Chapter 3

He treated me well, and he was capable too, so I gradually gave him more authority and let him take on more of the family business.

To protect his pride, I never once revealed my true identity to any of his relatives or friends.

In front of his family and friends, he was the self-made success story who had supposedly built everything from the ground up.

And I was the lucky woman who had married into a wealthy family.

I looked at my mother-in-law. "Gordon said you were a reasonable woman who always knew how to put the bigger picture first."

"I never expected it would be like this. If you really don't want to take care of me, you can hire a postpartum caregiver."

"Hire a caregiver? Look at you. You really think you can afford to hire someone?"

"Do you think it's easy for my son to earn money?"

She glared at me. "Do you have any idea how hard Gordon works for every cent?"

"I've scrimped and saved for that boy at every turn, not so you could squander what he works so hard to earn."

I could hardly believe how shameless she was. "What did you said?"

"You've got two good arms and two good legs, and the second you married my son, you thought you'd get to live like some pampered rich wife?"

"Let me tell you, if you want to be a pampered wife, you'll have to get past me first."

"If you want to live comfortably in this house, you'd better keep me happy."

"Now be a good girl and eat every bite of that bread out of the trash."

I looked at her calmly. "Go ahead and call Gordon. There's no way I'm eating that."

"You brought this on yourself. We'll see how Gordon deals with you when he gets home."

The moment those icy words left her mouth, she put on an entirely different expression. She quickly slipped back into her tearful act and dialed Gordon.

Just like before, she cried for a few minutes before she said a word.

"Gordon, find Eudora a postpartum caregiver. I'm getting on in years, and I just can't take good care of her and the baby anymore."

"Don't blame Eudora. It's just that your mother is old and not much use anymore."

"I'll pack my things and go right now. I won't be a burden to you two."

"No, don't come here. Eudora's a good girl. It's just that I'm no longer capable enough to take care of her."

"I'm just a farmer. This is the life I'm used to. Let me go now, I've got to pack. I won't be an eyesore around here anymore."

This time Gordon didn't call me. A short while later, the lock turned, and Gordon stormed into the room.

I said nothing. I'd already connected my phone to the TV.

I tapped the video to play.

The footage showed everything my mother-in-law had done after Gordon left.

He refused to look at the security footage, so I played it for him myself.

I watched him. I wanted to see what choice he'd make when the truth was right there in front of him, impossible to deny.

"I was wrong. I'm sorry."

"I will kneel and beg for your forgiveness."

My mother-in-law suddenly dropped to her knees, her forehead hitting the floor with a hard thud.

I was stunned.

"Are you satisfied now?"

Gordon stared at me, his voice thick with barely contained fury.

"You used your precious 'truth' to drive my mother to her knees. Are you satisfied?"

His voice rose to a roar.

"Gordon, what do you mean, am I satisfied?"

"Is this my fault?"

"My mother is already on her knees, and you're still trying to make this my fault?"

"Gordon, don't hit Eudora. It's my fault, it's all my fault."

I saw Gordon's eyes go red, his fists clenching at his sides.

"Whatever you do, don't hit Eudora. She's your wife, the one who'll spend the rest of your life with you."

"I’m old, I'm just dead weight. I'll go now, I'll never trouble you two again."

Gordon lost it. He lunged at me.

I sensed the danger and had barely started to rise when his foot slammed into me.

The kick sent me crashing into the sofa, and he was on me before I could react.

One hand clamped around my throat while the other struck my face again and again.

His gaze was so cold and unfamiliar that I barely recognized the man in front of me.

I fought with everything I had, grabbing whatever I could get my hands on and throwing it at him.

But he was far stronger than I was. I couldn't break free no matter how hard I fought.

I could barely breathe. My vision was going red.

"Stop! stop!"

"It's my fault. Gordon, stop hitting her."

"Gordon, you're going to strangle her! Let go!"

"It's okay if I have to suffer a little. Let her go. She's really about to die."

"You want me to lie to the police for you? You want me to tell them she fell down the stairs and died?"

The moment she'd dropped to her knees earlier, I'd known exactly what kind of person she was. And the instant those words left her mouth, I felt Gordon's grip tighten around my neck.

Both his hands were clamped around my throat, as if he meant to kill me.

My parents were dead. My baby wasn't even a month old.

If I died, Gordon could make up whatever story he wanted.

And then the conglomerate would all be his.

Panic tore through me, but there was nothing I could do. I knew this was the end.