Mia stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at Andre, “Andre, why didn’t you talk to me about this first?”
Andre sat casually by the couch, “This isn’t something up for discussion. Don’t forget what you promised me last night.”
Mia had confidently told her husband, “Honey, whatever you need, I’ll go along with it.”
Andre reminded her of the consequences if she backed out, “Break your promise, and you’ll be broke for life.”
Mia approached him, pinching his shoulders, “But I thought your punishment would be something else...” She had imagined something more intimate between them and hadn’t expected this. If she had known it was this, she would have bitten her tongue rather than make such a bold vow.
Andre said, “This punishment is exactly that, a basic course for a month, an advanced course for another month, and a sprint class for half a month.”
Mia was dumbfounded, “That means I won’t have any holidays!”
Cooper, her brother, popped his head out of the bedroom, “Sis, you’re already short on time this year, and you still think about holidays? Keep this up, and you’ll have to prepare for a do-over.”
Mia raised her hand, tempted to hit someone.
Cooper ducked back into the bedroom in a flash.
It’s easy to adapt when suddenly freed after being restrained, but for Mia, used to leisure and freedom, facing something as daunting as a “bar exam” was unbearable.
Yet, the vow from the night before echoed in her ears, making her angry with herself to the point of tears.
In the end, Cooper, who had helped enroll her, got a beating, and the little troublemaker, Henry, also got spanked, crying louder with each hit. Yet, the little tyke stubbornly wanted his mom to hold him even after asking for a spanking.
As Mia rolled up her sleeves, preparing to tackle her husband, the ever-prepared Andre handed over a check, “Write any amount you want.”
Fuming, she slapped her hand and took back the check.
Henry, sobbing, was told, “Henry, tonight, you’re just like your dad, not sleeping with me.”
Henry’s cries echoed through the Irvin family living room.
That night, he was indeed sent out after being washed up, with his pajamas and diaper, staring at the firmly closed bedroom door. Henry looked up at his dad, who was also sent out, then back at the departing silhouette of his mom, his lips quivering in injustice.
Cooper emerged from the bedroom, “Brother-in-law, having my sister as your wife must be tough.”
A titan in business, untouchable outside, yet chased out of his own bedroom by his wife.
If Andre weren’t his own brother-in-law, Cooper would never believe it if someone else told him.
Andre, cradling his “little chunk,” father and son headed to the guest bedroom.
Mia was video calling Molly from her bedroom, resting her head on her hands, surrounded by stacks of study materials, already headachy before even starting.
Molly knew what had happened, “Mia, if Andre enrolls you in courses just for arguing, you might end up with a PhD at this rate!”
Mia massaged her temples, “Molly, I can’t even stand the sight of your Andre and Henry right now.”
Molly was in a great mood, with her husband back home, “Mia, you need a transition. You’re just in a confused phase, not knowing what to do. The family has chosen a field for you to pursue in graduate studies that you’ve never heard of or understood before. And here you are, pushed to the limits by your husband at night and tormented by your son by day, living a lazy summer, sleeping in late, and long out of study habits. It’s normal to struggle to pick up a book again; after all, you’re only human.”
Mia laid her head on the desk, “Molly, I flipped through a few pages, and I really can’t understand anything. It seems so hard.”
Molly was surprised, “Really? Let me ask my Chad.”
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