Chapter 155

Then it clicked for Elio. His mother-in-law Lana's preoccupation with wealth and disdain for the less fortunate stemmed from Madam Faust. This attitude pervaded the entire Faust family: if he were wealthy, he would be treated like royalty and universally liked; if not, he would be left to endure criticism at the whim of others.

Hudson was grinning and looking at Elio like he was nothing. He said in a mean voice, "Did you hear that, you country boy? You won't listen to Grandma? Say sorry to me now."

Yitty was being really bossy too. She said, "What are you waiting for? A guy who depends on his wife has no right to stand up to my man. Say you're sorry to my husband, or you'll be sorry!"

Others started saying things like, "Come on, this is Brownsville, and Hudson is the boss here. If you make him mad, you're in big trouble."

"You don't know how silly you look, acting all important when you're really not. You should be happy we're making you say sorry."

That was what they called famil