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I secretly opened my husband’s phone.
Soon I found his conversation with the mistress.
The latest one was today.
Husband: “Every time I see her belly, I lose interest.”
“She’s nothing compared to your figure, and her chest is sagging.”
Mistress: “Chen, you’re so bad, she’s had a baby after all.”
Husband: “You’re still such a little seductress, I’ll pamper you more another day.”
Mistress: “Hehe, you’re so annoying.”
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15:53 Tue, 17 Jun
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“So when are you going to divorce her and marry me?”
Husband: “Wait a bit longer, she’s still breastfeeding, can’t divorce yet.”
I picked up my phone and took a picture as evidence.
Quietly put the phone back in place.
In the morning, I found my mother–in–law packing her things.
Husband: “I lost all interest when I saw her stomach.”
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“She doesn’t have your figure, and her chest has started to sag.”
Mistress: “Oh, Mr. Harper, you’re so naughty. Remember, she has had a baby.”
Husband: “You’re still such a little temptress. I’ll spoil you properly another day.”
Mistress: “You’re so annoying.”
“So, when will you divorce her and marry me?”
Husband: “Let’s wait a little longer; she’s still breastfeeding, so I can’t divorce her yet.”
I discreetly picked up my phone and recorded the conversation.
Quietly, I put the phone back.
In the morning, I saw my mother–in–law packing her things.
Me: “Mom, where are you going?”
Mother–in–law didn’t look up: “I’m moving out so I don’t disturb you two.”
I guess she felt embarrassed staying here.
The neighbors all know that his wife confronted him.
Mother–in–law: “Phoebe, I haven’t found a place yet. Can you take care of Nora for me?”
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‘I’ll pick her up once I find a place.”
I looked at her calmly.
“Mom, you should take her with you. I’m too busy.”
Mother–in–law was a bit upset: “How can you be too busy with just two kids?”
“You don’t have to do much for her, just feed her.”
Me: “That’s not right. A child isn’t a pet; you can’t just feed her and call it a day
“If you’re leaving, take her with you. If you’re staying, then stay.”
Mother–in–law gave me a glare.
She packed up and made a call.
Soon, Mr. Johnson came to pick her up, wearing a mask.
His eyes were bruised, probably from being hit by his wife.
Are these two really being so open about their affair now?
Husband comes home later and later.
I don’t mind. As long as I can take care of my daughter, I’m fine.
I just need him to hand over his salary on time every month.
In a previous life, my daughter had kidney disease, which was always my worry.
I can’t divorce him now.
If we divorce and he remarries, what if my daughter ends up with the same condition? He
definitely won’t donate a kidney.
Even if he agrees, the new wife won’t.
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I can’t take that risk. I have to keep him around as a potential donor.
Mr. Johnson divorced, leaving with nothing.
Mother–in–law and Mr. Johnson lived together, practically like a couple.
Husband argued with mother–in–law over it a few times, but couldn’t change anything.
A year passed just like that.
I watched as my husband’s mistresses came and went. I would gather evidence every now and then.
One day, husband returned looking pale.
“Wife, Lila is gone.”
I was stunned, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
In a previous life, I treasured her for five years.
Feelings aren’t fake.
I just wanted the two kids to return to their original places, never thought she’d die.
I choked up: “Lila, how could this happen?”
Husband looked sorrowful: “Mom went out to play cards, leaving Lila asleep at home. Who knew she’d wake up looking for her mom and fall out the window.”
We went to see Lila.
The little girl no longer resembled the one from my past life.
Her hair was yellow and messy.
Her face was pale, still with blood stains.
She looked malnourished.
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I felt a pang of guilt. Was it right to leave her with mother–in–law?
Maybe I should’ve kept both kids with me.
Mother–in–law looked at me with a complex gaze.
But she didn’t seem too sad.
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Mr. Johnson’s eyes were red, glaring at mother–in–law as if he wanted to tear her apart.
Mother–in–law had injuries on her face, immediately lowering her head when she met his
gaze.
I stopped crying, combed her hair nicely.
Wiped her face, changed her into a pretty little dress.
We sent the child off on her final journey together.
In a daze, I seemed to hear the little girl sweetly calling me “mom” again.
After returning home, Mr. Johnson threw out all of mother–in–law’s things.
Mother–in–law looked panicked: “Mr. Johnson, what are you doing?”
Mr. Johnson glared at her venomously.
“I left with nothing for you, and you couldn’t even look after our child.”
“I told you long ago, stop playing cards and take care of the kid.”
“I worked hard for a better life for you, do you deserve it?”
Mother–in–law hurried to explain: “No, Mr. Johnson, listen to me, our daughter…”
Seeing me there, she stopped talking.
Mr. Johnson didn’t want to hear her excuses, closing the door.
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Mother–in–law knocked to no avail, so she followed us back.
Later, she visited often, always returning dejectedly.
Gradually, she stopped mentioning Mr. Johnson.
My daughter’s first birthday came quickly. I booked a hotel for a birthday party.
Invited many relatives.
Mother–in–law dared not face the relatives.
She
gave my daughter a gold bracelet.
Only my husband and I attended the party.
My daughter received so many gifts, smiling brightly.
Returning home at night, I found my father–in–law back.
Father–in–law sat on the couch, face dark.
Mother–in–law, bruised, cried on the floor.
Father–in–law was an honest man, always good to her.
When he was home, he did the shopping and cooking.
Never let mother–in–law do housework.
Husband saw her condition, merely frowned, saying nothing.
“Dad, why didn’t you call for me to pick you up?”
Father–in–law: “No need for that, I’m not a kid.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll take your mom back. You and Phoebe live well.”
I was surprised, thinking he’d surely divorce her.
<
Mother–in–law shouted anxiously: “I won’t go back, I want to stay with Declan and them.”
Father–in–law’s gaze turned harsh, slapping her.
“To keep embarrassing yourself here?”
“Come back with me.”
She cringed away, not daring to speak.
The next day, she left with him.
Later, I visited father–in–law occasionally with my husband.
Every time, she had new injuries.
At first, she looked at my husband pleadingly, hoping he’d take her away.
He always avoided her gaze.
Her eyes became more vacant over time.
Sometimes, seeing my daughter, they’d flicker.
On our last visit, I kindly told her the truth.
Her eyes cleared, glaring at me hatefully.
Not long after, I heard she’d died.
She jumped into the river.
Time passed, reaching the time of my daughter’s previous diagnosis.
Though I took her for annual check–ups, I was especially nervous this
year.
When I learned everything was normal, the weight on my heart finally lifted.
This life, heaven finally favored me.
I quickly filed for divorce.
At first, he was shocked, refusing.
Men are like that; they scorn you but won’t let go.
I laid out all his infidelity evidence.
He looked at me in disbelief, wanting to say something.
Seeing the evidence, he opened his mouth, but said nothing.
Our divorce went smoothly.
Perhaps feeling guilty, he left the house to me.
Most of the money too.
Declan still sends a quarter of his salary monthly.
As child support for our daughter.
I enrolled her in preschool.
Found a job I like.
On breaks, I take her on trips.
She loves the sea.
We play on the beach together.
Hand in hand, we walk slowly into the distance.
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