3
My parents died in a car crash years ago.
Because our families were close and we had
the marriage agreement, Ethan’s dad treated
me like his own daughter.
く
Ethan’s mom was kind too, sympathetic to my
loss.
But everything changed because of Ethan.
His fake death turned me from the beloved
daughter–in–law into a pathetic, debt–ridden
outcast everyone scorned.
If it wasn’t for Arthur Ford, I probably wouldn’t
have survived.
Just as I was thinking about him, a text
popped up on my phone.
It was Arthur.
He said he was almost here, just 15 minutes
away.
<
Today was his birthday.
I didn’t want to ruin his mood, so I decided
not to mention what just happened.
I texted back: “Lily and I will meet you at the
entrance.”
Then I took a deep breath, cleaned up my
daughter’s scraped knee, and headed towards
the main entrance with her.
But guess who we ran into?
Ethan, with his arm wrapped possessively
around Chloe’s waist, kissing her cheek.
He saw me, and a mocking smile spread
across his face.
く
“Changed your mind already?”
“Good girl.”
“Since you realize you were wrong, get on
your knees and apologize to Chloe right now.”
“Maybe then I’ll consider letting this go.”
The vultures around him immediately chimed
- in.
“Yeah, kneel! Quick, before Mr. Ford and his
wife get here!”
“Give us a good show!”
Chloe put on her fake modest act.
“Ethen honey let’s just drop it ”
<
“This will only make Sarah hate me more.”
“I can handle a little upset…”
She trailed off, her eyes suddenly fixated on
the jade pendant I wore around my neck.
She gasped, covering her mouth in fake
shock.
“Sarah! That jade pendant… isn’t that the one
Mr. Ford bought at auction for a fortune?”
“The one he gave to Mrs. Ford? How do you
have it?”
The crowd gasped for real this time.
“No wayl Is she that stupid? Stealing from
<
Mrs. Ford?”
“Forget how much that pendant costs!
Everyone knows how crazy Mr. Ford is about
his wife.”
“He’ll destroy her for this.”
Ethan’s face turned purple with rage.
He roared at me.
“Sarah, you stole Mrs. Ford’s pendant? Are
you fucking insane?!”
He lunged at me, his hands closing around my
throat, squeezing hard.
“Don’t think you can get away with shit like
this here!”
<
“You can’t afford to piss off someone like
Arthur Ford!”
I struggled, clawing at his hands, finally
breaking free, gasping for air.
I shot him a look that could kill.
“I am Mrs. Ford, you idiot!”
“It’s my own damn pendant! Who the hell are
you to question me wearing it?”
Silence fell for a split second.
Then the entire place erupted in laughter.
Ethan doubled over, howling.
“You? Mrs. Ford? If you’re Mrs. Ford, then I’m
<
YOU? IVIIS. гuru? II youre ivirs. Ford, then m
the Emperor of China!”
“Stop dreaming! You’re making a fool of
yourself!”
The crowd joined in, mocking me.
“Have some shame! How dare she claim
that?”
“Look at her! Does she look like Mrs. Ford?”
“She must have finally snapped.”
“Completely lost her mind, making up crazy
lies.”
My daughter, Lily, shoved Ethan with all her
tiny might.
<
“Don’t you bully my mommy!”
Seeing this, Chloe’s two little monsters
attacked.
One ran up and bit my arm, hard.
The other pushed Lily down again.
Lily landed on the floor, her newly cleaned
knee bleeding again.
She started crying louder, shouting defiantly.
“Just wait till my Daddy gets here! He won’t
let you get away with this!”
Just then, a commotion started near the
entrance.
<
Arthur Ford appeared, dressed impeccably in
a tailored suit, radiating power and authority.
Lily screamed through her tears, “Daddy!
You’re finally here! They were hurting me and
Mommy!”
