Chapter 2

There was a reason Liam acted this way.

Liam and his father, Richard, had a fierce argument during a board meeting about a strategic issue.

His father became emotionally agitated and suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage, becoming a bedridden vegetable ever since.

At that time, Eleanor, twenty years younger than Richard, had only recently married into the family.

Barely married and effectively widowed, and it was because of him.

So Liam looking after his stepmom, I could completely understand.

I even thought it was his duty as a son.

It wasn't until our wedding night that I noticed his stepmom was a little different with Liam.

That night, we were burning with passion in bed when she came knocking, wearing a camisole nightgown and looking distressed.

“Liam, I think I saw your dad move a little… Could you come take a look?”

Liam didn’t hesitate. He got dressed and immediately followed her to her room to check.

Though annoyed, I didn’t think much of it, considering she was so young to face such a sudden misfortune.

But when I got up, tidied myself, and passed her door, I saw her completely wrapped around Liam, crying, her whole body shaking.

“Oh, Liam, with Richard like this, what am I going to do? I’m just a woman.”

Liam kept gently patting her back, comforting her.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll take care of everything.”

Their posture was too intimate.

My female intuition told me this wasn't right.

Sure enough, in the days that followed, I found Eleanor’s presence everywhere.

During the day, when Liam was at work, she never appeared in front of me.

But as soon as Liam came home, she would appear, dressed provocatively, wandering around us.

Once, in the middle of the night, just as we were about to reach the peak of pleasure, she actually burst in, asking if we needed bathwater prepared.

Then she’d stare at Liam with teary eyes, looking like she had no intention of leaving.

What was even worse was that she once, right in front of us, tried on her newly bought lingerie in the living room. She even commented that the size was too small, without any shame.

I was incredibly upset. I tried to subtly remind her to be careful, but she seemed not to understand.

Or she would just get red-eyed, looking like she was suffering a great injustice.

Her antics made me incredibly frustrated. I even spoke to Liam about it, but he always said I was overthinking things.

Until that night Liam was away on a business trip.

I got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. Passing her room, I accidentally heard her watching adult videos.

“Oh, Liam… *pleasure me*…”

It was like a lightning bolt struck me. I instantly felt sick to my stomach.

After discovering her sordid intentions, I immediately suggested moving out.

But Liam thought I was just causing trouble.

“We’re living perfectly fine together, why are you making a fuss again?”

I had no proof, and I couldn’t just blurt out such an absurd thing without reason, so I had to endure it for now.

But who knew Eleanor would become even more outrageous?

She precisely kept track of my menstrual cycle.

Except for those few nights, for the remaining twenty-something days, she’d find all sorts of reasons to call Liam away.

“Liam, the light in my room is broken.”

“Liam, your dad seems to have moved.”

“Liam, I had a nightmare, I’m scared to be alone.”

“Liam…”

Later, I couldn’t take it anymore and confronted her directly.

“Eleanor, Liam is my husband, not an electrician or a doctor. If you’re not feeling well or need help, you can find a professional.”

Eleanor clutched the corner of her dress, her eyes instantly reddening.

Liam immediately cut me off, his face dark.

“How can you talk to Eleanor like that?”

“I already told you, she’s my elder. With Dad in this state, I’m just showing her more care.”

“Even if you’re upset, there should be a limit, right?”

“Fine, I won’t make a fuss anymore. You two go play your sweet mother-son routine.”

In a fit of anger, I stormed off to my parents’ house.

That was the most serious argument we’d had since we started dating and got married.

The next day, Liam came over with gifts to apologize.

He knelt before my parents, swearing he would draw a clear line with Eleanor.

But I still wouldn’t forgive him.

He came to see me every day, trying every trick in the book to win over my parents.

Plus, my mother-in-law, Victoria, personally came to guarantee that she would frequently visit and help Eleanor look after Richard, allowing Liam and me to move out.

My mother-in-law, Liam’s birth mother, had divorced his father, Richard, due to irreconcilable differences, which was why Richard then married Eleanor.

After I got married, Victoria had always been very caring towards me. Thinking of her efforts,

and seeing the man I had given eight years of my life to, the sincerity in his eyes swayed me.

Even though Eleanor was out of line, Liam’s intentions might truly have been out of filial piety.

After all, we had spent wonderful college years together.

He had carried me to the emergency room when I had gastroenteritis during a rainstorm and had always put thought into preparing gifts for every holiday.

“I’m giving you one last chance.”

I warned him as I accepted his apology gift.

“If there’s a next time, we’re completely over.”

Though I agreed to come home, a thorn remained in my heart, so my attitude towards him became much colder.

The next period of time was indeed peaceful.

Eleanor seemed to have truly changed. When we occasionally met at family gatherings, she remained polite and distant.

Finally, after nearly two weeks of the silent treatment, Liam and my marriage life returned to normal.

But just as I started to have a normal married life, Eleanor began causing trouble again.

Thinking back carefully, there were so many staff in the family.

Why did every small matter require Liam’s personal presence?

I had endured the previous nine times, but this time, I couldn’t take it anymore.