I kept provoking him. "With this money, can the plan we talked about before—bringing my mom and dad over to live with us—become real? We can make a down payment on a four-bedroom place, so that…"
Before I could finish, I faintly heard my mother-in-law's voice, deliberately lowered.
"Bring them over? She's dreaming! That's our family's money. We absolutely can't let her call the shots!"
Ryan seemed to cover the receiver. After a rustling sound, his voice returned.
"Joy, did you tell anyone else about this? Do your mom and dad know?"
The fish took the bait.
I sneered inside.
"No! You're the first one I told! My dad can barely use a cellphone—how could I tell him this? Don't scare him."
"Yes, yes… don't say anything yet, don't tell anyone!"
Ryan agreed repeatedly, switching to a hypocritical tone like he was thinking of me. "What I mean is… this is a huge surprise. We have to pick the right time and tell Mom and Dad properly, right?"
"Mm, you're right."
I answered obediently, my fingers lightly tapping the steering wheel.