Chapter 2
Early the next morning, I changed into a light gray suit.
When I came downstairs, Andrew's mother was already sitting at the dining table.
She frowned the moment she saw me.
"Where are you going dressed like that?" she asked.
"To work," I replied.
She set her teacup down.
"Do you really think the Hughes family needs your little paycheck?" she scoffed.
Nina sat in her chair, stubbornly avoiding my gaze.
Andrew came down the stairs.
His mother turned to him.
"Andrew, you need to keep her in line. She should be acting like a proper wife, not running around in public like some businesswoman," she snapped.
Andrew was fastening his cufflinks.
"She's just doing this on a whim," he said.
I picked up my car keys.
"This isn't just a whim," I said, my voice steady.
Andrew's mother let out a cold laugh.
"Lauren, don't forget who saved the Linwood Family when you were about to go under," she said.
I stopped in my tracks.
"The Hughes family gave us partnership funds, not a handout. The contract's still there—want me to go get it and show you?" I said.
Her face turned sour.
"You're talking back now?" she snapped.
"It's not that I couldn't talk back—just never felt like bothering you," I said.
Nina suddenly yelled, "Grandma's right. You're nothing like a real mom!"
I looked at Nina. "So what do you think a mom should be?"
Nina's eyes were teary.
"A mom should be with me, cook for me, and tell me stories," she said.
"And what about your dad?" I asked.
Nina froze.
"Doesn't your dad need to hang out with you, make you dinner, or tell you bedtime stories?" I pressed.
Nina lowered her head.
Andrew's mother banged the table.
"Why are you telling her that?" she snapped.
"I'm teaching her what it means to be a good daughter," I said.
Andrew's voice was deep and heavy.
"Lauren, that's enough," he said.
I looked at him.
"It's not enough," I replied.
Everyone at the table went quiet.
The doorbell rang.
The maid went to open the door.
Emily stood in the doorway, holding an exquisite cake box.
She wore a white dress, her smile gentle and soft.
"Did I come at a bad time?" she asked.
Nina jumped out of her chair.
"Aunt Emily!" she called out.
She ran over and threw her arms around Emily.
Emily ruffled Nina's hair and looked over at me.
"Lauren, Nina couldn't find you yesterday and cried for ages. So I brought her a little cake today to cheer her up," Emily said softly.
"Seems like you never miss a thing, do you?" I said.
Emily looked a little taken aback.
Andrew's mother jumped in, "At least Emily actually cares—she's better than someone here."
Emily shook her head quickly.
"Don't say that, Mrs. Hughes. I'm sure Lauren has her own reasons," she said.
I laughed. "You two sound like you rehearsed this act—did you practice together?"
Emily's eyes welled up with tears.
"Lauren, I just care about Nina," she said.
Nina stood in front of her, blocking my way.
"Mom, you can't bully Aunt Emily!" she shouted.
Andrew stared at me.
"Apologize," he ordered.
I shot back, "To who?"
"To Emily," he said.
I nodded. "Fine."
Emily looked up at me, a glimmer of triumph flickering in her eyes.
I walked right up to her. "I'm sorry, Ms. Shaw."
She was about to speak, but I cut her off. "I'm sorry—turns out I only found out yesterday that my husband made you the beneficiary of his trust."
Emily's smile stiffened.
Andrew's mother whipped her head around to glare at Andrew.
Nina went quiet, too.
I kept going, "And I'm sorry, I just realized you're only here to 'care' about my daughter, while posting that trust paper for everyone to see, just to show off your spot in the Hughes family."
Emily rushed to explain.
"I didn't mean to post that—it was an accident. I'll take it down right away."
"Don't delete it," I said.
Emily froze.
"Leave it up," I added.
I picked up my phone. "Great, my lawyer will love this."
Andrew reached out to stop me.
"Lauren, I can explain about the trust," he said.
I looked at him.
"Explain how you're giving her everything when you're gone, but expect me to play the perfect wife while you're still here?"
Andrew's mother shot to her feet.
"Don't talk about dying, that's bad luck!" she snapped.
"Your son signed those papers—so if anyone's jinxing things, it's him," I shot back.
The servants all lowered their heads out of fear.
Emily nervously bit her lip.
"Lauren, it's not like that. I swear, I never wanted anything from the Hughes family."
"So, will you sign a statement giving up your rights as the beneficiary?" I asked.
She didn't say a word.
I let out a cold laugh.
"Funny how your mouth is more generous than your hands," I said.
Andrew's expression darkened.
"Lauren, don't make a scene in front of the kid," he said.
I glanced at Nina. "Sooner or later, she needs to learn—not everyone who plays the victim is actually innocent."
Emily started crying.
Nina, tears streaming down her face, shoved me away.
"Go away! I don't want you as my mom anymore!" she cried.
I took a step back.
Andrew pulled Nina into his arms.
For the first time, I saw real anger in his eyes.
"Are you happy now?" he asked, his voice cold.
"Not yet," I replied.
I gripped my car keys tight in my hand. "I'll only be satisfied when the divorce papers land on your desk and you sign them."
I went to Harmony Medical Center.
It was the hospital my family, the Linwoods, had founded.
Three years ago, when our finances collapsed, the Linwoods had to give up most of the control.
After the Hughes family invested, Andrew put his own man in as the hospital director.
Officially, I was still the Linwood heiress, but in reality, I didn't even have an office here anymore.
As soon as I walked in, the receptionist stopped me.
"Ma'am, do you have an appointment?" she asked.
"I'm looking for the admin office," I replied.
She looked me up and down.
"The admin office is swamped today. Just leave your name and wait," she said.
A snicker came from the side. "Look who it is—Mrs. Hughes herself."
I turned.
It was Mandy Dean, deputy director of admin.
She used to be a clerk at the Linwood hospital, but after the Hughes family bought in, she rocketed up the ranks.
Mandy walked over, arms full of folders. "Well, Mrs. Hughes, what brings you down here yourself? Running paperwork for your husband, or just making sure the staff is toeing the line for the Hughes family?"
"I'm here to start work," I replied.
Mandy looked at me like she thought I was pulling her leg.
"Start work? You?" she snorted.
The receptionist glanced over.
Mandy let out a mocking laugh. "Not just anyone can waltz in and work here these days. Mrs. Linwood, after being pampered at home for so many years, do you even remember how to read a medical record?"
"You can ask HR," I replied.
Mandy waved her hand dismissively. "HR reports to me now."
She stepped in closer. "Mrs. Hughes, if you want to feel important, you'd be better off hanging around your husband's company. This hospital isn't a social club for ladies who lunch."
I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.
Mandy snorted. "What, calling Mr. Hughes to bail you out?"
The call went through.
"Uncle Mike, I'm at the hospital," I said.
A middle-aged man's voice came through the line.
"Miss Linwood, I'll be right down."
Mandy's smirk faded a bit.
"Miss Linwood?" she repeated.