Chapter 3

Julian didn't take Leo to school. Instead, he dropped Leo and Chloe off at a huge mall.

Chloe went straight for the luxury stores, buying clothes and handbags.

She took Leo to the kids' play area on the ground floor.

She bought him a mountain of fried food and fizzy drinks, telling him to sit there and eat by himself.

When Leo was little, he was a bit wild and got into an accident that resulted in half his spleen and stomach being removed.

Doctors strictly advised a bland diet for him, so I've always forbidden him from eating that kind of junk.

He tried protesting a few times, even went on a hunger strike. But after a few days of being hungry, he always calmed down.

He knew I wouldn't budge, so he never dared to act up again.

I called Leo's teacher.

"Ms. Davies, was Leo not in school today?"

"Leo's mom, Leo has been absent for a few days. His father called to request the leave. He said the child's maternal grandmother passed away. We were afraid of upsetting you, so we didn't call to confirm."

*Heh.* So Julian is lying about *my* parents now.

My parents always looked down on Julian, called him a "poor nobody."

They were totally against us getting married, even saying I dressed like I was begging for scraps just to be with him.

They never invited Julian to our family home.

When we ate out, they'd choose a restaurant they felt matched *his* station.

If it weren't for Leo, they wouldn't have bothered seeing Julian at all.

For years, I'd asked them to keep a low profile, and we managed to keep the truth about our family under wraps.

Now that Julian's made a fortune, he looks down on my parents with utter contempt.

"My mother is perfectly fine. He must have gotten confused. Maybe *his* mother passed away. Please don't mention this call to Leo's father for now."

Ms. Davies nervously hung up the phone.

The luxury items Chloe bought weren't for her. They were a gift for another woman.

And I know that woman. It's Serena, my next-door neighbor.

The man she was with, however, wasn't her husband, Mark. It was a young, muscular guy.

No wonder Chloe tried to frame me for having an an affair with my neighbor! Turns out *his* wife already had a man on the side.

Serena and Chloe must have instantly found common ground, deciding to frame me for having an affair with Serena's husband.

That way, Serena could get a "legitimate" divorce and secure her assets.

After they parted ways, Serena and the young guy went to a hotel.

I backhanded her husband the room number.

They wanted to watch *my* life fall apart? Not happening.