Allergic to Scumbags

I'm severely allergic to peanuts.

My husband knows this wellhe even makes a point to remind the chef whenever we eat out at restaurants.

But at a company gathering, his female assistant brought a bag of peanuts from her hometown to share with everyone.

My husband actually told me to try some. I didn't lose my temper, just politely declined.

The next day, I invited a classmate who runs a seafood business to bring seafood to our house. I prepared a lavish seafood feast.

I looked at my husband, who's allergic to seafood. "My classmate brought this specially from his hometown. Eat it all."

Men who don't know respect should be discarded.

After all, I'm not just allergic to peanutsI'm even more allergic to scumbags.

I arrived at the gathering to find a sweet-looking girl handing out peanuts.

Hearing everyone address me, Ruby rushed over with a handful of peanuts.

"Mrs. Anderson, I'm Ruby, Anderson's new assistant. These are peanuts I brought from my hometown. Try some."

I instinctively stepped back. Someone nearby explained for me, "Miss Ruby, Mrs. Anderson is allergic to peanuts."

"If you're allergic, you should eat morethat's how you build tolerance."

Ruby acted like she couldn't understand plain English. Before I could react, she shoved the peanuts into my hand.

I quickly threw them away.

"Mrs. Anderson, did I do something wrong?"

"Even if you don't want them, you shouldn't throw them away. There aren't enough peanuts to go around as it is. I only gave you extra because you're Mrs. Anderson."

I frowned. "I really am allergic."

Ruby put on a concerned expression and stepped forward.

"Mrs. Anderson, allergies aren't scarywhat's scary is being too afraid to overcome them."

She picked up the peanuts while saying, "Just try them. If you eat a few, you'll definitely overcome the allergy."

"These are peanuts my parents grew. They're organic, so they definitely won't cause an allergic reaction. Just try them and you'll see."

She tried to stuff the picked-up peanuts back into my hand.

"I'm allergic to peanuts. I really can't eat them." I repeated.

"Mrs. Anderson, you've just gotten too pampered living the high life with Anderson. You're not like us country folk who can endure any hardship."

"Never mind peanutsmy grandfather used to eat tree bark when times were tough. You've just never been hungry. Peanuts are good food."

"Just try them."

I looked at her with displeasure. "Do you not understand English?"

"Anderson, are you sure this kind of person can be your assistant?"

Only then did Anderson speak up. "Ruby means well. You're being too harsh."

"Anderson, Mrs. Anderson, please don't fight because of me."

Ruby pressed the peanuts into Anderson's hand. "I'm an outsider. Mrs. Anderson might feel awkward."

"You give them to Mrs. Anderson. They're really delicious."

Anderson personally peeled a peanut for me. "Ruby brought these from her hometown. Don't waste her kind gesture."

"Just overcome it. Just one."

Last time I accidentally ate food with peanut butter, just one bite landed me in the ICU for a week.

Anderson cried his eyes out then, saying he'd fight anyone who ever let me near peanut products again.

I thought I'd found true love in an arranged marriage, that we could walk this path together forever.

Turns out that was just what I thought.

"Anderson, you've had too much to drink."

My voice turned cold, my expression clearly displeased.

Anderson scratched his head. "I guess I have had a bit much. Ruby, you eat it."

He reached out to feed Ruby.

Ruby naturally ate that peanut. "Mrs. Anderson, it really is delicious. Are you sure you don't want any?"

I stared at Anderson with a dark expression. Anderson's finger still lingered near Ruby's lips.

Testing my boundaries?

It seemed that landing that big project recently had made Anderson too full of himself.

"It's time for the bonfire dance. Everyone get moving." Before I could lose my temper, one of Anderson's trusted colleagues quickly stepped in to defuse the situation.

But Ruby chose that moment to extend her hand to Anderson. "Anderson, may I invite you to dance at the bonfire?"

I pointed at Ruby while staring at Anderson. "Anderson, I don't want to see her tomorrow."

Anderson chased me to the car while Ruby wiped tears by the bonfire.

"Aren't you going to comfort her?" I leaned against the car and asked Anderson casually.

"She's just a college graduate, very naive. Don't you trust my character?"

"She's naive for making me eat peanutswhat about you?"

"Are you bad?"

"Stockton, you're overthinking this."

"I just felt Ruby had a point. We can't avoid treating the problem. Maybe trying to eat peanuts could actually cure your allergy."

Anderson's words reminded meI'm allergic to peanuts, he's allergic to seafood.

Since that's how he understands it, let him lead by example.

"Mom and Dad are coming for dinner tomorrow night. Remember to come home."

Anderson saw me getting in the car. "Let me drive you. I think we can talk on the way."

"No need. Any explanation is weak and powerless. Prove your character through actions."

Away from the noise of the team building, I made two phone calls.

One to my in-laws, inviting them to dinner at home tomorrow.

One to a classmate who had pursued me, asking him to bring seafood to the house tomorrow.

I wanted to see how much seafood it would take to cure Anderson's allergy.

The next afternoon, my in-laws arrived early, and so did my classmate.

My in-laws looked puzzled when they saw my classmate busy in the kitchen with nothing but seafood.

My mother-in-law asked me, "Stockton, why is it all seafood? Isn't Anderson coming home to eat?"

"How could he not come when you're here? But I won't say yet why it's all seafood."

My mother-in-law was still puzzled but didn't press further.

Near evening, Anderson came home.

When he saw the table full of seafood, especially when he saw my classmate, his entire face fell.

"You're home, come sit."

I pulled him to sit down. "Alexander came to see me today and brought all this seafood."

"It's all from his farm, perfectly safe to eat."

I personally peeled a shrimp for Anderson and put it in his bowl. "Try it."

"Stockton, Anderson is allergic to seafood. You know that." My mother-in-law quickly reminded me.

"I know, but Anderson said he wants to overcome his allergy."

I pushed Anderson. "Anderson, I also think Ruby had a point. We can't avoid treating the problem."

"Try it quickly and set an example for me."

"Come, let me feed you."

Anderson's expression was ugly. He pushed my hand away. "Is this really necessary?"

"Can't we talk about whatever this is? What's the point of calling my parents here?"

"What's going on?" My father-in-law asked with a stern face.

"Dad, it's nothing."

"Did I ask you to speak?" My father-in-law glared at him, then looked at me. "Stockton, you tell me."

I briefly explained what happened yesterday. "Anderson, I'm not making this up, am I?"

Anderson remained silent.

My father-in-law slammed his hand on the table. "Anderson, apologize to Stockton right now."

"No need for an apology. As long as he eats one shrimp, I'll believe he really wants to help cure my allergy."

My mother-in-law spoke up quickly. "Stockton, you know Anderson can't eat seafood. It could be life-threatening."

"I've only told you about this today. Do I need to call my parents now?"

"Tell them Anderson tried to force me to eat peanuts to show off his masculinity in front of his assistant."

My father-in-law glared at my mother-in-law when she tried to speak again.

She gave me a resentful look but didn't dare speak further.

I held the shrimp up to Anderson again. "Eating it means you want to help cure me. Not eating it means you want to kill me."

"Choose."

Ten seconds later, Anderson's mouth swelled up and he had difficulty breathing.

My in-laws rushed him to the hospital in a panic.

I followed to the hospital. After more than an hour of emergency treatment, Anderson was out of danger.

My mother-in-law kept crying by the bedside.

My father-in-law called me outside.

"Stockton, Anderson was wrong in this matter. Don't take it to heart."

"Dad, I chose Anderson for this arranged marriage because he was different from his other brothersno messy scandals."

"But I was very unhappy about yesterday. I could chalk up him feeding me peanuts to being drunk, but him feeding that woman peanutsI see that as a challenge to me."

"I don't want there to be a next time. Otherwise, I'd rather accept the economic losses from canceling the alliance than divorce him."

"Don't worry. I promise you I'll teach him a good lesson. He'll never dare cross the line again."

"It's getting late. Your mom and I will stay here. You go home and rest."

I knew they had a lot to discuss father to son, so I left.

The next morning, I came to the hospital.

As soon as I entered, I saw Ruby sitting on the bed, feeding Anderson something.

"Mrs. Anderson." Ruby stood up quickly.

Anderson looked uncomfortable. "Mom stepped out. I felt a bit low on blood sugar, so I asked Ruby for help."

"You go out. I'll do it."

Ruby left reluctantly. I looked at the still-steaming soup and smiled brightly at Anderson.

"It's still a bit hot. Bear with it."

Then I poured the entire bowl of soup over Anderson's face.

Just then, my mother-in-law returned.

"What are you doing?" My mother-in-law shouted frantically for a doctor.

The soup wasn't hot enough to burn him, but it definitely hurt.

After confirming Anderson was fine, my mother-in-law called me out of the room.

"Stockton, don't you think you went too far today?"

I looked at my mother-in-law, my tone unfriendly. "I don't believe you didn't know Ruby came. You deliberately gave them space."

"Yes, I admit it." My mother-in-law was very direct. Then she changed her tone. "But as wives in wealthy families, we need to know our boundaries."

"Now that Anderson is the group president, he's bound to have admirers around him."

"We need to turn a blind eye to many things."

"But don't worry. Anderson grew up at his father's side and learned from him. He knows what's important. He's just young and playful right now."

"I heard you were the mistress who took the position." I looked at my mother-in-law. "Are you seeing yourself in Ruby?"

"How can you say such things?"

"Did I hit a nerve?" I watched my mother-in-law's expression grow increasingly ugly. "If I really did hit a nerve, I can't relate."

"After all, unlike you and Ruby who only have looks, I also have background."

"Listen carefully. Being called Mrs. Anderson is me giving Anderson face."

"He's just the president of Anderson Group, while I'm the chairman of Stockton Group."

"Our two families' alliance was publicly announced as me marrying into your family, but don't you know the actual situation?"

"Anderson became group president because of me."

"Tell Andersononce, twice, but not three times. If there's a next time, I'm dumping him."

Leaving my mother-in-law red-faced, I turned and left.

I'm busy, currently occupied with progress on a new project. I don't have time to waste on romantic drama.

I've known since childhood that growing up in my kind of family, marriage couldn't truly be free.

I tried to choose someone I liked for the arranged marriage, but clearly I misjudged.

However, now that our families are allied, if Anderson and I divorce, it will cause significant impact to both group corporations.

Over the years I've seen and heard about many people's marriages. True devotion until death is about as likely as winning the lottery.

Especially in our circle, fidelity in relationships is extremely rare.

As long as Anderson doesn't transgress again, we'll maintain a marriage in name only. Like other arranged marriages, we'll seek mutual benefit, not sharing a bed.

I didn't expect that three days later, Ruby would post on Twitter and deliberately tag me.

[Congratulations to Anderson on his hospital discharge. May Anderson be treated gently every day from now on]

The photo showed her in the driver's seat with Anderson in the passenger seat.

I recognized that car interior at a glanceit was mine and Anderson's wedding car.

It was a gift from my father to Anderson. Only Anderson and I could drive that car, and only we could sit in the passenger seat.

Today, Ruby was in the driver's seat.

I had still underestimated Anderson's stupidity, or overestimated my place in his heart.

It seemed that being group president these past few years, taking on some projects, had made him think he could disregard me.

Since he's gotten cocky, it's time to let him fall and face reality.

I immediately called my father. As an only daughter, I'd already taken over all the family business.

But as a daughter, I still needed to consult my parents about marriage matters.

"Stockton, you've managed the business excellently all these years. I trust your abilities and judgment."

"Whatever you do, just do it. Your mother and I will always support you."

After hanging up, I began reviewing materials the lawyer had sent.

The day Anderson made me eat peanuts, I'd already contacted a lawyer. With two major corporations involved, no matter how we handled it, divorce would cause some impact to my family.

He's the one who made the mistake, yet I have to share the economic losses. That's not what I want.

Looking at the losses mentioned in the materials, I paused for a moment and called my father-in-law.

"Anderson was discharged, and Ruby picked him up, driving mine and Anderson's wedding car."

"Thompson, I'd like to hear your opinion. Would it be better for me to divorce or become a widow?"