Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Judging by the woman's belly, she must have been seven or eight months pregnant. That meant Ethan and she had been hiding their relationship from me for at least eight months.

I followed them all the way to a residential community, but was stopped at the gate by security because I didn't have a pass.

Just as I was racking my brain for a way in, a middle-aged woman approached me to chat. I casually asked her if she knew Ethan Carter and the woman who had just walked away.

Upon hearing this, she immediately laughed and said, "Young lady, I might not know other people around here, but you're asking the right person about that couple!

They live right across the hall from me—they moved here about six years ago. And let me tell you, they're still as loving as they were on day one!

Plus, they're about to have a baby soon. It's really enviable!" The woman smiled warmly, completely unaware that the "couple" she was talking about were actually a pair of shameless cheaters with no moral sense.

When I heard this, I didn't even get angry—my heart was already too numb from the pain.

Later, I found out from the woman that my mother-in-law and sister-in-law had known all along about Ethan's affair.

The reason the mistress had looked familiar was that my mother-in-law had often video-called her right in front of me without a care in the world.

Before, I'd seen how close they seemed and assumed the woman was just a relative from the countryside, so I hadn't paid much attention. But now, after hearing what the neighbor had said, it all clicked.

Ha! Not only had they not opposed Ethan's affair—they'd even helped him cover it up. There had been several times when I'd almost found out, but they'd stepped in to smooth things over.

But what I couldn't figure out was: why had Ethan been so against having a child with me, yet had gone out and had one with another woman?

If he'd really been plotting against me all this time, wouldn't having a child with me have given him more leverage? Then he could have used the child to blackmail my family, right?

I snorted in disdain, still confused. After getting Ethan and the mistress's apartment number from the neighbor, I left.

There was plenty of time ahead—I'd settle the score with them slowly.

When I finally got home, distracted and numb, I found my mother-in-law and sister-in-law standing at the door with dark faces. "Why are you back so late? Do you know we haven't eaten yet? If you're late again next time, don't bother coming back—just sleep outside!"

I let out a scoff. How ridiculous these two were! At a time like this, they were still thinking about how to boss me around and exploit me.

After laughing, I ignored them and walked straight toward the bedroom.

"Stop right there! Who do you think you are, walking away like that? Didn't your parents teach you to respect your elders? You're so ill-mannered!"

When my mother-in-law saw that I was ignoring her, she flew into a rage. She even stepped forward, grabbed my ear, and started yelling at me.

My sister-in-law, instead of trying to calm things down, stood by and egged her mother on, eager to stir up more trouble.

My mother-in-law was from the countryside—she might not have had much else going for her, but she was strong. When she pinched my thin arm, the skin there turned purple almost immediately. The pain made me gasp.

I'd had enough of these two terrible people!

"Are you two out of your minds?" I pushed my mother-in-law hard to the ground and yelled back at her.

"I'll come home whenever I want—what's it to you?

And don't you two have hands and feet of your own? Do you want me to feed you too after cooking?" I'd been holding back so much anger, and now that they'd walked right into my crosshairs, they had no one to blame but themselves!

Caught off guard by my push, my mother-in-law fell to the floor in a clumsy, embarrassing heap.

My sister-in-law, upon hearing my retort, stood there stunned for a full twenty seconds.

They never would have thought that I—who had always been so easy to push around—would dare to talk back, would dare to resist!

"Have you forgotten your place, Nora Bennett? Say that again—do you really think I won't tell my son to divorce you?"

"And who gave you the guts to push me? Just wait—we'll see how my son punishes you when he gets back!"

My mother-in-law pulled my sister-in-law back behind her, nodded at her, and then turned to attack me.

In the past, her words would have hurt me deeply.

But now, I didn't love Ethan Carter anymore.

Which meant: the moment I came to my senses was the moment they had to get out of my life.

Before, I'd put up with this shrew and her ill-mannered daughter out of consideration for Ethan. But now? They meant nothing to me.

"Dear mother-in-law, let's get one thing straight: this house is in my parents' name—not your son Ethan Carter's!

I want you to take your daughter and get out of my house—right now, immediately!

I'll give you one hour to pack your things. If I still see you in my house after that hour is up, I'll call the police and the property management to have you removed!" My tone was firm and unyielding.

At that moment, I was truly grateful for my dad's foresight. I remembered that when he'd given us this house, we'd had a huge fight.

The reason? I'd offered to have Ethan's name added to the property deed of the house my parents had bought for me—but both my parents had firmly opposed it.

We'd argued about it several times, but nothing had changed. When I saw how determined my parents were not to back down, I'd had no choice but to give in and let the house be put in my name.

But then my parents had changed their minds again. They'd said, "You can live in the house, but it has to stay in our names."

Back then, I'd hated my parents for it. I'd thought they were just as calculating as Ethan had claimed—and that they weren't even good parents.

It wasn't until now that I finally understood their good intentions.

Parents always plan for their children's future. If it hadn't been for my parents' foresight, I would have been in a terrible mess right now! I would have been the one thrown out of this house and left homeless.