Chapter 1

1

My mother-in-law seems to have a selective hearing problem.

My husband mentioned he wanted shrimp, and for an entire month, every single meal she cooked featured shrimp.

My sister-in-law said she wanted potatoes, and for a week straight, we had potatoes in every dish.

But when I told her I was severely allergic to peanuts, she went out and stocked a hundred jars of peanut butter in the pantry and the fridge.

That was the moment I realized she didn't have a hearing problem. She just chose to ignore me.

I used to feel sorry for her. After my father-in-law passed away, she was all alone in a remote, rural town with terrible healthcare and no one to look after her.

My husband, Landon, kept dropping hints about how hard his mother's life was. I wasn't a selfish person, so I agreed to let her move into our house in the city.

In the beginning, Martha was great. she helped with the chores and kept the house spotless.

Then, my sister-in-law, Sienna, got a divorce and moved in with us too.

"Mom, I'd love some grilled shrimp, but it's a shame Willa is allergic to shellfish," Landon remarked one evening while we were all gathered around the TV.

I knew he wasn't demanding shrimp. He was just expressing a passing craving to his mother.

I caught Martha glancing at me, and for a second, I thought I saw a flash of resentment in her eyes, as if I were the villain for preventing her son from eating what he wanted.

I brushed it off. Martha had been here for three months and treated me well, even doing my laundry. I figured I was just overthinking it.

"Oh, it's no trouble at all. I'll just make two separate portions tomorrow. It's rare for you to ask for something specific," Martha said with a smile.

Landon's eyes lit up. He knew about my allergy, and ever since we started dating, he had stopped eating shellfish entirely for my safety.

I didn't object. We were both busy, and usually, we were too lazy to cook two different meals.

Still, I didn't want to take any risks. I made sure to remind her.

"Martha, please make sure to wash your hands thoroughly. And please don't use the same pans for my food if you've cooked shrimp in them."

I wasn't trying to be difficult. My allergy was life-threatening.

Martha nodded and smiled warmly. "I know, dear. Don't you worry."

The next day, I went to work feeling totally at ease.

When I got home that evening, the dining table was covered in different shrimp dishes. The only thing I could eat was a single bowl of boiled cabbage.

I felt a pang of annoyance. Looking at Landon and Sienna, they were both stuffing their faces.

Landon didn't even seem to notice that I only had a bowl of plain greens.

I had been working late and was starving, but I didn't want to complain after Martha had spent all afternoon in the kitchen. I suppressed my frustration and took a bite of the cabbage.

The moment it hit my tongue, something felt wrong. My throat started to itch instantly.

"Martha, did you use the same pot to boil this cabbage that you used for the shrimp?" I asked, dropping my fork.

Martha didn't even look up from her plate. She was busy peeling a prawn, her hands covered in juice.

"Running two burners at once is a waste of gas. Besides, I'm an old woman. Washing two sets of pots is exhausting. You don't do the housework, so you wouldn't understand," she mumbled.

She made it sound like she was the victim of my laziness.

"If you're going to be so picky, cook for yourself. Stop bossing my mom around," Sienna snapped, her mouth full of food.

Landon stayed silent, his head down as he ate. Maybe he felt the tension, but he didn't want to deal with it.

"Just deal with it for tonight. It's not like she gave you actual shrimp. You'll be fine. Don't make such a big deal out of nothing," Landon said without looking up.

Then he turned to Martha. "Mom, can you make spicy garlic shrimp tomorrow?"

Martha nodded immediately, her face beaming.

Oh, I see. Martha didn't have a hearing problem. She just didn't care if I lived or died.