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I heated the leftovers,retorting,“If you hate me so much, why not marry Ethan yourself? Oh,wait,you’re bald now.Who’d want a bald bride?”
“You’re jealous I’m closer to Ethan.Just wait—when Ethan kicks you out,don’t beg me.”
I slammed the steaming slop in front of her.
She gagged,“What is this?Is this garbage?”
“Eat it or don’t.I’m going to work.”
She called Ethan,whining,“Emily fed me slop!Ethan,do something!She’s jealous of us and making my life miserable!”
Ethan called,furious.“Charlotte said you gave her slop?What’s wrong with you?That’s my sister!She’s had a hard life.Cooking for her is too much?”
I swallowed my rage,softening my tone.“Honey,I bought food and cooked for her.Why’s she lying?Every meal since we married,I’ve made.You’re taking her word over mine?”
He paused.“Even if she misunderstood,as her sister-in-law,you should respect her.You were wrong today.Cook properly tomorrow.”
I hung up,pulled out a business card,and dialed.
“Private investigator?I need a private investigator to look into someone for me.”
The next day,at lunchtime,I ordered the lowest-rated takeout for Charlotte.
As expected,she complained to Ethan.
When he confronted me,I said,“I’m sorry,honey.I don’t know what’s going on—but I’ve been feeling really dizzy lately.This morning,I took a pregnancy test.”
“Honey,I’m pregnant,”I announced with feigned meekness
Ethan nearly leapt with joy.“Pregnant?Have you been to the doctor?Boy or girl?”
“Too early to tell.”
He clapped,“It has to be a boy.The Hayes family needs an heir!”
I rolled my eyes inwardly,his excitement disgusting me.
“For the baby,I can’t keep cooking for Charlotte because of baby.Maybe you could cook for her?”
“Me?Why?I work!Missing work means docked pay.”
“You said she raised you,and we should honor her.With your devotion,this is nothing,right?”
Speechless,he relented as Charlotte kept whining.
“Fine,I’ll cook for her.”
That night,Ethan told Charlotte,“Charlotte,Emily’s pregnant.I’ll cook for you at noon.”
“Pregnant?”Charlotte gaped at me.
“What’s wrong,Charlotte?You don’t look happy.”I stared.
She grabbed Ethan’s hand,nearly kissing his face.“You’re a man—how can you just run home to cook? Isn’t that what wives are supposed to do?She’s just being all dramatic because she’s pregnant.”
“Charlotte,that’s not fair.I’m carrying the Hayes heir.If I slip and fall,I can’t bear that responsibility.”
