The Housekeeper Tried to Steal My Family

The next morning, I went to the company with my dad.

After work, I found Chloe and her parents showing up at our door, bearing several neatly wrapped gifts. The moment they saw us, her parents smiled from ear to ear. Even Chloe, uncharacteristically attentive, fussed over whether I was tired from work. The whole family seemed like different people.

Flattery without reason is either treachery or theft.

My dad and I exchanged a silent understanding and chose to ignore them completely. The smiles on Chloe's parents' faces froze.

"Jack, how was your day at the office?" Jacob asked cautiously, arranging the freshly washed fruit platter.

I glanced at him briefly. My dad had almost kicked him out yesterday—I had stopped him.

Just firing him would have been far too kind.

Our exchanged look made Jacob press his lips together and lower his head, giving him the perfect excuse to slip back into his role of sycophantic service.

Chloe bristled instantly.

"Jack! I've been putting up with your attitude long enough! I came here today ready to apologize for yesterday, but look at how you're acting now?" Her anger, sparked by Jacob's pitiful expression, immediately swung toward me. "If you keep this up, I don't see any future for us!"

I let out a cold chuckle. She was bold because she thought she had me wrapped around her finger—that no matter how upset I got, the threat of a breakup would always make me cave.

Mrs. Parker patted her daughter’s arm with feigned admonishment.

"Chloe, watch your tone!"

Then she turned to my dad.

"Mr. Olson, young love can be so dramatic—things get said in the heat of the moment. But these two have been together quite a while. Perhaps it's time we started discussing an engagement."

Mr. Parker nodded in agreement.

"That's right. I know my daughter—once she's settled down, she'll mature beautifully."

My dad smiled faintly, took a slow sip of his tea, and gave a deliberate nod. The Parkers beamed, certain they had his approval.

But then my dad shifted his gaze to Jacob.

"Jacob, you and Chloe have grown close lately. How about you two get engaged instead?"

The room fell silent. Every face in the room—except mine and my dad’s—shifted instantly.

My mom and sister panicked.

"Honey! Chloe is Jack's girlfriend!"

"Dad, why would you even suggest that?!"

My dad shot them a sharp look and smirked. "What, are you questioning the judgment of a CEO? Jacob is sharp and presentable. Seems like a fine match to me."

Mrs. Parker could no longer hold back. She stood up, visibly irritated.

"Mr. Olson! Chloe and Jack are in love—you can't just tear them apart! If you feel your son isn't ready for marriage, fine. But using the housekeeper to humiliate my daughter? If your family looks down on us, then I will absolutely not allow this marriage to move forward!"

Jacob paled at her words, his eyes glistening.

Chloe, watching him, felt a sharp pang of pity. She frowned and turned to me, voice low and warning.

"Jack, is this really how your family sees us? What you're doing—"

I cut her off.

"Yes."

Chloe froze, clearly not expecting such a blunt answer. Her sentence trailed off weakly.

"You… Jack, I have my pride too! If that's how it is, then we're done. Today."

"Fine," I answered calmly.

Until I spoke, the Parkers had assumed I was just venting—which was why they felt so bold. They never expected me to agree to the breakup outright.

The moment I said "fine," their confident facade shattered completely.