Chapter 2

2

The three children crowded around Suri, calling her "Mom" and referring to me as "Ex-Mom."

Suri was finally satisfied. She even started introduced herself to the neighbors as Mrs. Lennox.

It was hilarious. Did she really think being Mrs. Lennox was an easy job?

Liam's parents were in poor health and extremely picky. In the morning, they wanted slow-cooked oatmeal paired with specific gourmet pickles. Lunch had to be at least four dishes and a soup. In the evening, they needed someone to walk them.

Liam never touched a single chore. I used to do it all.

Now, I refused.

At seven in the morning, my in-laws woke up and saw that breakfast wasn't ready. They shouted for me.

"Sienna, what is wrong with you? Why isn't breakfast on the table yet?"

I shook my head. "Mr. and Mrs. Lennox, I am no longer your daughter-in-law. How could a lowly country woman like me be worthy of cooking for prestigious retired teachers like you?"

Their faces hardened. They glared at me and snapped, "Then what are we supposed to eat?"

"Weren't you so happy with the new daughter-in-law? Let her take care of you. I don't have the time."

Suri went to the kitchen reluctantly. She ended up burning the oatmeal. My in-laws didn't want to hurt her feelings, so they forced themselves to eat a bowl.

Both of them ended up throwing up everywhere.

Suri looked at the mess on the floor and tried to clean it while gagging. Then, my mother-in-law vomited right onto Suri's shoes.

At noon, my mother-in-law handed Suri a grocery list and a menu.

Suri opened it and read, "Honey-glazed ribs, steamed pork, stir-fried greens, and shrimp soup. Requirement: low salt, perfect portions, total cost must not exceed five dollars."

Suri slammed the paper down in anger. She sat on the sofa and didn't say a word.

The in-laws nagged her several times, but she ignored them.

Because of this, they missed lunch entirely.

Furious, they called Liam at his office.

"Son, we are old! Your wife is starving us! You have to do something!"

"She dares to starve you? She's out of control! Put her on the phone, I'm going to give her a piece of my mind!"

There was a moment of awkward silence. My mother-in-law cleared her throat. "Um... we are talking about Suri, not the old one..."

Silence followed on the other end.

After a long while, Liam spoke. "Fine. I'll talk to her when I get home. Dad, Mom, just go to a restaurant for now."

The in-laws hung up, fuming.

I enjoyed the show from the sidelines. I let them argue as much as they wanted. I just ate a plain piece of bread and focused entirely on my books.

This time, I was going to make it to university.

When Liam got home, Suri ran into his arms like a wounded bird, sobbing.

Liam started to comfort her, but then he saw his parents glaring at them.

He quickly shut his mouth.

"What's for dinner?" my father-in-law barked. "We haven't eaten all day!"

Liam kept winking at Suri to go to the kitchen, but she turned her head and acted like she didn't see him.

Liam didn't have the heart to force her. Instead, he pounded on my door, yelling at me to come out and cook.

I ignored him. He got angrier, and the banging got louder.

"Even if we're getting a divorce, you should finish your duties! What is this attitude?"

His words were so shameless I could barely stand to hear them.

I swung the door open, nearly making Liam trip.

"Cooking? Sure, I can do that."

"But I have conditions."

I wanted money.

I demanded that every chore I did be charged at the market rate for a professional maid.

"Cooking breakfast is five dollars. A full lunch is fifteen. Washing a shirt is two dollars. Grocery shopping is ten..."

The veins on Liam's forehead were bulging.

"My monthly salary is barely enough! At this rate, you'll take every cent I have. I still need to buy scotch, books, and eat out. How am I supposed to live?"

I shrugged. "Not my problem."

"Since true love is so powerful, I'm sure Miss Rivers won't let her lover struggle financially, right?"

Suri's face turned red as she tried to back away. "Why are you bringing me into this?"

Liam looked at Suri, and for the first time, there was a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.

Of course. Suri wasn't an idiot. Years ago, when Liam was first sent to the farm, she broke up with him immediately.

In this world, no one besides me was ever stupid enough to spend their own money and labor to serve Liam and his family.

Unfortunately for them, I was no longer that fool.

I pressed him. "Do you agree or not? If you don't decide now, the price doubles tomorrow."