her voice warm and genuine.
?Suddenly, the door creaked open.
?The four sons stood there, holding a tray of cookies.
?"We heard there was a revolution," Zayden said.
"We’d like to apply for membership. We brought snickerdoodles.
"
?Arielle laughed, her heart feeling fuller than it ever had in her "previous life.
"
?"Sit down, boys. Let’s talk about how we’re going to run the world tomorrow. "