The pregnant bride went stiff as a board when she spotted the groom’s dad. She never saw that coming…

On the road, neither of them said a word as if there was nothing to talk about. Even Camille was silent, but she had something to say and how to present it. But she decided not to stir things up.

She had had enough of her son-in-law’s greeting. He looked at her so haughtily as if there was a gulf between them. And to cross it, it was necessary to build bridges in the form of status promotion.

In other words, to rise to his level, to be able to talk on equal terms. But she was not going to do it, because she realized that her son-in-law would not appreciate it anyway and would look for new gaps to get even more distant. Having combined all these alarm bells, it was possible to come to the conclusion that Michael planned some meanness.

But what exactly was going on in his head was still a mystery. Camille tried to catch the course of his thoughts, but he was constantly maneuvering. It was as if he felt that his mother-in-law was waiting for a convenient moment to catch him on some word.

When they arrived home, they all went to the nursery together. Their Emily laid her son on the bed and crucified him. Michael looked at him calmly and said indifferently.

And I wouldn’t say that the rich boy is just a well-fed child. You sound like you’re upset. Emily replied unhappily.

No, I just judged his complexion, shook my head. And in his eyes did not even light up fire. It usually happened at the moment of the first acquaintance with the child.

And the new parents, whether father or mother directly begged for happiness and visibly worried. But not Michael. He was very calm, as if the son was not brought from the hospital and bought in a toy store on sale.

About the same condition could be read on his face. And Emily, sensing her husband’s indifference to her own child, muttered unhappily. It would be better to help with the tapes than to stand there.

Well, I don’t know how. Look how it is necessary and memorize. Might come in handy.

In what way? Michael frowned. You’re always at work. I’m confused with the baby.

But it could happen that you’re going to be overwhelmed. Yeah, well, you have to study. How about a celebratory dinner? Not tonight.

Emily crossed her arms across her chest and made a sour face. What about you, Camille? He turned to his mother-in-law. I don’t think we should celebrate today either.

She shrugged. Let’s do it sometime next weekend, just in time for the cottage. Water your flowers again.

No one’s forcing you. Mom can do it herself. Emily cut him off.

Even though I told him at the hospital he’d be helping for at least a couple weeks. In general, as I understand it, today the holiday is canceled. Just in case, I decided to check with Michael.

Yes, the wife and mother-in-law answered in one voice. I see. Then we continue to learn how to swaddle.

We bent over the baby. He began to change the tape together with his wife, and at the same time his mother-in-law was watching him. And she had already formed a definite opinion.

What should she and her daughter expect in the future? She clearly imagined how her son-in-law would change in a month or sooner. Judging by the way he behaved now, it was safe to say that he was preparing for something unexpected. And soon it happened.

Or rather, in a week. That’s how long it took Michael to reveal his cards. Only he could not imagine what would be waiting for him in the future.

He had counted on a pleasant and promising prospect. But in the end he fell to the bottom of life, and none of his friends felt sorry or lent a helping hand. After all, he had committed an act for which there was no justification at all.

Not only that, he did not have the courage to ask for forgiveness from the closest people. He simply took and burned all the bridges. However, all this did not happen overnight, but over a period of time.

Fate quietly sneaks up on him to send a boomerang in return. And he struck such a blow that overnight overturned all notions of good and evil. Michael found himself in a place he never expected.

He’d never even dreamed of this world. He had only heard about it from his acquaintances, and even then the most superficial information. But when he was plunged there with his head, he howled and remembered everything he had done before.

His brains did not turn off and gave out new images from the depths of his subconsciousness. One was scarier than the other, and it seemed that there was neither end nor edge. So much swam, and his soul with dirt and varnish, that he almost did not notice anything.

It was only his mother-in-law who discerned his amorphousness, but too late to notify her daughter of it. Emily was caught in our usual debriefing when she was confronted with the fact, and in such a harsh form that she almost lost the gift of speech. She still had faith that her husband would not leave her and find another woman.

But he did even worse, and thereby signed a one-way ticket to normal surroundings. And he would not be able to get there for a long time. At least not without help.

And when Michael bypassed the real prospect of further existence, he began to look at many things differently. But by that time the flywheel of the fateful boomerang had spun to its full speed, and was not going to let him out of its orbit. After Emily showed her husband the process of the experience, he seemed to understand the basics and promised to keep practicing.

Even assured everyone that he would be the best father ever. You’ll see, just give it time. And soon you won’t recognize me at all.

You’re careful with the changes, Emily. Ethan and I are really going to wonder who that uncle is living with us. That’s a good one.

I’ll keep that in mind. Michael said snidely. What about you, Camille? Did your son-in-law learn to take over the child? Just the tops.

But it’s a simple matter. And even more ironically, she replied. We’ll see how you behave when you have to stay with him all day.

I hope it doesn’t come to that. Honey, are you scared or something? No, I’m just a little worried. I shrugged.

See, mom, it’s just normal excitement. Emily smiled. It takes time to get used to everything.

You didn’t know how to take care of a baby right away either. You must have had some guidance, right? What about it? Of course they scolded me, especially my mom. I remember her scolding me in front of the whole family.

For the fact that the diapers did not swallow. So ashamed I was ready to fall through the ground. And there are many such cases I can remember.

Let’s not be sad. I’m going to cry. Michael begged.

He looked at his wife and then at his mother-in-law. Are you serious or are you joking? Is he angry? Emily asked. Michael noticed the evil light in her eyes.

And out of sin answered in a low voice, I’m sorry, dear. It was a bad joke. And I understood everything.

And I won’t interfere where I’m not asked anymore. That’s not even the point. It’s just that you’re being ironic on purpose.

It’s like you’re being spiteful. And don’t tell me it’s because you’re in a good mood. I wasn’t.

You know that. That’s it. Calm down.

Camille intervened again. We don’t need you two fighting. You haven’t had time to pick up the baby yet.

You’re already fighting. Mom, we’re not fighting. We’re just prioritizing.

Emily corrected her. Exactly. And all of a sudden you panic.

Michael, like a fox putting in his five cents to justify himself to his mother-in-law. But she didn’t even bat an eye. She just kept pushing her line.

Your family is one more person. And it’s time to get smart. Put aside your liberties and start living for a brighter future.

So you’re saying that before this, we had no future at all. In a disgruntled voice, Michael asked. Why not? There was something…