Chapter 3

A flash of guilt passed through Ferdinand's eyes, but he said nothing.

His silence was like a bucket of cold water, chilling me from head to toe.

Christiana quickly emerged from his embrace to smooth things over.

"Alright Ferdinand, I'm fine, aren't I?"

"Doria is just too lonely, that's why she came looking for us."

"How about this, Doria—John from the security team lost his wife two years ago. Why don't I introduce you two?"

"John is divorced, but he's the security captain. He makes good money!"

Hearing this, everyone covered their mouths and snickered.

"A housekeeper matched with a security guard—perfect match!"

"The director is doing you such a favor, and you're not grateful!"

The mocking laughter drilled into my ears. I bit my teeth and roared.

"Using a security guard to humiliate me—Christiana, is this what you call class!"

Seeing my barely contained tears, Ferdinand's expression wavered for a moment, then he gripped my wrist and threatened in a low voice.

"Enough, Doria. I'll talk to you about this when we get home."

"Go back first. Mom just had surgery two days ago, and Dad's still half-paralyzed. You're leaving them unattended—are you even a qualified daughter-in-law!"

He looked at me coldly, his words piercing like ten thousand arrows.

To this day, he felt no guilt for what he'd done, still using that same rhetoric about being a dutiful daughter-in-law to control me.

At this moment, Ferdinand still pretended to be the perfect husband.

When we first married, I mentioned trying for a baby, but he said:

"Doria, the company is just starting. I want to give you and our child a stable life. Can we wait a few more years?"

I waited seven years, while he had three children with another woman outside.

Tears blurred my vision.

I was wrong. I should never have broken with my entire family for this kind of person.

I mentally slapped myself hard twice for my poor judgment.

I wiped my tears and stubbornly raised my head.

"Misunderstanding, Ferdinand. I'm not here looking for a man. I'm here for my salary."

"Taking care of two elderly people, $10,000 a month isn't unreasonable, right?"

"Twelve months a year, seven years—that's $840,000 total. Cash or transfer?"

At these words, the entire hall fell silent.

Ferdinand's face turned black as the bottom of a pot.

"Doria, must you humiliate yourself here!"

Me, humiliate myself?

Should I just be kept in the dark my whole life, being their family's unpaid labor!

Just then, Christiana stepped forward again, biting her lip and righteously accusing me.

"Doria, how can you extort us? Moreover, you stole their family heirloom last time, and I didn't even report it to the police!"

At her words, the scene exploded again, countless insults flying at me.

"So she's a thief too. How could you keep someone like that in your home?"

"Director, you should send her to jail!"

Christiana nestled in Ferdinand's arms, tears in her eyes.

"I took pity on her poverty and couldn't bear to fire her..."

Hearing this, everyone gave her thumbs up, praising her kind heart.

Christiana smiled while accepting everyone's flattery. I couldn't take it anymore and raised my hand, slapping her hard across the face.

"Ahhh—"

Her cheek instantly swelled red, tears falling in large drops.

Two children rushed over, desperately beating my shins.

"Bad woman!"

"Daddy! Kill this bad woman!"

Everyone pointed at me, their eyes full of disgust.

"Ferdinand is such a good person. How did he end up with this housekeeper?"

"Good people really get no reward!"

Ferdinand turned to look at me with a vicious expression.

"Doria, apologize to Christiana."