Milana, ever the actress, suddenly slipped into the role of the innocent, “It’s fine, Clyde. Maeve might just be in a bad mood. I don’t mind, but I can’t stand hearing people talk about Aunt like that.”
My mother-in-law, once sharp and venomous, now appeared the picture of hurt, as if deeply wounded by her child, “I never thought that Maeve would see me this way.”
She quietly wiped away imaginary tears.
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Clyde’s face darkened further. “Maeve, what’s your problem? Apologize now.”
I threw my head back and laughed until my sides ached. “Why should I apologize? The fact that I didn’t make you kneel and beg for forgiveness is already generous. And now you’re all playing this act?”
"Fireworks for the mistress on our anniversary, photos of you and your lover sharing a meal sent straight to my phone and then, the audacity of the mistress barging into my home in the middle of the night, stepping on my head as if she were the legitimate wife."
"Fireworks for the mistress is 'romantic,' but when I buy a few clothes and dress up, I’m labeled as wasteful, extravagant and get slapped for it. And you, my husband, don’t even care about the truth, demanding that I apologize instead."
I fixed my gaze on him, "Clyde, who exactly owes an apology here?"
For the first time, I saw Clyde taken aback, frozen by the strength of my words.
"I’m speaking nothing but the truth. If there’s a single lie in my words, feel free to contradict me at any time," I added, my voice unwavering.
Clyde looked at me, his expression torn, "What’s happened to you? You never used to be like this."
I scoffed, "Used to be? You mean the version of me that stayed quiet while being wronged, when you stayed away for days, leaving me in silence? The one who fell ill yet had to do all the dirty, exhausting work, like a helpless target, Maeve, the pushover?"
At that, Clyde was struck speechless.
My mother-in-law’s voice sliced through the tension, "You’re the one who insisted on marrying Clyde, so all the suffering you’ve endured, you brought it upon yourself!"
Brought it upon myself?
Back then, everyone had believed I was the mistress who seduced Clyde, the one who ruined the relationship between him and Milana. But that couldn’t have been farther from the truth.
The first time I met Clyde was in a dimly lit bar where I worked as a waitress to pay for my tuition.
That night, a customer harassed me, insisting that I join him for drinks. It was Clyde who stepped in, saving me from that man. Afterward, he told me I had the kind of looks he liked and that he wanted to pursue me.
I turned him down.
But from that day forward, he came to the bar every night, offering his help, solving my problems and showering me with care as no one had ever done before.
No one had ever protected me like that. And after a month of his relentless pursuit, I finally agreed to be with him.
During that time, Clyde treated me like I was the center of his world and for a while, I believed it was true. I, Maeve, unknowingly fell deeper into his web, convinced that his affection was real.
When I married Clyde and faced the struggles that followed, I told myself there had to be a reason to endure.
But then, one day, I overheard a conversation between Clyde and his friends that shattered everything.
