Marrying

“Valerie, relax,” Julian began, her voice gentle. “Your brother and I are just suggesting you be more mindful with your spending. It’s not that you can’t indulge in king crabs, but there’s no need to stretch your budget unnecessarily. It could lead to unnecessary tension between you and 

Matthew. 

Julian, always straightforward and sincere, missed the undertone of condescension in Ashley’s advice to Valerie. He worried about the potential strain on Valerie’s marriage and added, “Ashley has a point. It’s fine to treat yourself on special occasions, but it’s wise to keep everyday expenses in 

check.” 

Valerie appreciated Julian’s concern. “Don’t worry, Julian. If we’ve bought this crab, it means we can handle it? 

Julian knew that Valerie was always prudent with her finances. Reassured by her confidence, he relaxed. “Alright then, let’s enjoy our dinner.” He then replied. 

However, Ashley wasn’t ready to drop the subject. Just because you can afford it doesn’t mean you should. Everyone can buy king crabs nowadays. Remember our wedding feast? We had a bigger one than this. How much did this cost you, Matthew?” 

Matthew, usually patient, found Ashley’s tone grating but remained composed for Valerie’s sake. “It was two…” 

“200 dollars?” Ashley scoffed. “You’ve been tricked, Matthew. Ours was larger and only cost 175 dollars. Why is yours smaller yet more expensive! It sounds like the seller saw you as an easy target. 

Valerie had had enough. Ashley’s insinuation that Matthew was naive was becoming too much. “Ashley, seafood prices vary with the season; it’s perfectly normal. What matters is that we enjoy the meal together. If we’re all happy, a linde extra cost doesn’t hurt. Am I right?” Valerie’s smile was tight, her calm demeanor barely masking her irritation. 

Ashley, momentarily lost for words, bristled silently. Valerie’s confident reson left her wondering how Valerie, who had married a poor man without a college degree, dared to speak up so boldly, 

Matthew’s eyes flickered with surprise as he listened to Valerie defend him against Ashley’s subtle digs. He appreciated her support, especially since he owed her for helping his grandmother. Although he couldn’t reveal his true identity to her, be resolved to show his gratitude in other ways. 

With a slight smile, Matthew chimed in, “Valerie’s right. Seafood prices can vary, and this crab is naturally pricier. Because this is a Horsehair Crab. It costs 2000 dollars.” 

Observing the warm exchanges between Valerie and Julian, Matthew was reassured of their strong bond. He had arranged for several high–quality seafood dishes to be delivered through Charles, wanting to make the meal memorable. 

It was evident that Valerie and Julian shared a close relationship, marked by Julian’s straightforward nature. However, Ashley seemed to harbor a more cunning disposition Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

Ashley looked visibly choked. The crab’s appearance in her eyes resembled a lot of the king crab’s. Her limited experience with seafood suddenly became apparent, leaving her feeling out of her depth. 

julian, ever direct, expressed his gratitude with a warm smile. Thanks to Matthew, we get to enjoy some truly top–notch seafood today” 

Valerie donned disposable gloves and cheerfully announced, “Til handle the crab splitting!” 

Ashley, unable to mask her irritation, declined the offer. “I’ve been feeling off these past few days and the doctor said I should skip the seafood” 

Julian, concerned, asked. “You’ve been unwell? You should have mentioned it earlier. 

Biting back her frustration, Ashley responded, “It’s nothing serious. Don’t worry about me; just enjoy your meal” 

Valerie, picking up on the tension, focused on serving Julian and Aiden, leaving Ashley out. 

bly fresh and flavorful” 

As Julian tasted the crab, his eyes lit up with delight. “This is better than what we had at our wedding! It’s incredibly 

Ashley’s expression darkened as Julian’s praise continued. Despite her reservations, she couldn’t deny the infectious enjoyment around the table. making her question if she was missing out on something truly exceptional 

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