The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 808

His tone was laced with clear dissatisfaction. "Mom, didn't I tell you last time? She is my wife, and that will never change. I absolutely will not attend any blind dates you set up. Also, I expect you to respect my wife. Respecting her means respecting me."

"I do respect her! But the real question is, does she respect me?" Vivian looked surprised at first, then her brows knitted together fiercely, her tone growing even more displeased, almost shifting into a scolding pitch. "Ask her what she just called me!"

Vivian shot her gaze back to me, her expression incredibly sour.

I looked at her, my eyes blurry with tears. I tried to speak, but the words instantly caught in my throat.

Another wave of tears cascaded down my cheeks, entirely out of my control.

"Mom, Selena gets scared easily. Don't intimidate her like this. If you have a problem, take it up with me. Stop bullying her." Ferris's expression darkened even further.

His voice even carried a heavy hint of accusation.

Vivian's face drastically changed. Her voice spiked in volume, trembling with indignation. "What did you just say? I'm bullying her? Ferris Sterling, you've really grown too big for your britches! You actually think I'm bullying her? Ask her! Ask her who's bullying who right now!"

Ferris held me tighter, taking a deep breath as if trying to suppress the rising anger in his chest. "You're screaming like this and still claiming you aren't bullying her?"

"She's not!" This time, it was my voice that broke the tension.

I finally managed to rein in my overwhelming emotions. Wiping away a stray tear, I found my voice, though it still quivered slightly. "Mom isn't bullying me. It was my fault."

I bowed deeply to Vivian, offering a sincere and formal apology. "Mom, I'm sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn't have called you Mrs. Sterling."

"So, are you going to randomly change how you address me in the future?" Vivian glared at me, still visibly fuming.

It was hard to tell if she was genuinely mad at me or just furious at Ferris.