2

When I got home, Liam's mother Audrey was there, playing with my son.

Mrs. Lopez, whom I hired to take care of my son, was not there.

When Audrey saw me back home, her face instantly darkened as if I were a jinx.

In the past, she was very satisfied with me as her daughter-in-law. She praised me for being sensible and even urged me to marry Liam.

Since last year, she had been targeting me and finding fault with me everywhere.

Whether there was a conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law depended on whether the son, as the middleman, was competent.

It never occurred to me that my relationship with Audrey was deteriorating because Liam was deliberately causing trouble. I had always trusted him.

"Humph!" My son saw me coming back and threw the ball aside with a little resentment, then hid in the tent to play with building blocks.

Thinking that my son was only five years old but was surrounded by conspiracies and tricks, I felt my heart hurt. It was so painful that I was almost suffocating.

He used to ask me to hug him every day, liked to touch his face against mine, loved to call me "mom" behind my back, and would only fall asleep if he hugged me.

Later, he would rather sleep with Mrs. Lopez than with me.

He no longer called me mom and even called me by my name, Anna Smith.

He was unwilling to get close to me and even spoke harshly to me.

I thought my son was spoiled and pampered, so I thought about having another one.

But I never thought he was deliberately led astray by someone with ulterior motives.

It's my fault. I ignored him.

"I plan to take Lucas back to the countryside for some time," said Audrey in a sarcastic tone.

I knew she wanted to take Lucas away and to make him think that I found him annoying and did not want him, and then when Liam mentioned divorce to me, my son would not choose me anymore.

"No need. I plan to take Lucas to Disneyland tomorrow."

Hearing my words, Lucas, who was playing with building blocks, looked at me in surprise, but soon he made a long face and complained, "Huh, liar, always telling lies!"

Seeing my son's reaction, I was stunned. I blamed myself for not fulfilling my promises to him in the past because of work, which allowed others to take advantage of the situation.

I walked over, but he hid inside.

I wanted to touch his little head, but he pushed my hand away with disgust and crawled out to Audrey.

I tried to go there and pull him over to talk to him.

Audrey held him in her arms and looked at me, saying, "He doesn't like you. Don't force him to do things he doesn't want."

If it were before, I would have blamed Lucas for being unreasonable.

Well, that was the case. That was why he was misled and thought that his mother disliked him and didn't want him, so he didn't want his mother either.

"Mommy won't lie anymore starting today. I quit my job and can play with you every day from now on."

As I said that, I deliberately took out my phone and showed him the photo of the resignation letter on the desk.

There was a strange look in Audrey's eyes. She hugged Lucas tightly, not allowing him to see it, and said, "Lucas, your mom lied again. Let's ignore her. Lucas, go live with Grandma in the countryside, okay?"

I had wanted to leave Audrey some dignity, but now in her eyes, I was just a wicked woman, so I fulfilled her wish and snatched my son from her arms.

My son was scared and cried loudly, shouting for Grandma.

I directly kicked Audrey out of the house, locked the door, and let her curse outside.

My son cried for a long time, his voice grew hoarse, and he kept saying that he hated me.

It took him an hour to fall asleep.

I stroked his red eyes with guilt and silently vowed in my heart: Lucas, from now on, Mom will never let anyone hurt you again.

3

When Liam came back from work in the evening, he started scolding me right away.

He accused me of scaring our son and locked his mother outside the door.

He said I was unreasonable.

Huh, aren't it you who made me unreasonable?

I used to be understanding and compassionate.

Later, life became a mess, and I turned into someone short-fused, arguing with anyone I met.

"Did you quit your job?" he asked.

"Hmm." I nodded.

Of course, I didn't submit the resignation letter. I just took an annual leave.

If I quit and lost my job, it would be more advantageous for him to fight for custody of our son.

I checked the bag he had put in the entrance cabinet when he came back while he was taking a shower.

That was where he put his shoes, so I usually wouldn't touch it.

The bag contained a divorce agreement, saying he would only give me 30,000 dollars while the house, car, and custody of our son all belonged to him.

I quietly put the agreement back in place, and when he finished showering and came out, I pretended to have a discussion with him. "My parents' old house was demolished, and they received 6 million dollars in compensation. They plan to give me 2 million dollars. Should we buy a house in a good school district or get a new car?"

Liam looked at me in surprise and almost blurted out, "Your parents are willing to give you 2 million dollars?"

What surprised him was that I had already cut off ties with my family, but my parents were still willing to give me 2 million dollars.

The demolition was true, but for now, they wouldn't give me anything, as if I were no longer their daughter.

I just used the matter to delay the divorce.

Sure enough, when Liam learned that I could get 2 million dollars for the demolition of my parents' house, he didn't mention the divorce that night, nor did he blame me for kicking his mother out of the house. He just advised me not to continue to conflict with his mother.

As my relationship with Liam's parents deteriorated, Liam always went to my parents' place to complain, and he exaggerated the situation.

At first, my parents believed me, but after seeing me arguing with Audrey several times, they began to doubt me and thought I had learned to be sophistical.

I thought it was a coincidence that they saw us arguing every time we had conflicts, but I finally realized that it was all schemed by Liam.

Once, I stayed at my parents' house for some time, and coincidentally, my cousin whom I didn't get along with since childhood came to visit. Liam asked me to reconcile with her, so I cooked for her myself.

As a result, my cousin accidentally ate peanuts and had an allergic reaction, so she was hospitalized.

I knew she was allergic to peanuts, so I didn't put anything with peanuts in the dishes.

I never had a dark thought that my family member would frame me and cause a rift between me and her.

My cousin thought I hated her and deliberately harmed her.

I refused to admit it, so everyone thought I was sophistical and accused me.

Audrey came hypocritically, pretending to defend me, but actually adding fuel to the fire.

My cousin said she would sue me, and it was only after my parents persuaded her that the matter was settled.

But I insisted on finding out the truth, and I argued with my parents about it.

I blamed them for not believing me, and I didn't go back home for the holidays.

Later, as trivial matters of discord accumulated, my father directly threatened me, saying that I was no longer his daughter and told me not to go back.

I was really stupid, falling into other people's traps step by step, and blocking my way out.

That night, I called my father, but he immediately hung up the phone.

He probably thought I knew about the demolition and called him for money.

I called my mother again and left a message on her voicemail.

In their hearts, I had become the wicked and disobedient daughter.

I cried for a long time, crying out all the grievances I had suffered inexplicably over the years.