Chapter 2

2

Martha came from poverty, but being poor hadn't made her kind.

In fact, she was the living embodiment of the saying that some people are just born bitter.

From the day I moved in, she used old-fashioned pack traditions to keep me under her thumb. The poorer they were, the stricter she made the rules.

I heard she used to be a hard worker, but the moment I married Kaelen, she retired into laziness.

I did every chore in that house, from the laundry to the scrubbing of the floors. After a ten-hour shift at the diner, I would come home to a mountain of housework.

Martha acted like she was the Queen Mother, constantly criticizing my cooking and my cleaning.

Even though I was frustrated, I bit my tongue for Kaelen's sake.

Without him, I might have died in those woods five years ago.

Besides, Kaelen was always so sweet to me in private.

He couldn't help much with the chores, but he always had a kind word.

He promised me that one day, he would make me the happiest woman in the world. He told me that when he won the Trials, we would move to the capital and live in luxury.

I lived for that dream.

"What are you standing there for? Get Kaelen a glass of water! You have no common sense at all!"

Martha glared at me, her eyes filled with disdain.

For Kaelen, I endured it.

I said nothing and moved to get the water.

Kaelen stood up and stopped me. "It's fine, I can get it myself."

Martha scoffed. "Kaelen, don't spoil her. This is her duty as a wife."

"Mom, Elowen does enough. I can handle a glass of water," Kaelen replied.

Martha finally shut her mouth, though she kept scowling.

After breakfast, it was time for Kaelen to leave for the capital. I adjusted his collar and then pulled out a small silk pouch I had hidden in my pocket.

Inside were two thousand dollars in crumpled bills.

I pressed the money into his hand. "This is every cent I've saved from the diner over the last few years. Take it for your travel expenses."

Martha's face darkened instantly. "What? That's all you saved in five years? Where did the rest go? You must have spent it on yourself behind our backs!"