Chapter 2

The next day, I woke up, and the sun was already pouring into the room.

I clutched my aching lower back as I shuffled to the dining table, eating the toast Mrs. Davis had brought.

In my mind, I cursed Brett a thousand times. Did having a baby have to be this torturous? Wasn’t one time enough?

He must have felt like he got shortchanged and wanted to make up for it.

Just as I was aggressively poking a piece of bread, imagining it was Brett, a shrill voice cut through the front door.

“So you’re the little slut who climbed into Brett’s bed?”

Before I could even stand up to see her face, she was already in front of me, delivering a sharp slap across my face.

“Slut! Don’t play innocent. You just deliberately waited at the hospital, pretending to be pitiful to get Brett’s attention.”

I froze, dumbfounded. When did I ever wait at a hospital to seduce Brett?

Could I even *seduce* someone like him?

I started to get angry. Yesterday, I was exhausted and sore, and this morning, I was greeted with a slap across the face. This was too much.

I was a twenty-first-century college student, not their slave.

Okay, I admit I felt a little like a slave.

Thinking that, I actually teared up from sheer frustration.

“Valentina, I don’t know what I did to upset you, but what gives you the right to just barge in and hit me?”

Valentina arrogantly tilted her head, her hand raised again.

“What gives me the right? The right that Brett is *my* man, and you’re just some shameless hussy?”

But the slap didn’t land. Instead, I heard Brett’s urgent voice.

“Valentina, stop it!”

Brett burst in, grabbed my arm, and pulled me back.

“Didn’t we agree? Why are you here, laying hands on her?”

Valentina roared back,

“Are you actually falling for her? Why did you stay here all night yesterday?”

Brett’s gaze darkened, falling on my swollen face. He finally lowered his voice.

“I was just too tired yesterday, and I fell asleep.”

He then pulled Valentina into his arms.

“There, there. It won’t happen again. You know how I feel about you, don’t you? You also know Grandpa’s pushing for a child.”

Seeing Brett soften his voice to appease her, Valentina finally smiled, satisfied.

“Then I want shrimp, and you have to peel them for me.”

Brett nodded, tapping her forehead.

“Fine, I’ll peel them. But no more hitting anyone.”

“And you’re not allowed to stay here overnight anymore!”

The two of them walked out the door, talking.

As she stepped through the doorway, Valentina glanced back at me with a mocking, disdainful look, her smile full of arrogant scorn.

A sudden pang of sadness hit me, and I couldn't help but touch my burning cheek.

Once upon a time, I was my mother’s precious darling. She’d save both drumsticks for me when she made chicken stew, braid my hair beautifully, and tell me I was the prettiest little princess.

That night, Brett didn't come home. Instead, he sent a pile of gifts: from designer dresses to diamond necklaces and watches.

I didn't feel excited. I just quietly put them away in the closet.

I shouldn't have been upset, but I couldn’t help feeling sad.

Sigh. I’d only had two good days, and now I was being melodramatic. It was just a slap and a few insults; it wasn't a big deal.

Thinking that, I touched the damp corner of my eye and asked Mrs. Davis to make me some more chicken soup, which I gobbled down two big bowls of.