Chapter 2

I ignored my parents' dreams of a lavish wedding. I figured David was just trying to get his startup off the ground, so I didn't ask for a lavish wedding, thinking I was doing the right thing for love.

Of course, there was no financial contribution from his parents. All we got was just a rented wedding dress and the cheapest wedding bundle money could buy.

And just like that, I married him.

I really thought it was love.

After the wedding, Helen was always nitpicking everything I did, and convinced her son could never be wrong.

Richard barely said a word, but he was always finding fault with me—like he was the boss of the house and I was just there to follow orders.

I kept giving in and stepping back, no matter what.

I honestly thought that getting pregnant—giving the Lane family a baby—would finally mean happiness.

But now, I couldn't help but think that all my compromises and sacrifices were nothing but a cheap joke in their eyes.

I was forced to move into the tiny, cold guest room.

The air reeked of old dust and mildew.

At dinner, I walked into the dining room.

Emily was being treated like royalty at the head of the table by Helen, with a steaming bowl of chicken soup in front of her.

"Emily, you need extra nutrition. Look at how skinny you are. You need to eat more to get your strength back," Helen said.

In front of my seat, there were only two plain vegetable dishes and a bowl of mashed potatoes.

I glanced at Emily's food again and found out that the chicken soup in front of her was in the clay pot my mom brought over.

All those nourishing herbs and the chicken in the soup—my mom sent those just for me, to help me supplement nutrition.

They didn't even bother asking me before giving all of those things to Emily.

Rage and frustration crashed over me. I was trembling all over as I slammed my tableware onto the table.

"Helen, did you use the stuff my mom brought for me in this chicken soup?" I demanded.

Helen's hand stalled midair, chicken leg dangling over Emily's plate. Her face twitched with guilt for a split second, but she quickly straightened up and stood her ground.

"So what? Emily just gave birth, and she is still weak. She needs all the nourishment. It's just some supplements—stop being so petty," Helen shot back.

"Those were meant for me. My mom sent them because I was barely able to eat during my pregnancy. How could you just take it and cook it for someone who isn't even family?" I snapped.

I shot to my feet, my voice pitching higher without me even noticing.

Richard slapped his fork down, and his face clouded in anger. "Sophia, how can you say that to her? Not family?

"Emily's been with us since she was little. We treat her just like our daughter. Can't you grow up a bit and stop being so petty?"

Helen snapped right back at me, her voice cutting through the room. "That's right. Why are you making a scene over a little food? Emily needs it way more than you do right now."

I scoffed and shot a look at David, who just kept his head down, eating in silence.

"David, are you even paying attention? Those are my mom's gifts for me, and now they've ended up with your ex. Tell me, does that really sit right with you?" I pressed.

David's face darkened, his voice laced with impatience. "Sophia, come on, it's no big deal. Mom was only thinking of Emily. They have been cooked anyway. Can you just let it go? Tomorrow, I'll buy you more—twice as much, alright?"

Richard's voice cut through the tension, sharp and commanding. "You are not going to buy her anything. You're just spoiling that attitude of hers. Emily, just eat your meal and don't mind her."

Emily set her spoon down, looking a bit awkward.

"Richard, Helen, David—please don't be mad at Sophia. It's my fault, really. I shouldn't have taken the soup," she said, sounding apologetic.

"Eat it. Nobody dares say no," Helen snapped.

Helen held Emily's hand in place, making sure she finished the soup.

I watched the whole scene play out and just felt colder inside with each passing moment.

That night, I crawled into bed early, wanting to shut out the world.

David tried to explain everything about Emily more than once, but every single time, my cold attitude silenced him.

Midnight, the baby's cries echoed from the master bedroom.

I had poor sleep quality, so I heard David get up.

The door creaked open.

Soon, David's gentle voice drifted over from the master bedroom, soothing the baby. "There, there, don't cry. I'm here. I'm here."

Emily's voice also floated over, sounding even more fragile and helpless in the quiet night. "David, I'm sorry that I woke you up. It's all my fault. I can't calm the baby down."

"It's okay. I'll handle it. You just rest," David replied softly.

Every word stabbed into me, like a thousand arrows at once.

Tears rolled down my face, silent and endless—not for them, but for all the love I'd poured into the wrong man.

The next day, with my habitually poor sleep, I was hit with another wave of morning sickness, my whole body groggy and dazed.

Helen barged in, her voice cold and sharp. "Sophia, I'm heading out to buy a fresh fish for Emily. Her pajamas are by the washing machine.

"I don't have time, so just wash them for her," she commanded, not even bothering to ask how I was feeling.

My face went ghostly pale.

"You want me to wash that woman's clothes?" I blurted out, my voice shaking with disbelief.

Helen frowned, glancing at her phone.

"Just some laundry work. Stop whining. I have to get to the market while the fish is still fresh," she snapped.

The front door slammed shut behind her.

I was dry heaving, my stomach twisting in disgust.

I kept taking deep breaths, but all I could hear was the baby babbling away in the master bedroom.

Furious, I stormed around the room before snatching up my phone and dialing David. "David, I don't care what you're doing—get home this instant, or you'll be sorry."

I was practically shouting into the phone.

After I hung up, the sounds from the master bedroom—Emily's soothing voice and the baby's cries—kept going as if my furious call had meant nothing at all.

About thirty minutes later, David burst through the door, gasping for breath. "Sophia, what's going on? You didn't explain anything on the phone."

Right then, Helen showed up with a big live fish in her hands.

I gave a cold snort, grabbed David, and yanked him over to the washing machine. Then I showed him the pajamas smeared with milk stains.

"Your mom just told me to wash your precious Emily's laundry," I spat, pure sarcasm dripping from every word.