Chapter 3

I'd barely reached the property-management office when Paulette showed up right behind me, dragging Nat along, and dropped onto the floor wailing.

"Everybody, you be the judge! This woman couldn't hold on to her own baby, then blamed my son for it, threatened to kill herself if she didn't get her divorce. And my son, for the sake of what they once had, gave her the house."

"All I did was bring my younger son to stay a few days, put a little life back in the place, and what do I get? She won't even be grateful. No, she calls the police to throw me out."

"I was her mother-in-law for two years! I cooked for her, I washed her clothes. Even if I didn't earn any thanks, I put in the work. And the moment she divorces my son, I'm her enemy."

"Why is my life so bitter? I really don't want to live anymore."

The office staff hurried over, some reaching to help her up, others rushing to soothe her.

"Come on, get up. Nothing's worth carrying on like this."

"That's right. You were family once. Just talk it out and it'll all work out."

"She lost her baby, so of course she's a little on edge. Doing this only sets her off more."

"All right, all right. You were her mother-in-law for two years, you're the elder here. Don't stoop to her level. Whatever it is, go home and talk it through."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Paulette had moved into the house I bought, dragged Nat in with her, and somehow, in their mouths, I was the one in the wrong.

I stared at these people, cold enough to make my skin crawl.

"I only have one question. Who opened that door for her without my permission?"

The staff glanced at each other, and then a woman in her twenties, the badge on her chest reading Iris Ball, spoke up.

"I did."

I fixed my eyes on her.

"And who gave you the right to open it?"

But Iris was angrier than I was. She jabbed a finger toward Paulette and Nat and rounded on me.

"Look at them. One's over sixty, the other's got a mental disability. Do you have any idea how hard their lives are?"

"Even a stranger would feel some pity. And these two used to be your mother-in-law and your brother-in-law."

I laughed, furious.

"If you've got so much heart, why don't you take them home to live with you?"

"You—"

Iris glared at me, and the other staff looked at me with the same disgust.

I let out a short laugh, ran my eyes over Paulette, Nat, and Iris, said nothing, and turned to leave.

If they had no shame, then I'd see them in court.

They really thought a little sit-down on the floor and some fake wailing put them in the right.

I drove to the home of my best friend, a lawyer, told her the whole story, and said,

"Help me get the paperwork and the complaint ready."

She nodded, hesitated, then asked, "Do you want to call Nathaniel? I heard he left on a business trip right after the divorce. He might not even know about this."

Hearing those two words, Nathaniel, I clenched my fist hard.

If it weren't for him, I would never have lost my baby.

After I married Nathaniel, I was good to Paulette, I never looked down on Nat for being slow, all so we could be one peaceful family.

I never imagined my honest heart would buy me his betrayal, and hand Paulette the leverage to keep pushing.

This time, I wasn't backing down.