Auntie Julie waved frantically at me that day, desperately trying to make me turn around, but I was already pushed out.

What home was there left for me to return to?

Later, when she saw me collapse in the snow, she even attempted to rescue me, but the thick layers of ice and snow kept her from opening her door at all.

She could only watch helplessly.

In this life, I aimed to return that small but genuine kindness. I offered her all the heavy quilts and thick clothes from my home, along with the vegetables, pickled meats, and holiday supplies that Adrian and I had gathered for the New Year.

I also gave her all the year-end gifts from my company.

Still worried for her, I reminded her before leaving, "Auntie Julie, the snow will be heavy this New Year. It might be hard to go out then. You should buy more food and drinks while you still can."

Auntie Julie broke into a broad grin, revealing eight large teeth.

"Denise, you're right. I've felt for a long time that this year's weather isn't normal. Look around. These supplies are enough to feed me for half a year."

As I looked around her home, packed from floor to ceiling with stored goods, a wave of understanding swept over me. No wonder she had managed to survive alone for so long during the apocalypse in my past life.

Feeling reassured at last, I headed back upstairs. I picked up my luggage, gathered Minnie into my arms, and prepared to leave.

However, the moment I opened the door, a figure came barreling toward me.

My 140-pound sister-in-law, Tiffany, charged in like a bowling ball, slamming into me with such force that I toppled to the floor. Minnie, startled and overstressed, let out a sharp, panicked cry from my arms.

My mother-in-law, Carol, followed right behind her. Instead of scolding Tiffany, she clapped her hands and burst into delighted laughter.

"Didn't I tell you? All that meat on our Tiffany wasn't grown for nothing. Look at that strength. One charge, and she sent her sister-in-law flying. If you ask me, Denise, you should eat more. Being too skinny means you get sick easily. Otherwise, how come you still haven't given our Brooks family a child?"

I swallowed my rage toward that mother-and-daughter pair and forced myself to stand, gently soothing Minnie in my arms.

My father-in-law, Randall, strode past me without even a glance. He swept his eyes around the apartment with open disdain.

"Why is this place so small? Denise, why didn't you ask your parents to buy you a bigger house? Look at this, two bedrooms and one living room. How are we supposed to fit so many people?"

Carol marched straight into the master bedroom and dropped herself onto the new bed with absolute entitlement.

"What are you worried about? Our son invited us here for the New Year. He won't let us go without a bed. This one looks perfect. We'll sleep here tonight."

Randall's eyes lit up. Without removing his shoes, he sprawled across my freshly made bed.

"She's right. Sleeping on a new bed brings good fortune. We will take this one tonight."

Tiffany rushed in next, rummaging through my skincare and makeup drawers with greedy hands.

"Denise, these products look amazing. You even have La Mer? Such expensive stuff is wasted on a married woman like you. Better let me use it."

Without hesitation, she scooped out a massive chunk of the cream and smeared it over her acne-scarred face.

I watched coldly, saying nothing. After all, everything was prepared precisely for her. I hadn't spent all that time tinkering beside the toilet for nothing. I hoped she liked this special-edition La Mer.

When Adrian finally went back upstairs after parking the car, he entered the chaotic scene. His parents and sister looked like refugees invading a new city, criticizing every inch of our apartment.

Tiffany was smearing my makeup all over her face while loudly complaining that Minnie was unsanitary.

They even threatened to throw Minnie outside. The poor little thing grew even more anxious and depressed, trembling helplessly in my arms.

Adrian glanced at me apologetically, clearly about to say something, when my mother-in-law's eyes darted around, and she instantly slipped into her dramatic act.

"Adrian, I'm hungry," she whined in a theatrical voice. "Hurry and tell your wife to cook for me. I want abalone, lobster, and chicken wings."

Right on cue, Tiffany jutted her lips out. "And I want steak and pig trotters."

On the bed, Randall rolled over lazily. Two black footprints smeared across the clean sheets.

"I want steak and pork belly," he added, as casually as if he were placing an order at a restaurant.

All three pairs of eyes fixed on me with the same arrogant expectation, determined to put me in my place and remind me where they believed I belonged.

In my past life, this had been exactly how they suppressed me on their very first day here.

Back then, I had naïvely thought, 'They only come once a year, and it's the New Year. Making them a nice meal isn't too much to ask.'

I had been working alone in the kitchen for ages, preparing a lavish feast. But no matter how good the food was, it could never tame those ungrateful wolves.

When I stayed silent, Adrian stepped forward, clasped my hand, and pleaded softly, "Denise, give my parents some face. Could you cook just one meal? Do it for me."

A cold laugh echoed inside my heart. 'For whom? Certainly not for this ungrateful beast.'

Still holding his hand, I tightened my grip and said evenly, "I'd love to cook for everyone, I really would. But my mom just called and asked me to go home. She said my dad accidentally injured his leg. I have to take care of him for a few days. Look, I've already packed."

Only then did Adrian seem to notice the luggage by the door.

His expression darkened immediately. "Denise, can't you stay? Ask your mom to manage for a while. It's almost New Year's. Can't we spend it together as a family and talk about it afterward?"

'This cruel bastard! Is New Year's more important than my father? To hell with the New Year,' I said inwardly.

Carol burst out next, her voice sharp with outrage. "What do you mean, go home? Denise, you'd better remember you are now a daughter-in-law of the Brooks family. Once married, you follow your husband. It's only your first year of marriage, and you're already running back to your maiden home? What kind of behavior is that? You aren't allowed to leave."

Tiffany chimed in immediately, pouting as she piled on. "Exactly. If you go, who's going to serve us? You still need to cook for us, wash dishes, and mop floors. You are not allowed to leave."

As I looked at this self-righteous family, all I could see were hideous demons baring their fangs.