No one said anything when my stepmother slapped me in front of the other family members. Even out of the corner of my eye, I could see Shirley secretly grinning happily at me.
I just smiled bitterly realizing this. Now I realize that all this time I could only rely on myself in this house.
"What do you mean by slapping me like this, Auntie?" I gently rubbed the side of my lip, which was torn again, and stared at my stepmother with a cold gaze.
From the beginning, my stepmother didn't like me when she and Shirley entered my family. I didn't show my interest in them either, even though I was always envious of Shirley, who was so dear to my stepmother.
"You still dare to ask me questions?" My stepmother glared at me, her hand raised again to land another slap in my face.
I held her hand and threw it away forcefully. I wouldn't let these bastards treat me like that again. Even though I am powerless at the moment, I don't want to be seen as weak in front of them anymore.
My father, who was surprised by my behavior, also began to get up and help my stepmother. I had guessed that no one in this family thought about me.
In fact, Melvin was making out with Shirley right in front of me. Although Melvin was still looking at me with a slight sense of guilt.
Shirley hugged Melvin tightly and put her arms around Melvin's arms while resting her head on Melvin's chest.
My heart ached when I saw that scene, even though my parents didn't scold them even though I was Melvin's wife, not Shirley!
"Eleanore! Why are you being so rude to your stepmother, hurry up and apologize to her." Dad stared at me sharply and his voice sounded like an order that I had to do.
"Darling, I'm fine. Eleanore doesn't need to apologize to me, it's just that I can't let what she did to Shirley slide!" At a glance, I could see the sly gaze of my stepmother.
Ah! It turns out that this was my stepmother's goal. She intended to drag my father into this matter so that I couldn't do anything.
After hearing her mother's words, Shirley got up from her position and pulled Melvin with her.
"It's true, Dad! Eleanore tried to kill me when we were trapped in the fire," Shirley replied, immediately putting on an innocent and innocent face, seeking sympathy from my father.
"What?!" My father looked shocked when he heard Shirley's words. He even looked at me with a disappointed look.
"It's not like that-"
My words stopped when I heard Shirley start crying with her crocodile tears; even Melvin, who was next to her, now looked worried.
"I know that I am not your blood relative. But how could you try to kill me to save yourself, Eleanore?" Shirley said so, sobbing miserably.
Melvin and my stepmother, who were next to Shirley, tried to calm Shirley down by saying words of love and affection to her.
In the corner of my heart, I felt envious of Shirley because I had never received that love since my mother left this house.
In fact, my husband, Melvin, who was supposed to share his love and affection with me, cared more about Shirley and ignored me completely.
"Eleanore, did you really do that to Shirley?" Dad asked me, but I felt cornered by his question.
Moreover, my father no longer looked at me warmly. There was only a cold gaze that pierced my heart.
"Dad, I didn't do it! Shirley was-"
"Dad, if you don't believe me, you can ask Melvin who came to save us." Shirley quickly cut me off.
I knew that Shirley would not let Dad know what really happened because she was the one who tried to kill me in the fire.
"That's right, father-in-law. I found Shirley injured and almost burned to death when I came to save her," Melvin replied to Shirley's statement.
At that moment, I stared at Melvin in disbelief; how could Melvin choose to defend Shirley over me, his wife?
I stared at Melvin in disappointment; it seemed like his love for me was completely gone.
It seemed like my last hope for Melvin was destroyed entirely. There was nothing more I could defend for Melvin at this point.
"Honey, you heard it yourself! Eleanore really intends to kill Shirley!" My stepmother also started to provoke my father.
Now, I could feel everyone in the room staring at me with a look of contempt. They had believed Shirley and all the lies she had told about me.
I laughed bitterly when I realized that I no longer had a place in this family, that they no longer needed me.
"You don't even intend to give me time to explain. In that case, it's up to me." I waved my hand, not caring, then walked to my room on the second floor.
My steps stopped when I was about to leave the living room. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that it was Melvin who was holding my hand.
"What else do you want?" My gaze for him was no longer gentle; my feelings for Melvin were dead at this stage.
Melvin looked stunned when he saw how I was looking at him now. However, even so, Melvin did not ignore it and still said something that made my heart hurt even more.
"You have to apologize to Shirley. Your actions have been outrageous," Melvin said seriously.
"What did you say? I have to apologize to her? Come on! "I wrenched Melvin's grip until it came off. I gave him a toothy smile and walked away.
"Eleanore! Apologize now while I'm still talking to you nicely!" Melvin started to get angry when I ignored him.
