Chapter 1

My husband and I had been trying for a baby for years, but I just couldn't conceive.

Then one day, while cleaning our bedroom, I stumbled upon a shocking secret between my husband and my mother-in-law.

I clutched the trash can, feeling my stomach turn.

Just then, I heard my mother-in-law, Edith, speak in a soft and sweet voice from the kitchen. "Mike, cooking has made my back so sore. Come give me a massage, will you?"

I felt a rush of blood to my head.

"Let me give you a massage," I said.

With that, I walked straight toward the two of them.

But my husband, Michael Watson, was faster, placing his hands on Edith's slim waist.

Edith always claimed she was fifty, but she took such good care of herself that she looked way younger.

"Get out of the way. I'll do it," I said coldly, giving Michael a shove.

"Can't I just spend some time with my son? Do you always have to ruin it for us?" Edith shot back.

She sashayed away, carrying the dishes.

"Seriously, Cynthia? Mom's been working hard in the kitchen, and I'm just helping her relax. Why'd you have to push me?" Michael said, with an edge to his voice.

He hurried after Edith to help her with the dishes.

I watched them, and a wave of emotion crashed over me.

When I first met Edith, Michael mentioned that his father had died young, so he'd always felt responsible for looking after her.

Back then, I totally understood. I even pitied him and thought he was a devoted son.

But it turned out that hearing about her and living under the same roof as her were worlds apart.

That night, with Michael working overtime, I kept telling myself that maybe I had just imagined things earlier, trying to shake off the doubts swirling in my mind.

Edith mentioned craving the famous cake from Caketon, so I went out to buy one for her.

But the second I opened the door, cake in hand, Michael suddenly exploded—out of nowhere, he hit me hard before I even knew what was happening.

"Mom fell. And you're out there buying cake and flowers, acting like you don't even care," Michael yelled.

He shoved me hard to the ground and, without warning, slapped me across the face.

"Did you even notice Mom still hasn't had dinner yet?" he shouted angrily.

The cake and flowers hit the floor, completely ruined.

That cake cost me 1,000 dollars. I even spent two hours on the subway just to avoid traffic, and then stood in line for another two hours to buy it.

I felt a bitter sense of injustice. All he cared about was that Edith hadn't eaten dinner, but I hadn't, either.

And I'd been starving while buying cake for her.

Michael shouted, "How can you be so cruel to an elder? Are you really that ruthless? Mom's always treated you well, and just look at how you're acting now.

"If I'd known you were this cold-blooded, I swear I'd never have married you just for you to bully my mom."

Michael kept his finger practically poking my face as he yelled furiously.

Just then, Edith shuffled out of her room with her cane, a faint look of triumph flickering across her face.

She said, "Mike, what's the point of making a fuss? It's just a busted light bulb in my room, and honestly, it's not her fault. Young women are always a little spoiled, you know?

"She just didn't want to help, so I tried to fix it myself. It's nothing serious. I guess I'm just too old and clumsy now, hurting myself over something like that. Don't be upset. I'll go make you something to eat."

Edith's limp, pitiful look made Michael's brow knit together.

"Quit playing dead. Get up and go make dinner for Mom," he snarled, landing a brutal kick to my stomach.

I finally shot back, "She told me to buy the cake. She never said a word about any damn light bulb."

But before I could even catch my breath, Michael's fist landed hard, leaving me powerless to defend myself.

"Still trying to lie your way out, huh? Why would Mom ask you to buy cake and flowers? To throw herself a party for breaking her own leg?" he snapped.

I was just about to protest when Edith suddenly slipped in the kitchen.

She moaned, her weak voice barely above a whisper as she collapsed to the floor.

Without hesitation, Michael picked her up and dashed out, heading straight for the hospital.