Chapter 2
His favorite song was playing softly through the car speakers—the same one that was on in the restaurant when we went on our first date ever.
He'd always called it "our song."
Now, every single note felt like bitter, mocking garbage.
Michael hummed along like it was no big deal as he drove, grinning like a fool with pure, unfiltered joy.
"Babe, what do you wanna eat for dinner tonight? Let's hit up somewhere nice to celebrate our big day," he said, tossing out the idea.
"Whatever you feel like," I replied flatly, staring blankly out the window. Funny how he could be so pumped, while I felt totally empty inside.
He hadn't picked up on a single thing being off.
Or maybe he'd never cared about my feelings in the first place.
"How about that new Florencian bistro downtown? You mentioned wanting to try it a while back," he offered up.
"Sure, that works," I said, my tone still cold and distant.
He took one hand off the steering wheel and reached over to interlock his fingers with mine.
"Ashley, thank you for marrying me," he said softly.
"I'll spend the rest of my life loving you."
His voice was oozing with fake sincerity, like a total copy of the devoted, perfect husband you see in romance novels.
If I hadn't found out about his five hidden houses that afternoon, I might've fallen for it hook, line, and sinker.
Instead, his sweet talk just made me want to gag.
His phone buzzed and lit up with an incoming call.
He glanced at the caller ID and picked up right away.
"Hey, Mom," Michael said, greeting her casually.
It was Evelyn Summers, his mother.
I'd only met her a few times—on holidays and special occasions, nothing more.
Sharp-tongued, sneaky, and way too controlling—those words summed her up perfectly.
"Did you two wrap things up at City Hall?" Evelyn asked.
Her voice sounded nice and gentle on the surface, but underneath, it was sharp and bossy as hell.
"We did. We just got our official marriage license," Michael said, his tone all bright and braggy.
"Good. Now bring her straight home," she ordered, no ifs, ands, or buts.
"Huh? But Ashley and I already had plans to celebrate..." Michael protested, sounding weak and wimpy.
"Plans can wait. You're family now, and there's no point wasting money on fancy dinners," Evelyn said firmly. "I've got dinner and soup simmering on the stove. Get home ASAP."
Her tone didn't leave any room for arguing.
Michael hesitated for a sec, then sighed and gave in.
"Fine, fine. We'll head over right now."
He hung up and shot me an awkward glance.
"Uh, my mom wants us to come over for family dinner.
"She didn't know we had plans."
I turned to face him, wearing a calm, easy smile.
"It's totally cool. A home-cooked dinner sounds nice, actually.
"I just wish I'd had time to grab a small little housewarming gift for her."
Michael let out a huge, obvious sigh of relief.
"Baby, we're family now. Gifts aren't needed.
"That's just how my mom is—old-fashioned and strict, but she means well, I swear."
She meant well?
A woman who helped her own son hide five fancy houses as separate pre-marital assets definitely had nothing but good intentions.
I scoffed to myself quietly.
"I know, Mrs. Summers is just looking' out for us," I replied, sounding totally reasonable.
I made sure my face looked soft, understanding, and totally harmless.
At the next stoplight, Michael did a U-turn and headed toward his parents' neighborhood.
I'd only been to their place twice before.
A plain, ordinary three-bedroom house in the suburbs.
Looking back, that small, boring house had always been nothing but a fake front.
All their real cash and hidden stuff was stashed away somewhere no one could find it.
"My mom'll probably wanna talk to you about household stuff and a few family rules," Michael warned me as we got closer. "Don't let it bug you."
"What kind of rules?" I asked, sounding casual.
"Just old-school stuff—budget stuff, splitting chores, stuff like that," he explained.
"She's dead set on a wife managing the home and keeping things running smooth after marriage."
So that was the life they'd planned to trap me in.
"Got it."
I nodded quietly.
Michael thought I hadn't figured out their real game.
He quickly added, "She's stuck in her old ways. Just listen nicely, and we don't have to follow every little thing she says.
"Our marriage, our rules—we get to live how we want."
I looked him in the eye with a sweet, docile look.
"Michael, we're married now.
"Your mom's my family too.
"I know she's just looking out for us, and I don't mind listening to her."
My tone was so warm and real, I almost bought it myself.
Michael totally relaxed, even looked a little touched.
He squeezed my hand even tighter.
"Ashley, you're seriously the sweetest, most understanding woman I've ever known."
He pulled into a parking spot in the quiet, older suburban neighborhood where his parents lived.
I stared at the same old house up ahead.
Beneath my calm exterior, I knew the harsh truth.
This was only day one of our marriage.
The real fight had only just begun.
I'd find out soon what sneaky little tricks Evelyn had up her sleeve.