Chapter 5

"Who stole my money? I put everything right here! Where is it?"

I searched frantically, but Evelyn shrugged indifferently.

"Stole? What a nasty word to use! I put the jewelry away for safekeeping, and I used the cash to pay off their debts."

"You're rich anyway. A little cash shouldn't matter to you. Stop screaming and go to bed."

My heart pounded furiously. The rage inside me was about to burn the house down. I snapped.

"If that's not stealing, what is? That is my money! Who gave you the right to take it?"

"And you two, get the hell out of here! This is my place! You have no right to stay here!"

Evelyn lost her temper and slapped me across the face. "Shut up!"

"You don't call the shots in this house! I'll give that money to whoever I want!"

Brandon chimed in. "Yeah, Chloe. I'm a department manager now. My salary has doubled. I'll pay you back later. Stop making a scene."

I touched my swollen cheek. Tears of anger and regret streamed down my face. I hated myself for being so blind!

How could I have married into such a family? I should have listened to my parents and never moved here!

I sat on the couch all night, waiting for morning to come so the company could throw them out.

At 8:00 AM, my laptop buzzed with an email from HR.

[The termination letter for Brandon has been drafted. The legal team and the moving crew are on their way to reclaim the property.]

As I felt a wave of relief, a strange, savory aroma wafted from the kitchen.

Evelyn walked out holding a bowl of soup, a creepy smile on her face. "Drink up. It's good for you."

I took a sip. It tasted rich and savory. "What kind of soup is this?"

Evelyn chuckled. "It's Buster. Do you like it? It's a special small-town recipe. No gamey smell at all!"

I froze. Buster was my twelve-year-old golden retriever. With everything that happened last night, I hadn't realized Buster was missing.

Evelyn blocked me as I tried to stand up. "Don't bother looking. He's right there in your bowl."

"Why keep a dog anyway? It's better to focus on getting pregnant and raising Brandon's child!"

I stared at her, my mind going blank. Then, without a second thought, I slapped Evelyn as hard as I could, sending her crashing to the floor.

"You psycho! You absolute monster! Buster was with me for twelve years! He was harmless, and you slaughtered him!"

"You guys are sick! Eating a dog? Are you even human?"

Evelyn screamed from the floor. Brandon rushed over and punched me in the face. "Is it really that big of a deal? He was just a dumb animal!"

Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth. Tears poured down my face like a broken dam.

"This is madness! How dare you hit my mother! Call the police! Put this crazy bitch in jail!"

Evelyn and the two cousins found some rope and tied me up while Brandon called the police.

I struggled with everything I had. "Let me go! You psychos! You're going to pay for this!"

A moment later, the doorbell rang. Evelyn smirked.

"They're here already. You're going to jail, you miserable bitch!"

Evelyn swung the door open, but standing there wasn't Officer Marcus. It was the company's HR manager, several corporate security guards, and two real state police officers.

My secretary, Amber, pushed past Evelyn and immediately untied me.

"Are you guys insane? How dare you put your hands on our General Manager!"

The HR manager stepped forward and handed Brandon the termination letter. "Brandon, you are officially fired. We are here to reclaim this corporate-owned apartment."