Chapter 2

By the time I changed and came back out, my mother-in-law had already left. The breakfast table looked like it had been hit by a bomb.

I kept telling myself there was only one month left before we could move out. After cleaning up the table, I went to tidy up Daniel's clothes.

The weather had turned colder lately. Daniel had only packed seasonal clothes when he left last time. I was worried he might catch a cold.

After a busy morning, I had just finished making lunch when my mother-in-law called.

"Have you made lunch yet? Hurry up and bring it to the club."

Before I could say anything, she had already hung up. My mother-in-law had been treating me like the family's maid for years.

But for Daniel's sake, I still packed up lunch for her. I barely had two bites myself before rushing off to the club.

"You're so slow even just delivering food. What else can you do?" My mother-in-law glared at me as she took the lunchbox. The aunties next to her couldn't help speaking up for me.

"Margaret, your daughter-in-law is already very good. She even brings you lunch every day."

My mother-in-law ate big mouthfuls while glancing at me sideways with a cold smile. "She's just a country bumpkin from some village. She's living off my son's money. Bringing me lunch after eating her fill first - that's nothing special!"

By this point, I was no longer listening to what my mother-in-law was saying about me. Because I had spotted those familiar old men's leather shoes with traces of dirt - the ones I saw in our entryway last night. They were now on the feet of Mr. Johnson standing next to my mother-in-law!

The person in my mother-in-law's bedroom last night wasn't my father-in-law at all, but Mr. Johnson who often played at the club with her!

My mother-in-law was brazenly having an affair at home!

"What are you staring at? Didn't you hear what I said?" My mother-in-law slammed down the lunchbox. Her tone was fierce, but her eyes couldn't quite meet mine.

My mother-in-law shoved the lunchbox at me. "Forget it! I'm sick of looking at your face! Hurry up and get out of here!"

I took the lunchbox and stumbled home in a daze.

I never imagined that my mother-in-law, with her strong traditional values, would actually have an affair!

This was Daniel's mother after all. It wasn't my place to deal with this. But Daniel's greatest wish was for family harmony. If I told him about this, who knows what kind of storm it would stir up in the family.

I don't know how long I sat lost in thought. The sky outside had already grown dark when my phone suddenly rang. It was a video call from Daniel.

I answered the call and saw his handsome but clearly exhausted face on the screen. In the end, I couldn't bring myself to say anything.

"Honey, I got the clothes you sent me this morning. I hadn't even noticed the weather changing. You're always so thoughtful."

I managed a weak smile, but Daniel sensed something was off.

"Honey, did something happen at home? Or did Mom say something to you again? You look so troubled."

Once Daniel said that, I felt even more guilty. But I still forced myself to deny it: "No, everything's fine. Don't worry about things here, just focus on your work."

I had barely finished speaking when I heard the sound of the front door - my mother-in-law was back.

Afraid she might say something unpleasant that would distract Daniel, I quickly hung up the call.

My mother-in-law seemed to be in a good mood. She came in humming a little tune. After thinking it over, I decided I should still say something to warn her.

"Mother, Father will be retiring and coming home in a few months. Daniel will be transferring back then too. We should all try to live together harmoniously."

I had meant to remind her not to keep messing around with Mr. Johnson. But as soon as I said this, my mother-in-law glared at me with her hands on her hips and started cursing.

"Live harmoniously? You dare talk to me about living harmoniously? Our family took in a freeloader like you, and you think we can live harmoniously? Fat chance!"

"I saw you acting all sneaky earlier. Don't tell me you can't stand the loneliness and you've been flirting with some guy online?"

My mother-in-law was the one having an affair, yet she had the nerve to accuse me of impropriety?

"Daniel has been living at work for so long. If I could get pregnant now, it would most likely be from cheating with another man!"

As soon as she heard the word "cheating", my mother-in-law's expression changed. She glared at me fiercely before turning and stomping back to her room, slamming the door shut.