Chapter 65


    Chapter 65


    “Valerie, rx,” 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.


    N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    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 asions, 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


    rxed. “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 remainedposed for Valerie’s sake. “It


    was two…”


    “200 dors?” Ashley scoffed. “You’ve been tricked, Matthew. Ours wasrger and only cost 175


    dors. 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 bing 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 dors.”


    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 rtionship, marked by Julian’s straightforward


    nature. However, Ashley seemed to harbor a more cunning disposition


    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 vorful”


    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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