Chapter 2

On the very first day Melanie moved in, she tried to order my parents around when they came to visit. My mom, of course, wasn't going to take orders from a maid. During the argument, Melanie slapped my mom hard across the face.

"You old fossils, do you really think you own this place? Everything in this house belongs to Ethan! Who do you think you are, giving me attitude?"

My parents both have weak hearts. They were so angry they clutched their chests, unable to breathe.

I bolted down the stairs, grabbed Melanie by her hair, and slammed her head hard against the coffee table. "Who the hell do you think you are, talking to my parents like that?"

Of course, I knew exactly who she was.

She was Ethan’s precious secret lover. Spoiled, pampered, and never having suffered a single scratch in her life.

Now, with her forehead split open, blood ran down her face into her eyes. The look she gave me was pure, murderous rage.

"You dare hit me? You cheap bitch, listen up! I am Ethan’s—"

"Cousin!"

Ethan burst through the front door, panting, and rushed over to pull us apart. "Melanie is my distant cousin!"

He turned to me, his voice frantic. "Chloe, she didn't know who your parents were. Don't lower yourself to her level."

Only then did I let go of Melanie’s hair, letting out a soft, mocking laugh. "Oh! So she's family! I thought some lunatic had escaped from the psych ward, forgot her place, and started biting people like a rabid dog."

"But Ethan, if she's your cousin, she's a guest. Why would you make her work as a maid? Or does she just naturally love serving people?"

Melanie gnashed her teeth so hard I thought they would crack. If Ethan hadn't been holding her back, she would have lunged at me to tear me apart.

Ethan forced a terrible smile and quickly explained, "Melanie just graduated and had nowhere to live. I let her move in so she could earn some money and get used to working."

"Chloe, go sit with your parents. I’ll take Melanie to her room and teach her some manners."

Without waiting for my reply, Ethan dragged Melanie into the guest bedroom.

I pretended to be oblivious and sent my parents home first.

As we walked to their car, my dad's hands were shaking with worry. "Ethan never mentioned having a cousin. Where did she suddenly come from? And did you see how close they were? That’s not a normal cousin relationship, Chloe."

"Ever since you helped Ethan bail out his company, he’s been getting colder to you. You’ve already paid him back for saving your life years ago. Your mother and I are retired now; we don't have the power we used to. Please, don't throw your life's happiness away for a man who doesn't deserve it."

I blinked back my tears, not knowing how to comfort them.

After marrying Ethan, I trusted him completely. I never suspected a thing.

When he started pulling away, I only blamed myself and tried harder to please him. When I "got pregnant" and he suddenly became warm and loving again, I was so touched that I was ready to hand over all my assets to him.

Thank God I found out the truth before he could bleed me dry.

I rubbed my eyes, my gaze turning icy cold. "Don't worry, Dad. I won't let Ethan take another penny from us. I’m going to make him pay back every single thing he owes me, with interest."

I pulled out my phone and opened the hidden camera app. The live feed showed Ethan’s guest bedroom.

The door was locked, and the two of them were wrapped around each other, kissing passionately.

"Ethan, you said you only love me! That bitch Chloe called me a servant, and you didn't even defend me!"

Ethan pinned Melanie down onto the bed, hovering over her.

"Babe, just bear with it. Six more months at most, and I promise I’ll give you the life you deserve!"

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