Chapter 2

I walked over and swiped the screen, and photo after photo appeared, showing them at WonderWorld and at a hot spring hotel.

The last shot showed Olivia in a maternity dress with Michael's hand over hers on her belly, their heads together and beaming.

I took out my phone and snapped pictures of every single photo on the screen.

Then I heard a door open, so I slipped out of the study and pulled the door shut until the lock clicked.

As I steadied myself, I heard keys in the entryway, and my mother-in-law and Emily came in laughing and chatting.

"Mom, I was telling you about that dress," Emily began, but she cut herself off when she saw me.

My mother-in-law's smile turned into a nasty look as she slammed her bags on the shoe cabinet and demanded, "How did you get in?"

"The door wasn't locked," I replied.

"Don't lie. Your dad and I checked it," she snapped, striding up and giving me a once-over.

"Did you secretly copy the key or sneak in your fingerprint when we weren't looking?" she grew more agitated, her finger almost poking my nose.

"Let me tell you, this house belongs to the Reeds, so don't try anything funny," she snapped.

Emily snorted as she put on her slippers and said, "I bet that's it. Let me call Michael."

My father-in-law cleared his throat from the side and said, "Enough. Don't make a fuss at the front door. Do you want the neighbors to laugh at us?"

I looked at them, and whatever warmth I had left in my heart was gone.

I didn't respond to their accusations. I simply said in a flat voice, "Olivia was here and let me in."

My mother-in-law was speechless, her face shifting through emotions until she forced a fake smile.

"Oh, it was Liv. She came for papers, right? That girl is so capable," she said to Emily. "Look at her, so pretty and competent, much better than some people."

Emily curled her lip and said nothing.

My mother-in-law cleared her throat and started on me again, saying, "Enough. Stop standing there like a statue."

"Go cook dinner already. Can't you see we're all back? We bought groceries, so it's your job to serve us," she said, kicking the bags at her feet.

I stared at her. She looked so sure of herself, like she was completely in the right.

Back then, I always told myself to endure it for the sake of family harmony, but now I finally get it. They saw my patience as weakness.

"I'm not feeling well today. I don't want to cook," I said.

The living room went quiet for a moment. My mother-in-law scoffed and said, "What did you say? Say it again."

Emily jumped in, saying, "What do you mean you don't want to cook? Then what are we supposed to eat?"

I ignored their yelling and headed for the bedroom. "You've got some nerve," my mother-in-law shouted from behind me.

"Stop right there. Explain yourself. Did the Reed Family bring home a queen or something?" she snapped.

I didn't stop. I walked into the bedroom, shut the door, and locked it behind me.

Bang, bang, bang. The door was pounded so hard it felt like the whole house was shaking.

"Open up. Open this door. You useless woman, can't even have kids, and now you dare to throw a tantrum?" my mother-in-law shouted.

"Getting brave, are you? You really think I won't have Michael come back and divorce you?" she said.

Their insults seeped through the door. I leaned against it, closed my eyes, and the ultrasound report in my pocket jabbed into me.

Then my phone buzzed. The screen lit up with a single word: "Michael." I swiped to answer.

Michael's voice was as gentle as ever. "Hey honey, are you busy?" he asked. I didn't say a word.

"I've got an emergency meeting tonight, so I'll be home late. I won't be back for dinner, so you all eat without me. Let Mom know not to wait up," he said.