Chapter 4: The Notebook Of Cruel Rules
I stared at the notebook in my hands.
For a few seconds, I couldn’t understand what I was seeing.
My mother’s handwriting covered every page.
Neat.
Careful.
Organized.
Like she had been planning a business project instead of trying to control my wife.
The first page had Emily’s name written at the top.
Underneath it was a list.
*“Things Emily needs to learn.””*
My stomach twisted.
I turned the page.
*Wake up at 5:30 AM. No unnecessary naps. No complaining about pain. Baby care is important, but household duties come first. A wife must prove she deserves respect.*
My hands started shaking.
“James?””
Emily’s voice pulled me back.
She was standing beside me, holding Lily against her chest.
“What is it?””
I didn’t answer.
I just handed her the notebook.
Her face changed as she read.
At first, she looked confused.
Then hurt.
Then something worse.
Recognition.
“You knew about this?”” I asked.
She looked at me quickly.
“No.””
“Emily.””
“I swear, James. I didn’t know she was writing things down.””
She flipped through more pages.
Her fingers trembled.
“I thought she was just angry.””
I looked at her.
“What do you mean?””
Emily swallowed.
“She told me every new mother had to be tested.””
My chest tightened.
“Tested?””
Emily nodded slowly.
“The first day we came home from the hospital, she took Lily from my arms and told me I was becoming too dependent on the baby.””
I felt my jaw clench.
“She said that?””
Emily looked down.
“She said if I wanted to be a good wife, I needed to prove I could handle everything.””
I looked back at the notebook.
There were more notes.
More dates.
More cruel little reminders.
*“Day 3: Emily cried when corrected. Too emotional.””*
*“Day 6: Still holding baby too much.””*
*“Day 8: Must increase responsibilities.””*
I felt sick.
My mother had been documenting my wife’s suffering.
Like it was progress.
Like Emily was a problem to fix.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”” I asked softly.
Emily’s eyes filled with tears.
“Because I thought you would be angry.””
“I am angry.””
She flinched.
“Not at you.””
I stepped closer.
“Emily, why would you think I’d be angry at you?””
She looked away.
“Because your mother kept saying I was going to destroy your relationship with her.””
That sentence hurt.
Because I knew exactly what my mother was doing.
She was creating fear.
Making Emily feel alone.
Making her believe asking for help would make her the villain.
I took Emily’s hand carefully.
The same hand my mother had stepped on.
“You should never have been alone in this.””
A tear rolled down her cheek.
“I just wanted everyone to get along.””
I looked at Lily sleeping peacefully.
Our daughter had entered this world only ten days ago.
And instead of being surrounded by love, her mother had been forced to beg for permission to rest.
My phone suddenly buzzed.
A message.
From my mother.
*We need to talk privately. Do not let Emily influence you.*
I stared at the screen.
Then another message appeared.
*Remember who raised you.*
I locked the phone.
Emily noticed.
“What did she say?””
I looked at my wife.
“She wants me to meet her.””
“Are you going?””
I thought about it.
A part of me still wanted an explanation.
A reason.
Something that could make this nightmare make sense.
But then I looked at the notebook.
At the rules.
At my wife’s injured hand.
“Yes,” I said.
“I’m going to talk to her.””
Emily’s expression became worried.
“James, please be careful.””
I kissed her forehead.
“I will.””
But before I left, I looked at the notebook one more time.
Because something bothered me.
There was one page I hadn’t read.
A page folded over at the back.
A page my mother had hidden.
When I opened it, I saw one sentence written in bold.
*“The final step will happen when James chooses me over her.””*
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And beneath it was a date.
Tomorrow.
