Chapter 2

2: 2

2

"What is it?"

Eleanor edged closer, two careful steps, and reached out to take it.

The moment she saw the wrapping, her eyes lit up.

"Is this imported chocolate?"

I smiled and nodded.

Eleanor beamed, unable to stop grinning.

"You really do things in style."

"I've seen this kind of imported chocolate before, on a friend's feed."

"She went abroad once and couldn't bring herself to buy this brand. A single piece costs thousands."

Eleanor showed it off to everyone, gushing, even as her hands quickly tore open the wrapper.

The next second, a shrill scream cut through the air.

"Ahh! What is this thing?"

Eleanor lost her grip, and the thing in her hands nearly flew loose.

Then dropped fast to the ground.

A black scorpion crawled slowly out of the chocolate wrapper.

The crowd sucked in a breath.

"Kate Henson! You, you actually dared to pull a scorpion on me!"

Eleanor's face went white, disbelief all over it.

"I really thought it was imported chocolate. Who would've guessed it was a live scorpion?"

"You vicious woman. If I'd actually eaten that, would I still be alive?"

I gave a cold little laugh.

Of course I knew she wouldn't eat it.

It was only to shut that foul mouth of hers.

She was the one who couldn't mind her own business.

"The scorpion's just a little toy for you."

I folded my arms and spoke slowly.

"If you keep helping them and keep pushing me to drink that bitter swill, next time what I hand you won't just be a scorpion."

Seeing I had a few tricks up my sleeve.

That I wasn't some soft target anyone could squeeze.

The onlookers who'd been egging on the in-laws, shouting for me to drink the obedience soup, all shrank back a couple of steps, none of them daring to speak again.

"Kate, what exactly are you playing at?"

Oscar forced down the anger simmering in his eyes.

He turned to apologize to his future in-laws.

"Mom, Dad, don't take it to heart."

"Kate's just childish like that. She's only joking with everyone."

"The obedience soup, she… she'll drink it."

The smile on my face vanished instantly.

I turned to look at Oscar in disbelief.

"Whose side are you actually on?"

Oscar frowned and leaned in close, his voice almost pleading.

"Kate, I know that stuff tastes awful."

"But today's our big day, and all these neighbors are watching."

"If you won't drink it, my parents will lose face in front of everyone."

"After this, people in the village will look down on them."

"I'm begging you. Just for my sake, take two sips, okay?"

That actually made me laugh out of sheer anger.

For your sake? How much is your face even worth?

You're not fit to hand me my shoes.

But I still drew in a deep breath and reasoned with him, keeping my tone civil.

"Oscar, I've smelled that bowl. Angelica, wormwood, coptis… all bitter, heat-clearing medicine."

"And there's something else in there I can't name, something that reeks."

"Never mind that you know full well,"

"I never touch anything of unknown origin."

"Just take this one bowl of bitter soup. What does it symbolize? Don't tell me you don't know."

I stared into Oscar's eyes.

"You're telling me that step one of marrying you is signing up for a hard life?"

I trained in Eastern medicine, so one close whiff was enough to make out what was in that black brew.

Not only did it do nothing.

It was pure torment.

"Kate, this is all in your head."

Oscar frowned and grabbed my hand, coaxing. "It really doesn't mean any of that. It's just a custom back home."

"Besides, you heard her. Mom said only after you drink this bowl are you truly married in. She's just following the rules…"

"Following the rules?"

I looked into his eyes, and for the first time, regret stirred in me.

In front of outsiders, his first instinct had been to protect me.

Yet now he was helping that pack of people force me.

"In the car you told me that once I married in, my life would be good, that no one would ever bully me."

"And now? Do you know this soup, back in your hometown, is what they pour down the throat of a daughter-in-law who's done wrong?"

I'd looked into it long ago.

His family had no such custom at all.

They were just afraid that, coming from a good family, I'd marry in and not fall into line.

So the moment I stepped through the door, they had to put me in my place.

"What?!"

Oscar froze. "How could it be for a daughter-in-law who's done wrong?"

"Kate, you must just not understand the customs back home. That's why you've misread it."

"Besides, my mom is so careful and cautious. She wouldn't get it wrong."

Seeing Oscar standing firmly on his mother's side.

Madge's mouth curled up in triumph as she rushed over and picked up that bowl of medicine.

"Don't try to haggle with me. You've been told to drink it, so drink it, and be good about it!"

She stepped up beside me, making to pour it down my throat.

I stared at the black brew and gave a cold little laugh.

"Fine. But I can't take bitter things. So before that, Oscar, why don't you drink a few mouthfuls for me?"

The words were barely out when Madge's face changed in an instant, and she shoved her son hard away.

"Drink it? There's never been any such rule!"

"This obedience soup is only for the new bride to drink."

I didn't move from where I stood.

I only looked at that twisted face of hers and smiled.

"I can drink it. But I, Kate Henson, have always had one rule. I don't take anything of unknown origin."

"Before I drink, I should find out first what's actually in it, shouldn't I?"

Madge's face changed, but she barked back, brazen.

"What could possibly be in it? You think I'd harm you?"

"Stop stalling. Drag it out any longer and it won't be any good, so hurry up and drink."

I just gave a cold laugh and clapped my hands.

I had my private physician, who'd come with me, step forward.

"This is the finest doctor in the country, out of a top-tier hospital. Dr. Chavez, why don't you tell everyone right now what's in this medicine?"

Dr. Chavez strode forward and took the bowl of obedience soup.

He only brought it close to his nose for a sniff, then quickly covered his nose and mouth.

His face turned unpleasant.

"There are indeed a few medicinal herbs in here."

"But besides the herbs, I also detected… traces of fecal matter!"