My brother-in-law finally lost it and pointed straight at my face, hurling curses like knives.
The entire house erupted into chaos, shouting, finger-pointing, accusations flying in every direction.
I pretended not to hear a thing and calmly asked my mother-in-law again, “You know better than anyone the situation with this house, don’t you?”
Marlon’s expression darkened the moment I questioned his mother.
He dragged me aside, voice low but cold, “Where’s the house money? Did you even sell it? Or are you just refusing to move into the villa?”
I looked him in the eye. “I sold it. That’s all there was. If you want to know more, ask your mom.”
“Enough with the lies. You just don’t want to give us the money!”
Suddenly, my brother-in-law flung the bank card at me.
The edge sliced across my right cheek, and warm blood began to drip down my face.
My mother-in-law panicked. She hurried over with a bandage, pushing her son aside and scolding him, “She’s your sister-in-law! How could you treat her like that?!”
“Mom, after everything she’s done to this family, and you’re still on her side?!”
My brother-in-law stared at his mother in disbelief.
So did his wife. Even Marlon couldn’t understand her sudden change.
He turned to me with suspicion in his eyes.
“What kind of spell did you cast on Mom? Why is she suddenly protecting you?”
I pressed a tissue against the wound on my cheek, blood still trailing down.
And yet, Marlon, my husband, didn’t even flinch.
Not a word of concern. Not a glance at the injury.
Instead, he turned to accuse me.
Three years of marriage, and this was what it came to.
Clearly, I had misjudged from the very beginning.
Seeing I didn’t respond, Marlon stepped closer, his tone colder.
“Did you threaten my mom with something?”
“You’d better not have, or there’ll be consequences.”
I looked at him quietly and asked, “What consequences?”
Oddly enough, I felt nothing.
Not even anger.
Maybe I had already given up on him a long time ago. This was just the final nail in the coffin.
Marlon glared at me, fury rising in his eyes like he was ready to rip me apart.
Maybe I had embarrassed him. Marlon pointed at me and snapped, “I’ve been too tolerant with you, haven’t I?”
“I used to stay out of your business, let you do whatever you wanted, and now look at you, completely out of line!”
I stared at him, this man with fury twisting his face.
Was this really my husband?
So it was true, people did change after marriage.
His mother cut in, voice sharp, “How can you speak to your wife like that? You’re the one who’s out of line!”
She handed me a bandage and tried to help, but I took it calmly and said, “Thanks.”
She didn’t press.
But Marlon snatched the bandage out of my hand, barking, “Who do you think you’re talking to? That’s my mom, your mom too!”
“Enough, Marlon. Audrey’s just upset right now. It’s understandable.”
“You understand her, but does she understand you? She just thinks you’re easy to manipulate.”
In his mind, I had already turned his mother against him.
That’s why I dared to act this boldly.
I gave a bitter smile and looked at her. “Mom, be honest. Have I ever mistreated you?”
I expected her to deny it without hesitation.
But to my surprise, she said nothing. Her head lowered, lips sealed.
My chest tightened. Just as I was about to speak again, Marlon cut in sharply, “Mom’s silence says it all. What more do you want?”
His sister chimed in with a sneer, “See? Everyone saw that. Sis-in-law’s been forcing Mom all along!”
“Mom, why aren’t you saying anything?”
Still, she remained silent.
I let out a soft, bitter laugh, one, then two.
That was the moment I finally saw them all for who they truly were.
