CHAPTER 10
Laura
I married my late sister’s husband. Then her children tried to destroy me. After Maureen died, I stepped into her life like a ghost wearing her skin.
I became Oliver Hudson’s wife. And the mother of his children.
Since I moved in, the Hudson residence felt colder than a winter grave. No one welcomed me–not the extended family, and certainly not the triplets. Levi, Leon, Luca. They were seven years old. But the hatred in their eyes was sharp.
They never called me “Mom.” Not even as a joke.
They didn’t need words. They had other ways of speaking.
Like pouring soap on the bathroom floor so I would slip. Deleting my photos from every family frame. Locking me outside in the rain with nothing but thunder for company.
I could handle it. I’d been through worse.
Until our seventh wedding anniversary–the first one I celebrated as Oliver’s wife.
Oliver had planned a small party. Just family. The triplets were dressed neatly–suits, dresses, perfect little angels. I smiled. For a moment, I thought they had softened.
But I was wrong.
I wore a necklace–an old one that had belonged to Maureen. It was unintentional. But Levi noticed.”
thought he came over to congratulate me.
Instead, he grabbed my neck, leaving burning scratch marks.
“Just because you married Dad, you think you can wear my mom’s things? Even if you died, Hudson Funeral Home wouldn’t take your body!”
Then someone smashed cake into my face.
“You’ll never replace our mom!“}
“Go to hell, murderer!“}
I didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Didn’t cry. I just stood there–my skin frozen, my heart frozen.
Our anniversary became a public execution. But even I wasn’t sure it had ever been a special day for me and Oliver.
That night, I decided to disappear.}
But the story didn’t end there.}
Even after I vanished, they came looking for me–with tears, with apologies, with promises I never asked for.
<–>
“You can work at the shop. Or something, really. The triplets need you,” said Evelyn Hudson over lunch. “Just hold on a little longer.”
I nodded politely. But I hadn’t come to accept a job.}
“I think my work here is done,” I said with a small smile. “The triplets have grown well. You and Oliver got what you wanted. A whole family. But I was never truly part of it.”
I had given them seven years.
During that time, I always woke up early, cooked breakfast, helped with homework, cleaned scraped knees and bruised hearts. All done in silence. All done without expecting love in return.
I wasn’t even Mrs. Hudson, not officially. The marriage was a secret. Hidden like a shame.”
I never demanded to be called “Mom.” Never asked for affection. I just did what Mrs. Hudson asked of me after the funeral.
But it was time to stop.”
I returned to the house–my house, technically–even though no warmth waited for me there.
A shattered vase greeted me. Broken glass sliced my foot. I didn’t react, just stayed still and pulled out the shards until blood soaked the tiles.&
Leon stood ahead, his face blank.
“Telling Grandma won’t save you,” he said. “No one takes the murderer’s side.“”
I wasn’t shaken. I simply picked up the pieces and threw them in the trash. My steps limped toward my room.
Not our room. Oliver and I never shared one. He came only when he wanted something.
As I tended to my injured foot, Leon shouted from outside.
“I’ll make you suffer forever! You killed our mom! You deserve to die!“%
I closed my eyes. I remembered.
Today was my wedding anniversary with Oliver, the events from two hours ago replaying in my head!
Oliver tried to host a calm anniversary party. The triplets came. For a moment, I thought they might forgive me Then Levi suddenly choked me for wearing his mother’s necklace by accident.
And they threw cake at my face in front of everyone.
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Then Leon smashed the vase and cut my foot.”
And then, the worst-
I froze at a yelp from the side yard, a sound I knew too well. My heart pounded as I stepped outside, ignoring my open wound.” That moment, my heart seemed to stop beating.
Pebble–my dog. My only comfort.
His body was torn apart. Arrows like porcupine quills pierced his small chest.
Grief drowned me.
“He loved you, didn’t he?” Leon’s voice behind me. “So we figured he wouldn’t mind dying for you.“>
“You deserved it,” added Luca.
“How does it feel?” Levi asked. “To lose the only one who ever loved you?“}
I snapped.
I grabbed Levi’s arm. Dragged him to Pebble’s
“Bring him back!” I screamed.§
Proken body.”
“If you want your dog back,” Luca shouted, “then bring back our m
I reached toward him–but someone grabbed me first.
“What are you doing?” Oliver’s voice. Low. Controlled.}
His eyes sharpened as I tried to hurt one of the triplets. While I could only cry when they hurt what was mine–even me.>
He let go of my hand. Said nothing as the children walked back inside.
“Please,” he said after a long pause, “calm down. They’re just kids. I can buy another dog.“}
Another dog.
No one seemed to understand me. Not them, not even Oliver. They all treated Pebble like a replaceable mutt.
I looked at him. My voice came out cold and shaking.
“Oliver, I want a divorce.
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