Chapter 3Second Life, Scorched Earth

The next morning, my mother-in-law knocked on my bedroom door early. Her voice was syrupy sweet, "Ashley, breakfast is ready!"

I fumbled for my phone on the big bed. 7 AM.

She really couldn't wait.

I mumbled an acknowledgment, slowly put on my robe, and went into the en-suite bathroom to wash up. After dawdling for half an hour, ignoring her constant calls, I finally emerged.

The moment I stepped out, the door to the adjacent room opened too.

Jake, hair sticking up like a bird's nest, groggily started venting his morning grumpiness, "Mom, what's all the racket this early? Can't a guy get some sleep!"

His mother shrieked, "Why were you sleeping in that room? Ashley, how could you let Jake sleep in that dumpy room!"

I ignored her and walked straight to the dining table.

Gotta hand it to her, she really pulled out all the stops for my money. There must have been eighteen different breakfast dishes.

I picked up a fried egg, put it on my plate, and took a careful sip of the slightly too-hot oatmeal.

Seeing me ignore her, she grabbed Jake and stood beside me, snatching the bowl out of my hand. "Ashley, I'm talking to you! That little room has nothing in it but a crappy old mattress! How could you make Jake sleep there!"

"Jake snores so loudly at night, I can't sleep. If he doesn't stay there, should he sleep with you instead?"

Just looking at Jake made me sick now; sharing a room was out of the question.

Last night, when he tried to get into bed, I kicked him out and sent him to the unfinished guest room.

Jake initially refused, but I just stared at him coldly and asked flatly, "Do you still want that twenty-five thousand or not?"

His face turned pale, and he obediently grabbed his pillow and shuffled off to the next room.

My mother-in-law wouldn't let it go. "Why are you so delicate? Back in my day, women worked in the fields while pregnant! How can a little snoring bother you?"

"Aren't you afraid your man will run off to another woman's bed!"

I glanced at her, a cryptic smile playing on my lips.

Isn't Jake already in another woman's bed?

But I couldn't expose them yet. Not the right time.

I decided to mimic her shrewish behavior, only worse.

With one sweep of my arm, I sent the lavish breakfast crashing to the floor. Porcelain plates and bowls shattered, the clattering sound like music to my ears.

My mother-in-law and Jake froze, stunned.

Jake reacted first, rolling up his sleeves and storming towards me menacingly.

"Ashley, how dare you throw a tantrum at my mom?"

I raised an eyebrow, unfazed, and used my trump card again. "What? You gonna hit me? I guess you don't want that twenty-five thousand after all!"

Jake froze mid-stride. His mother forced a strained smile onto her ugly face.

I knew it. This pair only bullied me because they thought I was weak.

Try to bully me now?

Not a chance.