Chapter 236 Argument
Camilla even stepped back to take another look, making sure it was indeed her house.
The light gray floor was covered with shoe prints and trash.
People were chatting and eating, throwing fruit peels and wrappers directly on the ground.
The once clean walls had two black footprints, likely from some kid kicking them.
The buzzing chatter made the scene resemble a bee gathering.
Camilla turned to see Bella's puzzled face.
Bella gave her a helpless smile.
Someone had already noticed Camilla and immediately came over with a smile. "Wow! Is this Alistair's daughter? She's grown up and so beautiful! I heard she's in grad school at Harmony College? So capable!"
"It really is Camilla! You've grown so tall. Are you married yet? Why are you still in school? Feels like you've been studying for decades!"
"Must have been a long trip back, right? Come, have some fruit!"
A group of people surrounded her like she was a treasure, chattering non-stop.
Camilla politely greeted them and made some small talk before excusing herself to the bathroom to finally get away.
She quickly went upstairs to her room.
At the door, she found it wide open.
Camilla frowned and checked around; thankfully, nothing had been touched.
She sighed in relief, quickly closed the door, and shut out the noise from outside.
Dinner was arranged by Bella.
Bella didn't want to cook and felt bad for Alistair, who had been hosting all day, so she called a restaurant to deliver food.
The dozen or so people were quite satisfied with the meal.
But the dishwashing and cleaning still fell to Alistair.
Julia saw him tying on an apron and heading to the kitchen and called out to him. "Alistair, what are you doing?"
Alistair replied, "I'm going to clean up the kitchen."
"How can a man do kitchen work? Where's your wife?"
"She's working."
"Isn't she home all day? What work does she have to do at night?"
Alistair explained, "Bella's work doesn't require her to leave the house; she just needs to do it on the computer."
"So it's not something urgent, right? Can't she clean the kitchen first and then work?"
"No need for her to do it; I usually handle the cleaning."
"What?" Julia's voice rose, "You usually do the kitchen work?!"
Alistair frowned. "What's the big deal? Whoever has time does it. Work is work, no matter who does it."
"You're a man! Men are supposed to earn money outside."
Alistair chuckled. "In our house, my wife is the breadwinner."
He didn't want to argue further and dove into the kitchen to work.
Julia stood at the door, watching his skilled movements, knowing he must do this often.
At nine in the evening, Camilla started yawning after her bath.
Camilla decided to go to bed early, turned off the light, and lay down.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, a loud noise came from downstairs.
Camilla sat up in shock and hurried out to check.
It turned out two kids had climbed onto the TV cabinet and knocked the TV off the wall.
The LCD screen was cracked.
It couldn't be repaired.
The adults from both families arrived late, first scolding their kids, then apologizing to Alistair.
At first glance, they seemed polite.
But their words...
"Alistair, we're really sorry, but you're doing well now, right? A TV isn't expensive; it shouldn't be a big deal, right?"
"Kids don't know any better; they often break things. You won't hold it against them, will you, Alistair?"
"Exactly!"
Alistair remained silent.
In the end, he had to let it go; he couldn't really ask them to pay.
But Alistair looked at the broken TV with some heartache.
A new TV wasn't cheap!
Then he said, "Alright, alright, everyone go to bed."
The next morning, Camilla was woken by the sound of a TV and grabbed her phone to check the time.
Not even six o'clock.
The next second, Camilla seemed to remember something and sat up quickly, leaving her room.
Sure enough, the noise was coming from downstairs.
She thought, 'But isn't the TV broken?'
She went downstairs to find several middle-aged women sitting on the couch, each holding a phone, watching with the volume turned up.
Camilla was about to say something; it was Bella's work time in the morning, and her study was on the first floor.
With this noise, Bella couldn't possibly write.
But before she could speak, Bella had already come out, looking annoyed.
The mother and daughter bumped into each other.
Bella's anger faded when she saw Camilla, then gradually subsided.
"Did the noise wake you?" Bella touched her face, feeling a bit sorry.
Camilla weakly shook her head. "It's okay. I'll go buy breakfast."
The house was too noisy; it was better to find some peace outside.
Bella said, "Go ahead."
Watching Camilla leave, Bella sighed.
Seeing the chaotic living room, she decided to return to her study.
Out of sight, out of mind.
However, Julia walked over with a smile. "Bella, it's already seven. Aren't you going to make breakfast? We need to eat on time."
Bella patiently explained. "Camilla went to buy it; she'll be back soon."
"Buy?" Julia raised her voice.
Bella nodded. "There are too many people to cook for. There's a row of breakfast shops just outside the neighborhood. They have everything, very convenient."
"Too many people? We have more people at our family gatherings, and my daughter-in-law cooks for everyone. If she can do it, why can't you? Buying food costs money, doesn't it? I think you just don't want to cook for us because we're from the countryside, right?"
Julia often heard Zoey complain about Bella.
Back then, Alistair refused to marry the factory director's daughter and insisted on marrying her, even going against Zoey.
They thought he was marrying an angel, but she turned out to be lazy!
Julia thought, 'She doesn't clean the kitchen, can't make breakfast, and lock herself in that room, claiming to work, but who knows what she was really doing. What kind of woman behaves like that?'
Bella's temples throbbed, but she remembered Julia was over seventy and held back her temper, explaining kindly.
But Julia didn't listen and got even angrier. "I blessed your marriage back then, and now look at you!"
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