Chapter 2
I snatched my phone back. "Didn't you see what I just did? You're always about sharing everything in the family group chat. Look how lively it gets with all this drama."
He pointed at me. "That video of my mom was from ages ago. We've all moved on, but you just had to bring it up again. How's she supposed to face people now?"
I scoffed, "Moved on? Your mom was shouting in the middle of the night just yesterday. You sleep like a log and didn’t hear a thing."
He mumbled something, glared at me, and walked away.
Watching my husband, who once spoke to me with such gentle words, now seem like a complete stranger sent a chill through me. If it weren't for the slap mark on my face reminding me, I'd probably still be putting up with him now. But he has to sleep at some point, doesn't he? Just wait until tonight; if I don't scare the daylights out of him, I'm not Jennifer Barnes.
That night, while William was fast asleep, I took a pair of scissors and pressed them against his neck. The cold touch shocked him awake, and seeing the scissors filled him with terror.
He trembled as he spoke, "Jennifer! This is insane. You're a lawyer—you know this is illegal!"
I tapped the scissors on his face, smiling. "Who said anything about murder? I'm just measuring for a necklace for my dear husband. Got a problem with that?"
With that, I kept the scissors in my left hand, pointing them at him, while I used my right hand to slap him hard across the face a few times. Then, I gestured downward with the scissors, "Try raising your hand to me one more time, and next time I won’t be measuring for a necklace!"
Cold sweat beaded on William's brow as he realized the threat to his dignity, making him finally back down.
"Honey, I'm sorry. I was an idiot, I'll never raise a hand again. Please, put the scissors down. What if they slip accidentally?"
I sneered, tossed the scissors aside, and left the room. Sharing a bed with a man like him made my skin crawl.
The next morning, there was no breakfast on the table, just a picture of my late father-in-law. Mabel Kelly, my mother-in-law, was sitting in a chair, crying over the photo.
"Oh, William’s dad, you're lucky to have left early. Unlike you, I'm here dealing with a daughter-in-law who’s got me dancing to her tune."
Seeing me walk in, she cranked up her wailing to a new level. "How am I supposed to live like this? She gives me no room to breathe—how can I face anyone?"
I walked over, took a seat, resting my chin in my hands, and looked at her. "Mom, are you crying to Dad in the afterlife about buying gifts for other men and asking him to sort it out? That's one remarkable hat, one you can even wear in the afterlife."
Her face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment as she clapped her hands in exasperation. "I can't live like this!"
With that, she collapsed to the floor.
William emerged from the bedroom, saw his mom in tears, and his face immediately darkened as he shot me a furious look. I smiled at him, running a finger across my throat in a mock gesture. He flinched, turning pale.
"Mom, what are you doing first thing in the morning? I'm telling you, it’s hard for me to earn money. Could you at least consider that before being generous with those gifts?"
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