One year after getting married, my mother-in-law unexpectedly became pregnant. My husband asked me to quit my job and take care of her daily needs. For two years, I took care of my mother-in-law and made her feel lively and healthy, yet they began to complain that I was lazy and only knew how to spend money. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to before my mother-in-law got pregnant. This time, I vowed that I wouldn't become a free nanny and give up my own career for anyone.
The second year after I quit my job to care for my mother-in-law Ruby, the whole family started to look down on me.
I carried vegetables I had carefully picked out at the market, my fingers red from the cold.
But nobody noticed.
To them, I was just a freeloader living off their generosity.
The family sat around the heater, chatting warmly in a way they never did with me.
When I walked in, my sister-in-law Joanna started her usual sarcasm. "Wow, half an hour to buy vegetables? Are you trying to starve us?"
"Sorry, the market's far, and I didn't have extra money for a ride, so it took a while." I explained calmly.
Ruby overheard and got furious. "Christine, are you complaining we don't give you money to spend? My son works hard day and night to provide, and you just sit here enjoying it without gratitude. Go look around and see which wife has it as easy as you. What more could you want? Are you here to take care of me, or am I taking care of you?"
Since I quit my job, Ruby had been sharp but never this harsh.
For a moment, I stood there, unsure what to do.
My father-in-law Max glared at me with contempt. "Why are you just standing there like an idiot? Hurry up and cook."
Tears were welling up in my eyes.
Still, I spent over an hour preparing five dishes and a soup.
To save electricity, they wouldn't let me use the range hood, so I had to open the windows.
The freezing wind outside chilled my heart.
My hands trembled as I set the dishes on the table, accidentally spilling a few drops of oil on the cloth.
Ruby immediately shouted. "I just changed this tablecloth, and you've already ruined it. Go wash it now by hand. The machine won't get it clean."
I looked at the messy oil stains and said back. "This tablecloth hasn't been changed in a year. Handwashing won't get it clean."
Ruby's eyes widened. "Christine, are you saying I'm making things hard for you? Someone, come judge this."
She collapsed on the floor, pointing at me and wailing. "If you hadn't been married to my son so long without a child, why would I, at my age, suffer through pregnancy? Now my daughter-in-law mocks me daily. I get it. I'm old, just a burden. I might as well die."
She rushed to the window, trying to jump.
Everyone hurried to stop her.
I watched the drama unfold, feeling exhausted.
Since I quit to care for Ruby, she had pulled stunts like this at family gatherings.
At first, I thought it was just pregnancy hormones making her emotional.
Over time, as relatives started looking at me with disapproval, I realized she wanted to ruin my reputation.
After using me, she planned to kick me out.
The door creaked open.
My husband, Daniel, stood in front of me.
He glanced at me, the affection he once had replaced by irritation and impatience.
When Ruby saw Daniel return, she shouted even louder. "Oh, what did I do to deserve such a spoiled daughter-in-law? She sits around enjoying herself and now won't even wash a tablecloth."
After Ruby recovered from childbirth, I had told Daniel many times I wanted to return to work.
Each time, he brushed me off, saying his mom wasn't fully well yet. I decided it was time to act. "Ruby, I'm going back to work."
"What did you say?" Ruby's voice rose sharply. "If you work, who'll take care of me and this family?"
"I'll hire a housekeeper."
"That's still spending my son's money." Ruby grumbled.
I looked at Daniel, who acted like it wasn't his problem, and asked. "Do you feel the same way?"
Daniel rubbed his forehead. "Christine, you've been out of the workforce for two years. It's not realistic."
Ruby smirked at me triumphantly.
"Fine, then let's divorce." I said calmly.
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
Janice, the long-forgotten legitimate heiress, made her way back to her family, pouring her heart into winning their hearts. Yet, she had to relinquish her very identity, her academic credentials, and her creative works to her foster sister. In return for her sacrifices, she found no warmth, only deeper neglect. Resolute, Janice vowed to cut off all emotional bonds. Transformed, she now stood as a master of martial arts, adept in eight languages, an esteemed medical expert, and a celebrated designer. With newfound resolve, she declared, "From this day forward, no one in this family shall cross me."
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
“You need a bride, I need a groom. Why don’t we get married?” Both abandoned at the altar, Elyse decided to tie the knot with the disabled stranger from the venue next door. Pitying his state, she vowed to spoil him once they were married. Little did she know that he was actually a powerful tycoon. Jayden thought Elyse only married him for his money, and planned to divorce her when she was no longer of use to him. But after becoming her husband, he was faced with a new dilemma. “She keeps asking for a divorce, but I don’t want that! What should I do?”