Chapter 1
The moment I walked through the front door, I heard my five-year-old son scream, “Mommy, please make Grandma stop!”
I dropped my work bag and ran into the living room.
My son, Noah, was on his knees at my mother-in-law Evelyn’s feet, rubbing her ankles with both tiny hands.
His cheeks were wet with tears.
Evelyn leaned back in my armchair like nothing was wrong.
“What are you doing?” I shouted.
She barely looked at me.
“Teaching him respect.”
Noah saw me and immediately tried to stand.
“Mommy!”
Before he could reach me, Evelyn grabbed his shoulder and forced him back down.
“Did I say you could get up?”
“Get your hands off my son!”
I rushed toward them.
Then Noah put one hand on the floor to steady himself.
Evelyn lifted her foot.
And stepped directly onto his little hand.
Noah screamed so loudly my blood went cold.
“MOMMY!”
I grabbed Evelyn by the arm and shoved her foot away.
Noah crawled into me, sobbing and clutching his fingers against his chest.
“What is WRONG with you?” I screamed.
Evelyn stood up and pointed at me.
“Don’t you dare disrespect me in my son’s house.”
“This is MY child.”
“He’s spoiled because of you.”
She reached for Noah again.
I slapped her hand away.
That was when Evelyn shoved me hard in the chest.
I stumbled into the coffee table.
Noah screamed my name.
I got back up and pushed Evelyn away from him.
She grabbed my hair.
Within seconds, we were fighting in the middle of the living room while Noah cried behind the couch.
“Stay away from my son!” I yelled.
Then the front door suddenly opened.
My husband Daniel walked inside.
He froze when he saw his mother gripping my hair and Noah crying on the floor.
“Mom?” he whispered.
I thought he was finally going to see what she had done.
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But Evelyn released me, pointed straight at Noah, and said something that made Daniel’s face turn white.
“Ask your wife why that boy was really being punished.”
