Chapter 1

My mother-in-law moved my younger brother-in-law into my house so it would be easier to look after him while he prepared for the college entrance exam. I didn't mind. We were family, after all. I never expected she'd try to kick me out.

Right in front of the whole family, my mother-in-law cussed me out. "Go back to your parents' place. Stop getting in the way.

"Jamie's got exams coming up. Why is a pregnant woman wandering around the house? How is he supposed to study in peace when you're always saying you don't feel well?"

My husband didn't dare say a word, my father-in-law played dumb, and my brother-in-law kept his headphones on like he heard nothing.

I asked, "This is my house, and you're telling me to leave?" She answered as if it were obvious. "You married into this family, so this house belongs to us now."

I laughed, pulled out my phone, and called an agent. Seven hundred thousand dollars, not a cent less. Three days later, the title would transfer, and I'd personally toss her luggage out the door.

*****

Mary Carter showed up with James Carter and a mountain of luggage. This place was mine, bought before marriage. My parents covered the down payment, I paid the mortgage alone, and the deed carried only one name: Sarah Summers.

David Carter, my husband, hurried over with a smile plastered on his face to take Mary's bags. "Mom, Jamie, come in. Make yourselves at home." Mary stepped inside like a queen inspecting her domain. "Not bad. Good light. Nice and bright."

James Carter, the brother-in-law about to take his exam, didn't even look up. He kept his headphones on, walked straight into the guest room I'd prepared, and slammed the door. With my seven-month belly, I felt like an outsider in my own home.

Mary's eyes landed on me. "Sarah, why are you still standing there? Go fix up Jamie's room. Air out the bedding too. And he likes quiet, so don't linger outside his door for no reason."

Before I could speak, David tried to smooth things over. "Mom, Sarah's pregnant. I'll do it."

Mary glared at him. "You? What does a grown man know about this stuff? And so what if she's pregnant? Women still worked in the fields back in my day."

She walked to the nursery I'd prepared for the baby and pushed the door open. "This room's good. The light is better. Jamie needs a proper place to study, so let him stay here."

My chest tightened. That was the nursery I had carefully put together. I picked the wallpaper myself, and a friend helped me assemble the crib. That room held all my hopes for my child.

I spoke evenly. "Mom, that's the nursery. I've already cleaned up the guest room. It's perfectly fine."

Mary waved me off impatiently. "So what if it's the nursery? The baby's not even here yet. Do you know how important this exam is? Let him use it for now." Then she turned to David. "David, move all of Jamie's things into this room."

David glanced at me, then looked away and nodded. "Okay, Mom."

I watched mother and son turn my nursery into Jamie's study. My things were shoved into a corner, and the cute animal stickers vanished behind a framed piece that read "Silence."

I said nothing. That night at dinner, Mary filled a bowl of soup for me. "Drink more. My grandson needs the nutrition." Then her tone shifted.