Chapter 1

On my wedding night, my mother-in-law, Evelyn, lined up a row of brass cremation urns and creepy old family portraits right in our bedroom.

"Our ancestors will be watching you two make love tonight. They will bless me with a grandson soon!" she declared.

My chest tightened with anger. I pointed at the door. "Are you insane? Get those things out of here right now!"

"Are you out of your mind? Who puts dead people's ashes in a bedroom? It's terrifying!"

My husband, Brandon, remained dead silent. Evelyn, however, puffed out her chest. "Let’s see who dares to move them! Moving them is disrespecting our bloodline!"

Anger rushed to my head. I got out of bed and began putting on my clothes. "If you won't take them out, I’m leaving."

The next second, Evelyn grabbed a pair of scissors from the vanity table. With a sharp *snip*, she cut my driver's license and passport in half. She let out a cold laugh.

"Don't forget, Chloe, you moved twelve hundred miles away from home to be here. In this town, you do as I say!"

"Without your ID and passport, you can't even book a flight or rent a car. You’re trapped. Do you really think your family can save you from all the way across the country?"

Evelyn slammed me back onto the bed. Just then, a pregnant woman walked out of the guest room.

"You think it's crazy? Look at Tiffany. Under the blessing of our ancestors, she got pregnant with Brandon's baby after just one night!"

"In this house, you’re nothing but a glorified placeholder. If you don't get pregnant soon, I’ll have my son divorce you and throw you out!"

I was about to explode. I turned to Brandon and demanded a divorce right then and there. But Evelyn only laughed harder.

"This apartment is provided by Brandon's company. If you divorce him, you'll be kicked out onto the streets! Let's see who wants a divorced, homeless woman in a town where she knows nobody!"

I let out a cold, bitter laugh. I pulled out my phone and dialed the HR department of our company's branch office. "Fire Brandon immediately and reclaim this apartment."

They thought they could lock me down because I was far from home. What they didn't know was that I had just been transferred here as the new General Manager.