The long road doesn’t follow the old path.
Ever since my brother–in–law kicked the
bucket, my husband, Ethan, decided to take
his widow, Brenda, and her bratty daughter,
Tiffany, into our home.
He swore up and down that I, Chloe, and our
daughter, Paisley, were his everything, that he
didn’t feel anything for Brenda and Tiffany,
just a sense of obligation he was paying off
with cold, hard cash.
Then the riots hit Chicago. Ethan cashed in all
our savings, every last heirloom, and dragged
Brenda and Tiffany off to some backwater
town in Wisconsin.
I begged him to take Paisley with them, but
he gave me that infuriatingly gentle look and
said,
“The trip will be rough, Chloe. I can’t bear the
thought of you and Paisley suffering ”
<
Barely had he left than some thugs snatched
Paisley right off the street. They strung her up
on the gate for three days to send a
message.
I crawled on my knees, begging for her life,
my forehead cracked and bleeding, but it was
no use.
Finally, I managed to get word to Ethan, and
he rushed back to the city.
But instead of listening to my nightmare, he
shoved a damn divorce decree in my face.
“Gossip travels fast in small towns. People
are already whispering about Brenda and
Tiffany. Don’t worry, once things calm down,
I’ll come back for you.”
He left me to rot in the city, and I died a
miserable death at the hands of those same
thugs.
Then I woke up. I was back in time, the day
he was supposed to leave with Brenda.
く
- 1.
“Chloe, the journey will be grueling. I don’t
want you and Paisley to suffer. It’s best if you
stay here in Chicago.”
Those familiar words ripped open all the old
wounds.
I stared at Ethan, his voice dripping with false
concern as he all but tossed Paisley off the
wagon.
Last time, I’d fallen for his act, stayed in the
city with Paisley, waiting for him to come
back.
But he came back spouting nothing but
excuses for Brenda, and that’s when the
penny finally dropped.
His heart belonged to Brenda and her spawn.
This time, hell no, I wasn’t letting Paisley die
like that.
Paisley, bless her heart, was already bawling.
I pulled her behind me, trying to sound sweet
as honey as I told Ethan,
“Okay, Ethan, Paisley and I will stay.”
He gave me a smile, all fake and satisfied.
“I knew you’d understand, Chloe. It’s a long,
hard trip. No need to put Paisley through
that…”
I cut him off before he could lay it on any
thicker.
“But you’ve taken all the money. Paisley and I
won’t be able to survive without some of it.
You need to leave half.”
Brenda and Tiffany practically leaped out of
the wagon, putting on their best pathetic
faces.
“Chloe, the house in Wisconsin needs repairs.
You’re going to leave us to freeze to death?”
Brenda whined.
Tiffany, the spoiled little witch, clutched the
purse like her life depended on it.
“Daddy said that money was for my kite! If
you take it, Daddy will be so mad!”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
After Ethan took Brenda and Tiffany in, he
acted like he was trying to be fair, saying he
couldn’t give them his heart but he could
make it up to them with stuff.
Over the years, every last dollar had gone to
them.
Tiffany dressed like a goddamn princess,
while my Paisley was stuck in hand–me-
downs.
I didn’t hold back.
“Most of that cash is my dowry! By rights,
you should be leaving all of it behind!”
Brenda started sobbing, giving Ethan the
puppy–dog eyes.
“It’s okay, Ethan. Just give Chloe the money.
Tiffany and I will be fine, even if we have to
rough it…”
Ethan’s face was thunder. He shot me a look
that could kill and hissed,
“Chloe, Brenda is your sister–in–law. Is this
how you treat your elders?!”
“I thought you were understanding, that you’d
see my side. Guess you’re just like all those
other materialistic broads in this city!”
Every word, every hateful glance, tore me
apart.
Brenda and Tiffany had been bleeding me dry
for years, and he had the nerve to blame me.
I fought back the tears and stood my ground.
“I don’t care about any of that. Paisley and I
get half the money.”
He glared at me, then threw the damn purse
down at my feet.
The lock on the purse hit Paisley in the head,
but he didn’t even flinch.
“Take it!”
The wagon rumbled away.
Paisley fell, scrambled to her feet, and ran
<
after the wagon, crying,
“Daddy! Why won’t you take Mommy and me?
We want to go to Wisconsin with you!”
My heart twisted. I hugged her tight, watching
the wagon disappear into the distance.
“Paisley,” I said, my voice rough, “from now
on… he’s not your daddy anymore.”
