Chapter 3

3.

I pulled out my phone and recorded every inch of the damage.

I didn't even skip the space under the bed.

I'm going to make sure they pay back every cent.

Once I finished, I sent the bill to my mother-in-law.

I told her she would pay for the damages or I would see her in court.

I slammed the door so hard my hand went numb.

I ran a hot bath and let the steam melt away the tension.

I applied a cold face mask and leaned back in the tub.

I hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time.

This time, I'm living for myself.

Before I could even get out of the tub, a loud thud shook the bathroom door.

I calmly dried off and put on a fresh outfit, ignoring my ruined suit.

My mother-in-law's voice shrieked from the hallway.

"Jane! Who gave you permission to use my bathtub? My son bought this for me! Get out!"

The door was kicked open a second later.

I found myself face-to-face with the raging old woman.

Her fake eyelashes were crooked, and her bright red lipstick was smeared.

Her wrinkled face looked like a terrifying mask under her thick, cakey foundation.

She seemed surprised that I didn't look scared.

She glared at me and raised her voice even louder.

"You've been gone for days! Is this how a wife behaves? You bring home some dirty money and think you own the place. Family values come first! You need to stay home and give Greg a son!"

As she was about to continue her rant, Greg rushed in.

He stood between us, his tall frame acting as a shield for his mother.

Looking at his face made my stomach churn with bitterness.

Ten years, and he still looked like the boy I fell in love with.

But now, all I saw was a manipulative, hateful stranger.

He made me sick.

"I told you a thousand times to take care of my mom! She had a hard life. Why are you making a big deal out of the clothes? A bag is a bag, whether it's ten dollars or ten thousand!"

"What's yours is mine, and what's mine is hers. This isn't about a bathtub, Jane. It's about your attitude. You're being disrespectful to my mother's privacy!"

He spoke with such unearned moral authority.

He gave me a look that was pure poison.

I stayed calm and looked him in the eye.

"Save that speech for the judge, Greg. Let's see if he agrees with you."

"You―"

Before Greg could strike back, a foul smell filled the room.

His mother started gagging and clutching her stomach.

With a loud groan, she collapsed onto the floor.

I raised an eyebrow.

The real show was about to begin.