Chapter 2

"Mom, you are my mother. Grandma was your mother-in-law. Today is her funeral, and she died because Julian and Melanie tormented her! How can you..."

"Shut up! If anyone is to blame, it's you!"

I could practically see her sneering face through the receiver.

She hurled every vile curse she could think of, each word stabbing straight through my chest.

I thought, let it end.

Whatever love she had for me was truly gone.

"Mom, tell Julian to attend Grandma's funeral, and I'll ask him for a divorce."

"What kind of cheap trick are you pulling now?"

She still didn't believe me.

She cursed me, saying I'd die a miserable death, saying I'd never be able to bear children for the rest of my life.

"If Julian doesn't show up, I will never sign those papers," I said flatly. "And your precious Melanie will remain a homewrecking mistress forever."

Without another word, I hung up.

I knew she would make sure Julian came. She cared about Melanie far too much to let her be branded a mistress.

Sure enough, midway through the service, Julian showed up.

I didn't actually need him there for comfort.

I just wanted Grandma to have a dignified send-off.

I was the only family member standing by the casket, and the guests couldn't stop whispering behind my back.

"Where is the daughter-in-law?"

"Why isn't she here?"

"Yeah, and doesn't the granddaughter have a wealthy husband? What's going on?"

"Sigh, you get old and nobody cares anymore."

I knew my mother would never come. Even if she did, she would only humiliate my grandmother in public and spit on her memory.

After all, she had done it before.

Back when Grandma found out that my mother treated Melanie far better than she treated me, Grandma had been furious.

She had pointed at my mother and demanded, "Why? Zoe is your biological daughter! Have you lost your mind?"

To which my mother snapped back, "Yes! I was insane the day I married your son!"

That vicious row was what put my grandmother in a wheelchair in the first place.

"Zoe, Grandma..." Julian muttered, seemingly shocked that Grandma was actually dead.

Looking at his feigned surprise, I let out a mocking laugh. "Why play dumb? Didn't the two of you go to her nursing home together? Hurling such vile filth to drive her into a grave—didn't you expect this?"

"Enough, Zoe! We had no idea it would turn out like this! Besides, are you saying you did nothing wrong?"

Of course. In his eyes, it was always my fault.

My only mistake was believing in my mother and falling in love with a monster like him.

"Whatever. This is Grandma's funeral. I don't want to fight with you. Once it's over, I'll sign the divorce papers."

"I never said I wanted to divorce you. Stop making a scene! Do you know how hurt Melanie is right now? Come home and apologize to her properly, and we can put all of this behind us."

"Apologize?"

What the hell did I do wrong to owe her an apology?

"Everything your mother posted online, even though it's untrue, ended up dragging Melanie into the crossfire. People are starting to call her a side chick! How do you expect her not to be devastated?"

"Isn't she?" I spat. "Sleeping with my husband and having his baby—if that's not a side chick, what is?"

Smack!

Julian lost his temper and struck me across the cheek.

"Zoe! For Grandma's sake, I was trying to be patient with you! Do you really have to push me like this?"