Chapter 1

The day after my wedding, I was at my in-laws' dinner table.

I didn't dish up some food for Brian, my brother-in-law, who was glued to his game.

Just because of that, Alex Lewis, my husband, who had fallen in love with me for three years and married me for one day, slapped me, loud and clear, right in front of everyone.

I didn't even hesitate for a second.

I dumped the whole pot of steaming hot soup right over his head.

Margaret, my mother-in-law, shrieked and lunged at me, but I snatched up an empty bowl and smashed it on the floor.

I said, "Anyone lays a finger on me, and this place will turn into hell tonight."

*****

The day after my wedding, the steam rising from the soup on the dinner table still carried the lingering warmth of the wedding feast.

Margaret tapped the table with the end of her fork, making a couple of sharp clicks.

She said, "Wanda, go dish up some food for Brian."

I glanced at Brian. He was totally lost in his phone game, yelling, "Mid lane! Mid lane!" He didn't even bother looking up. His empty plate was right next to his hand, barely eight inches away.

I didn't budge.

For three years, Alex was always the caring, gentle type. He'd tell me his mom had been bossy her whole life, so I should just put up with it.

He said Brian was spoiled rotten since he was a kid, so I shouldn't let it bother me.

I really thought love could solve everything.

"Wanda? Are you listening?" Margaret's voice rose sharply.

I picked up my own plate, served myself some food, and said calmly, "He's got his own hands and feet."

The air went dead silent.

Brian finally looked up from his phone, staring at me in disbelief. "Wanda, what do you mean by that?"

I said, "Serve yourself."

"You!" He slammed his phone down on the table.

"Alex, is this the kind of wife you picked? First day here and she's already laying down the law in our family." Margaret's face darkened, pointing her fork right in my face.

I turned to Alex, my brand-new husband.

His brows were furrowed, eyes full of hesitation. He set down his fork, gave his mom a quick, soothing glance, and then looked at me, voice low and almost begging.

He said, "Wanda, come on, don't make a scene. Mom's watching. Just go dish up some food for Brian. It's simple."

"No, it's not," I shot back, locking eyes with him. "It's about rules."

"Cut the crap!" Margaret slammed her hand on the table and shot to her feet. "In the Lewis family, women are here to wait on men. You married in, so now you play by our rules!"

Alex's face darkened, like I'd just humiliated him in front of the whole family.

He jumped up and grabbed my wrist, his grip iron-tight, making me wince. "Wanda, do as I say!"

I stared at his face, all twisted up with rage, and my heart dropped, cold and heavy. Was this really the man I'd loved for three years?

I yanked my hand free. "I'm not doing it."

"Are you really gonna make everyone look bad?" His voice had a hard edge now.

Margaret fanned the flames from the sidelines. "Alex, why bother talking to her? Women like her just need to be disciplined. If you don't keep her in line, she'll walk all over you."

Alex's chest heaved with anger. He glanced at his mom, and then at me. The struggle and hesitation in his eyes got swallowed up by that so-called 'family dignity'.

Then, a slap rang out, sharp and clear.

My head snapped to the side, ears buzzing. The pain blazed from my cheek straight to my brain.

Everything went dead silent.

I could hear Brian's gloating gasp, soaking up the drama, and Margaret's cold, triumphant smirk.

I slowly turned my head back to Alex.

He seemed startled by what he'd just done, his hand still raised, frozen in place. Panic flickered in his eyes, but mostly there was that hard, 'I'm doing this for your own good' look.

"Wanda, I... Don't push me," he tried to defend himself.

I didn't give him the slightest chance.

I wasn't even angry. I just felt cold to the core.

I didn't hesitate for a second.

I reached out, grabbed the steaming hot pot of soup from the middle of the table, and poured the whole thing straight down over his shocked face, drenching him from head to toe.

Alex let out a scream that was more animal than man.

Scalding soup dripped down his hair and face, veggies clinging to his eyebrows and collar. He clutched his face and eyes, freaking out and jumping around from the burn.

"Ah! She's killing my son!" Margaret shrieked, her voice piercing my eardrums. She charged at me like a wild lioness, claws out, ready to rip me apart.

I stood my ground.

With a swift motion, I grabbed an empty plate from the table and smashed it onto the floor at my feet with all my strength.

The plate shattered with a sharp, decisive crash.

Shards scattered across the floor.

Margaret stopped dead, her eyes wide with fear as she stared at me, and then at the broken pieces at my feet.

I lifted my gaze, my voice colder than ice as I spoke to her, word by word. "Anyone lays a finger on me, and this place will turn into hell tonight."