Kerry’s POV

Liv gently wiped away Cronan’s tears, then placed the cup in front of him.

“Don’t cry, Cronan. I made mac and cheese soup just for you. Try it.”

Obedient as always, Cronan immediately stopped crying. He took the cup from Liv’s hands and ate it with gusto.

Satisfied, he wiped the corner of his mouth, his eyes full of admiration for her.

“It’s super yummy, Auntie Liv! It’s better than anything I’ve ever tasted!”

He grinned, his childish voice soft but clear. “Auntie Liv, if only you were my mommy, then I’d be the happiest kid in the world…”

At his words, Hurley, sitting beside me, clicked his tongue in annoyance and turned toward me.

“See? Liv always knows how to cheer him up. If you had even half of her patience, he wouldn’t dislike you so much.”

I glanced at the bowl. Inside, the pasta wasn’t even cooked through. The sight made my lips curve in a bitter smile.

Hurley had always been picky. Too salty, too bland—he refused to eat either way.

Cronan’s stomach was weak since he was a toddler; the smallest mistake in food would leave him sick for half a day.

That was why I had signed up for professional cooking classes, carefully studying nutrition so I could design different meal plans for each of them.

Day after day, I wore myself out coming up with new breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, and not once did they ever compliment me.

And now, just for a bowl of mac and cheese soup made them overjoyed.

How funny.

Right before my eyes, Liv spooned some soup into another bowl and placed it in front of Hurley. She even used her own spoon.

For a moment, I thought he would push it away instinctively. After all, his obsessive-compulsive disorder was severe.

But he didn’t. Instead, he casually took the spoon and enjoyed every drop. His practiced movements told me this wasn’t the first time.

A sharp pain gripped my chest, as though someone had seized my heart and twisted.

In six years of marriage, Hurley had never touched anything I’d used. Once, thirsty by accident, he drank from my cup—only to smash it on the floor right after, rushing into the sink to rinse his mouth for half an hour, scrubbing his hands until blisters formed.

I had comforted myself then, thinking, ‘It’s his OCD. I can’t blame him.’

But now, that excuse stung like a slap across the face.

It wasn’t that Hurley and Cronan had no heart. They simply had no heart for me.

Still, it didn’t matter. Soon, I would be leaving them anyway.

At that moment, Liv filled another bowl and handed it toward me.

“Mrs. Beckham, I heard you studied cooking professionally. Why don’t you taste my soup and give me some advice? If there’s anything wrong, I can improve it.”

Her tone was polite, but her eyes brimmed with provocation.

Hurley frowned and cut in sharply, “She might have studied, but nothing she makes is half as good as yours. All those classes were a waste of money.”

He sneered, adding, “She’s not like you—always striving to improve yourself. Her head is only full of petty ideas to compete for favor.”

Cronan nodded quickly in agreement. “Daddy’s right. Auntie Liv, the moment you make something, you completely crush her. But she’s very jealous, so you’d better stay away from her. What if she tries to hurt you?”

My hand curled tightly into a fist at my side.

All these years, I had bent over backwards to win the Beckhams’s acceptance—pleasing my in-laws, tending to father and son with all my heart, never saying a word of complaint.

And yet, in return, I never heard even the slightest respect.

But Liv just wouldn’t let me off, insisting I taste her mac and cheese soup.

“No matter what, she is still ahead of me. It’s only right that I seek experience from the lady of the house.”

As she spoke, she once again held the steaming soup before me.

“I don’t have an appetite,” I said coldly, rejecting her.

The words had barely left my lips when Hurley’s reprimand lashed across my ears.

“If she asks you to taste it, then taste it. What, being called ‘lady of the house’ has really gone to your head?”

Cronan chimed in impatiently, “Just drink it! Once you do, you’ll realize how far beneath Auntie Liv you really are! Then maybe you’ll stop using your position as Daddy’s wife to pressure her!”

I drew in a long breath, forcing myself to reach for the bowl.

But just as I touched it, Liv deliberately loosened her grip.

The scalding soup spilled straight onto my hand.

Pain shot through me, sharp enough to make my teeth chatter. I looked up and met her triumphant gaze.

Something inside me snapped. Unable to restrain myself, I raised my hand and slapped her across the face.

The very next second, Hurley’s palm struck mine. The sound rang out, cruel and crisp.

“Kerry! Have you lost your mind?!”

Kerry’s POV

I covered my face, the sting burning hot.

“Didn’t you see she did that on purpose?” I demanded.

Hurley’s brows knitted, his voice sharp with displeasure.

“What I saw was you refusing to take it—deliberately trying to embarrass Liv. Kerry, can’t you stop doing shit for once? Can’t you learn from Liv’s generosity and grace? She never competes with other women like you do!”

Even Cronan’s face darkened. He picked up his bowl and flung the cheesy soup at me.

“If someone dumps soup on you, then just suck it up! You’re no match for Auntie Liv in anything, anyway! On top of that, you’re so petty!”

The scalding broth splashed across my face, searing my skin until my scalp prickled with pain. I wiped at my cheeks, my gaze flicking first to Liv’s triumphant expression, then to Hurley and Cronan’s disapproving faces.

Ever since Liv appeared, they had been comparing me to her at every turn.

The anger I’d been suppressing finally broke free.

With a sharp motion, I knocked over Liv’s bowl. Hot soup spilled everywhere, splashing onto all three of them. They flinched at the burn, their brows creasing instinctively.

Hurley’s expression hardened, his voice cold as steel as he reprimanded me. “If you want to lose your damn mind, do it outside. This isn’t a mental asylum!”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “Isn’t it? This place is worse than one.”

Because what could be more terrifying? Hurley and his son are enjoying my devotion while exalting another woman above me, trampling me beneath their feet.

And since I was leaving anyway, I saw no reason to hold back anymore.

I smashed everything in the kitchen: the fridge, the cheerful dishes and bowls I’d chosen so carefully, the microwave, all the appliances and utensils I’d picked out and bought thoughtfully.

Each crash shattered not only the items, but the expectations I once held for this family.

Immediately, Hurley and his son shielded Liv behind them.

“She’s lost it. Don’t let her hurt you.”

My movements slowed. Suddenly, it all felt meaningless, so I stopped.

Hurley stared at me with a look of exasperated contempt.

“Are you done now? If so, clean this mess up. You broke Liv’s bowl. Buy her the same one."

His words dripped with scorn. “Every time something doesn’t go your way, you cause a scene. How can you be so petty? I really don’t know what we ever did to you to ruin a perfectly good home like this.”

Cronan shot me a look of disdain, chiming in, “Any time we tell you the truth, you go crazy. People like you… There’s no way to talk sense.” He turned to Liv, saying, “Auntie Liv, let her sulk by herself. Let’s go.”

And with that, the two of them took Liv by the hand and left.

But not before she turned back, her eyes glinted with ridicule.

I didn’t bother cleaning up the wreckage. Instead, I went upstairs and began to pack.

After all these years in that house, I had little to call my own. One suitcase was enough.

The only other thing I couldn’t leave behind was Buddy, my old golden dog who had stayed by my side for more than a decade.

Just then, my phone buzzed.

It was a message from Hurley.

[You went too far today. Liv’s been wanting a bracelet lately. Go buy one for her and apologize.]

Attached was a photo of the jewelry.

I didn’t reply. Instead, I deleted him from my contacts.

That night, none of them came home.

But early the next morning, Hurley brought Willa over.

The moment they stepped inside, he spoke in a grave voice,

“Mom, Kerry’s just been too idle lately. She keeps making trouble. Please talk some sense into her.”

As always. Every time I dared show even a hint of resistance, Hurley would call my foster mother to pressure me into submission.

But what he didn’t know was that this time, she hadn’t come to persuade me.

The truth was, she had come to deliver divorce papers.

Kerry’s POV

“Cronan is still young and naive. It’s normal for him to throw tantrums. I believe once he grows up, everything will be fine. I’ll also have a talk with him about it later.”

As soon as she sat down, Mom began persuading me.

“You’ve sacrificed so much for this family, dear. Are you really willing to hand it all over to someone else? Liv may look like my daughter, but her personality is nothing like hers. I don’t like that woman.”

I didn’t say a word.

Neither did Hurley, though the determination in his eyes made it clear—he was confident in his ability to win this round.

He must have thought I would be just like before: that as long as my mother said a few words, I would obediently stay.

But this time, he was destined to be disappointed.

I opened my mouth, ready to tell Mom that my decision was final.

But suddenly, a sharp, agonized cry rang out from outside.

It was Buddy’s voice!

My heart lurched. I rushed out in a panic—only to see Cronan gripping a baseball bat, striking the dog’s head over and over!

I hurriedly pulled him away and, overwhelmed with rage, slapped him across the face.

Hurley stormed over and shoved me hard.

“Are you insane?! How could you hit your own child?”

My breath came fast and uneven.

“He’s not my son! I don’t have a son like him!”

Buddy was already on the brink of death, yet upon hearing my voice, he still weakly wagged his tail.

Cronan glared at me with hatred in his eyes.

“That beast kept barking at Auntie Liv. If I hadn’t stopped it in time, it would’ve pounced and bitten her! I had to teach it a lesson today!”

At that, Liv revealed a pitiful expression, showing a small wound on her arm.

“It’s fine, really. Just a little scratch. I’ll get a few rabies shots, and I’ll be fine. I’m only a servant anyway. It’s none of Mrs. Beckham’s concern whether I live or die.”

Her voice trembled, soft and weak, but she added, “What worries me is that there’s such a dangerous dog in your house. It’s one thing if it bit me, but if it bit someone else… that would be a much bigger problem.”

Hurley’s expression darkened instantly. He gripped Liv’s injured hand with tenderness, then turned a cold gaze on me.

“She’s fed your dog so many times, yet it still bit her. A dog like that is beyond saving. There’s no reason to keep it.”

My chest tightened. “What are you going to do?”

The very next second, a bodyguard lifted Buddy’s limp form and slammed him hard onto the ground.

My dog… He stopped breathing instantly.

The only memento my parents had left me… was gone forever in that moment.

I staggered forward, clutching Buddy’s body in my arms as my sobs broke uncontrollably.

When I looked up, my tear-blurred eyes met Mom’s. Just moments ago, she had clearly wanted to stop Hurley and Cronan but hadn’t managed to in time. Now, her eyes were red as she looked at me.

My voice cracked and was hoarse as I asked her, “Mom… did you see it? They killed… They killed my dog!”

She knew exactly how much Buddy meant to me. With a weary sigh, she pulled out the divorce agreement and placed it in front of me.

Hurley frowned in disbelief.

“What’s this? A divorce agreement? You’re divorcing me?”

My voice was cold, sharp as steel.

“Right, Hurley. I’ve had enough of you. I want a divorce!”