Chapter 1

For four years since I married into this family, I’ve cooked the New Year’s Eve dinner three times in a row.

Each time, I’d head to my in-laws’ house early to prepare the dishes. Working from dawn till dusk, exhausted to the point of collapse and no one helped me.

This year, being pregnant, my mother-in-law arranged for the whole family to dine out. After finishing the housework and rushing to the restaurant, I found they had already started eating.

Twelve people from four households, but only eleven seats in the private room. I stood awkwardly at the door.

I didn’t know whether to leave or stay. I wanted to ask the waiter to add another seat, but my mother-in-law looked displeased.

“Can’t you see the private room is already crowded enough? What are you doing here? Once we’re done eating, Yohan can bring you some leftovers, right?”

——

I never imagined that just because I skipped cooking one New Year’s Eve dinner, I wouldn’t even have a seat to eat.

Standing there, I was stunned by my mother-in-law’s questioning. “No one told me I couldn’t come?”

I looked at her, but she just reminded me that pregnant women shouldn’t be running around. I should’ve stayed home resting and there was no need to come out.

I was speechless. Who had left all those chores for me to do earlier? I worked from four to six and took only a quick sip of water.

Then I changed clothes and rushed over for the New Year’s Eve dinner. But when I arrived, they told me there was no seat for me at all.

My second sister-in-law sneered beside me, “Hey, sis, haven’t you ever eaten at a restaurant before? Now you’re trying to freeload? You’re over four months pregnant, don’t you think about the baby?”

I swallowed my anger and replied calmly, “No need for your concern. I’ll take responsibility for my own child.”

Unexpectedly, my mother-in-law’s face darkened. She set down her cutlery and asked slowly, “The child isn’t just yours, it’s our Fortescue’s too.”

“If something really happens, what responsibility can you possibly take besides crying a few times?”

I glanced at my eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law, who were waiting to see me humiliated. Then at my indifferent husband and the others who remained silent.

Sighing, I decided to stand my ground. “Mom, if you truly care about me, why did you make me handle all the housework?”

“You go out for morning exercises, play chess in the afternoon. Can’t you spare a single moment?”

My mother-in-law was shocked by my words. She probably hadn’t expected me to contradict her in public.

She immediately roared angrily, “I do the housework, then what do you do? Lie in bed? Even pregnant, you need exercise! Otherwise, you’ll become useless!”

I countered, “Mom, don’t your words contradict yourself? First you tell me to stay home and not wander off, yet now you want me to exercise more?”

Ever since marrying Yohan Fortescue, these past four years have been nothing but turmoil.

At first, we planned to move out and live independently. But because my eldest and second children didn’t want to live with us, my in-laws started pestering us.

Being shy and sensitive, I ultimately had no choice but to agree. Little did I know it would be the start of my nightmare.

From my wake-up time to the frequency of my water intake, I controlled every aspect of my life. I worked all day and still have to do housework when I get home.

My father-in-law played cards and my mother-in-law played chess. During holidays, whenever the whole family gathered for meals, I was always the one responsible for cooking.

I complained to my husband countless times, but he always brushed me off. Over time, I grew numb to it all. But this time, I didn’t want to tolerate it anymore.

Seeing me stand up to his parents, especially with the other two families present, Yohan kept signaling me to leave.