Chapter 1
Ten days after giving birth, my mother-in-law forced me to kneel on the kitchen floor and scrub it while my stitches still hurt—then threw the filthy rag in my face when I begged her to stop.
My baby was sleeping in the next room.
I was still bleeding.
Every time I bent forward, pain shot through my body.
But Linda stood over me with her arms crossed.
“You live in my son’s house,” she said. “You don’t get to become lazy just because you had a baby.”
“Please,” I whispered. “The doctor told me to rest.”
She kicked the bucket closer.
“My mother had four children and was cooking the next morning.”
I tried to stand.
My legs shook so badly I grabbed the counter.
Linda shoved the mop back toward me.
“The floor isn’t finished.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“Please, Linda. I can’t do this anymore.”
She picked up the dirty rag from the water.
Then she threw it straight into my face.
Cold gray water ran down my cheek.
“Stop acting pathetic.”
At that exact moment, the front door opened.
“Rachel?”
My husband Ethan’s voice came from the hallway.
Linda froze.
Ethan walked into the kitchen carrying his work bag.
He looked at me on my knees.
Then at the dirty rag lying beside me.
Then at the bucket.
“What the hell is going on?”
Linda immediately smiled.
“Your wife was cleaning.”
“I asked what happened.”
I tried to wipe my face.
“It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not.”
Ethan dropped his bag.
“Mom, why is Rachel on the floor?”
Linda rolled her eyes.
“Because somebody has to keep this house clean.”
“She gave birth ten days ago!”
“So?”
Ethan stared at her like he didn’t recognize her.
“You made my wife scrub floors?”
Linda stepped closer.
“Don’t raise your voice at me in the house I helped you buy.”
“I don’t care about the house!”
The baby suddenly started crying upstairs.
I tried to get up.
Pain ripped through my stomach, and I collapsed against the cabinet.
Ethan caught me.
His face changed instantly.
“Rachel, are you bleeding?”
Linda sighed.
“She’s always dramatic.”
Ethan turned toward his mother.
“Get out.”
Linda’s mouth fell open.
“You’re throwing your own mother out because of her?”
“I said get out.”
Linda grabbed her purse.
But before leaving, she stopped at the doorway and smiled at me.
“Fine.”
Then she looked at Ethan.
“But before you defend your precious wife, maybe you should ask her why the baby’s hospital paperwork has another man’s name on it.”
May you like
Ethan slowly turned toward me.
And I realized Linda had found the one document I had been hiding.
