Chapter 1

After my husband’s childhood sweetheart shoved me down the stairs, my memory returned.

I remembered I was heiress to a huge business empire.

I grabbed her hand and said, "Thanks for saving me. As a thank-you, I’m giving you my scumbag husband, his troublemaker mom, and his bratty sister. May you and my husband stay together forever."

*****

The moment I opened my eyes, all my lost memories came flooding back.

I wasn't some pitiful amnesiac who wandered the streets, rescued by Jordan out of charity.

I was actually the heiress to the Crosby Group, who had only forgotten everything because of a car crash.

Before I could even get my thoughts straight, a nasty voice barked at me from the doorway.

"Since you're up, make dinner," my sister-in-law, Aisha Stark snapped.

She stood there, arms folded, looking at me.

"It was just a fall. Why are you still lying there? Don't tell me you're just trying to put more blame on Eleanor," Aisha added, rolling her eyes.

Seeing I remain where I was, my mother-in-law, Julia Stark walked over.

"You're just an orphan—quit acting all high and mighty like you're some rich heiress. Jordan and Eleanor will be back soon. If you don't get up and cook, what are they supposed to eat when they come home?" Julia snapped.

"If you're so concerned about your precious son and his sweetheart, why don't you handle it yourself?" I shot back coldly.

Julia's face soured as she marched up to me.

"I'm your mother-in-law. Since when does a daughter-in-law order her mother-in-law around? Where's your sense of respect?" she huffed.

I sat up slowly, my head still groggy.

"Oh, what, is everyone in the family a cripple? Should I call social services so they can help you?" I retorted.

Julia's face went bright red with rage.

"The nerve of you. We saved your life and let you marry Jordan, and you dare talk to me like this?" Julia fumed.

"Honestly, if we hadn't taken you in out of the goodness of our hearts, you'd still be a homeless stray—probably dead in some alley somewhere," Aisha added with a sneer from the doorway.

Julia, all riled up, lunged at me and went for my ear.

But I was quicker. I stood up, grabbed her hand, and twisted it behind her back without breaking a sweat.

I'd trained in self-defense—not that I'd practiced much lately, but handling a woman Julia's age? Please. That was child's play.

"Ahhh—let go. That hurts," Julia shrieked.

Tears and snot were running down her face as she squirmed in pain.

I shoved her away.

"Keep your mouth in check," I snapped.

Aisha rushed to steady her mom. One look from me and whatever Aisha was about to say died on her lips.

I marched straight into the kitchen.

"What's gotten into her today? Has she finally lost it?" Julia muttered.

"Just wait till Jordan gets home. He'll make her pay," Aisha said.

I could hear their hushed voices behind me, but I brushed them off and started digging through the fridge for something to eat.

I'd gone a whole day without food. Forget being some billionaire heiress—right now, nothing mattered more than food.

I was still eating in the kitchen when I heard the front door open.

Soon after, Aisha and Julia's voices filled the hallway as they started loudly tattling on me.

"Where's the food, Heidi?" Aisha yelled. "It's been half an hour. Are you trying to starve us to death or something?"

The moment I stepped out of the kitchen, Aisha's voice came. She was clearly itching for a fight.

"Hey, Aisha, don't say that. Give Heidi a break—she's got it tough too," Jordan Stark's childhood sweetheart, Eleanor Donovan, remarked.

But that only made Aisha flip out even more.

"Tough? Give me a break. All she does is leech off my brother, lounges around at home, and pretends a couple of chores are some big deal. Spare me the 'she's got it tough' routine," Aisha shot back.

A couple of chores?

I had to be crazy to take on every single chore in this house like some glorified free maid for two whole years.

I had to clean the entire Stark family's three-story mansion, and cook every single meal.

And laundry? I was stuck hand-washing all the clothes for Julia, Jordan, and Aisha.

If they hired a housekeeper to do all this, they'd easily be shelling out 3000 bucks a month.

And not once did they give me a single cent.

I had to eat leftover scraps and wear whatever hand-me-downs Aisha didn't want.

And yet they claimed they were providing for me?

I shot Aisha a glance. "If you're so hungry, go make it yourself," I said flatly.

"Heidi, I know you don't like me, but I swear I didn't mean to push you," Eleanor said, acting all apologetic.

Earlier this morning, when Eleanor swung by the Stark house, we butted heads on the stairs. She bumped into me, and next thing I knew, I was tumbling down.

"Heidi, you just lost your footing. Stop trying to pin this on Eleanor," Jordan sneered.

I rolled my eyes inwardly.

I'd seen people lose their footing and tumble down stairs, sure, but never someone who somehow ended up face-planting right onto the steps.

Jordan was totally blind to reality. Only someone as brain-damaged as I used to be could've missed just how much of a jerk he really was.

I wanted to roll my eyes so badly, but I held it in. Instead, I marched right up and grabbed Eleanor's hand.