"Bailey, don't believe your best friend. I think she's a vamp. She likes Eric and wants to break you two up. You can't fall for it!"

Anna stood beside me, thumping her chest in anger, her mouth opening several times without saying anything.

From my understanding of her, she didn't argue with my mom to save face for me. Otherwise, even ten women like my mom wouldn't be her match.

I glanced at my mom's outfit. Oh, she's fashionable and dressed better than me.

She had her hair permed into curls, and she had a manicure. Why did she leave halfway through it?

She must have known this in advance and rushed here desperately.

"Mom, I grew up with Anna since childhood. I trust her. But why didn't you let her tell me the truth? Eric has an affair. Why did you keep it from me? Are you really my mom?"

My mom swayed her hips and sat next to Eric, crossing her legs.

I frowned at her posture. How old is she? Why is she still acting like that?

"Bailey, I saw you cuddling a male colleague last time. You can't blame Eric for your easy virtue. Eric is so filial that he often massages me. You can't be heartless."

I was furious. What do you mean by cuddling?

I almost fell, and he helped me up. I don't even know him.

Are you my mother?

"Mom! I am your daughter. How can you not believe me? Eric having an affair is a fact. I have already saved his face by not making a scene. When dad had an affair, you should understand that feeling. How could you hide it from me?"

My mother exchanged glances with Eric, and then, she stood up and pointed at me, cursing.

"Good! Bailey Nelson, how dare you talk to your mother like this? Eric could never do such a thing. It must be your good friend Anna who photoshopped these pictures. How could you, my silly girl, believe a stranger?"

"Mom, if you don't believe it, Anna still has a video. We can watch it together and see which woman has such great charm to seduce your good son-in-law to go to her every day."

Although she was my stepmother, I had already regarded her as my real mother after twenty years.

Maybe she had also been blinded by Eric's love. After all, Eric used to be nice to me.

But I didn't expect that even though I presented her with the facts, she could still argue and even blame me.

"Well... that's because you don't want children. You two have been married for so many years, and you're busy with work. It's normal for a man like Eric to have desires and do such things. As his wife, can't you understand him a little bit?

"Anyway, I don't agree with your divorce. If you dare to divorce, I won't recognize you as my daughter. Get out of here!"

My heart shook. She actually told me to get out for Eric's sake?

She was my father's second wife. She had always been good to me, and I had always seen her as my real mother.

Even when my dad had a mistress, I stood by her side, blaming my dad and fearing that she would not be able to bear it, accompanying her day and night.

I regarded her plans for my life as her love for me as a mother, and I even went to see the men she introduced me, including Eric.

I didn't have many feelings for Eric, but the long time he had been good to me had made me get used to his presence.

As for children, it was Eric who said that he didn't want any. Why did my mother end up thinking I didn't want kids?

Is it my fault that he cheated on me? Men's desires, huh?!

I wanted to cry, but I couldn't for some reason.

"Mom, do you see me as your child?"

She nodded and held my hand, saying, "Bailey, it's because I treat you as my daughter that I can't bear to see you get divorced. I've long told you to stay away from that Anna. I suspect that your father has given his property to that vamp."

Upon hearing that, I immediately pulled back my hand, with a hint of coldness in my eyes.

"Mom, if you insult Anna again, I will have a falling out with you. She has been with me since we were little, and I know what kind of person she is. She hasn't gotten anything from my dad. Maybe his property was given to some mistress of his."

Seeing my change in expression, my mom started sobbing.

"I have raised you so painstakingly. Your father passed away early without giving me a penny. I don't even know whom he gave his property to. Anna often comes to our house. I think she's here for your father. You ungrateful child, you should side with an outsider. I have loved you in vain all these years!"

Eric saw my mom crying and gently patted her back. My mom fell into his arms and sobbed.

I watched my crying mom in my husband's arms, and when I looked up, I met Anna's shocked gaze.

She immediately shook her head at me, and I understood what she meant at once.

But why did Anna ask me to calm my mom down first?

Forget it, she won't harm me.

I sighed and said, "Mom, you and Eric go home now. I'll think about it."

My mom was dissatisfied when she heard me say that. "What else do you need to think about? Every man cheats. Just make do with your life."

"I see, but this is not a small matter. You have to let me think about it. Why don't you and Eric go home now? I have something to talk to Anna."

My mom wanted to say something else, but Eric raised his glasses and gently touched her arm with a gentle smile.

"Bailey, think about it carefully. I love you. I promise not to cheat on you again."

I sneered inside me. It is hard to change one's nature.

I wanted to scold Eric, but when I saw Anna's eyes, I had to hold back. I nodded gently to indicate that I would think about it.

Eric took my nagging mom and left Anna's house. Anna quickly sat next to me and looked at me sympathetically.

I was scared by her staring at me, unconsciously moving away from her.

"What's wrong? Why did you stop me from going on?"

Anna sighed and handed me a cup of coffee, shaking her head at my ignorant look.

"Don't you think there's something amiss between your mom and your husband?"

I took a sip of coffee and looked at her exasperated look, feeling puzzled.

"What's wrong with them? Eric has always been filial, often taking care of my mom for me. I can't go home early because of the heavy workload, and my mom fears staying at home alone. Eric happens to be free."

Anna shook her head and gave me a punch with gritted teeth.

"Are you out of your mind? Your mom and Eric must be hiding something from you. How could a mother defend her son-in-law when he has an affair? She completely disregards your feelings!"

Shocked, I recalled the usual scenes of my husband and mom at home.

The two of them always whispered to each other. I had no idea what they were talking about, but when they saw me, they quickly separated.

Sometimes, my mother's eyes hid a sinister look when she looked at me, but when I looked at it carefully, it disappeared. My husband was the same as her.

The more I thought about it, the more things seemed wrong, and the more frightened I became.

Could it be that the other woman of Eric is...?

I suppressed the panic inside me and turned to Anna.

"Didn't you say you had a video? Quickly show it to me!"

Anna quickly took out her phone and played the video of Eric hugging the woman into the hotel.