Chapter 2

My eyes fluttered open again.

Brandon was bending over, packing my suitcase.

His sister, Chloe who graduated from college two years ago and was still freeloading off our family, was sitting on the imported Italian leather sofa I'd air-freighted myself, snapping gum and scrolling through her phone, utterly engrossed in the drama.

Seeing me standing there frozen, Brandon frowned and said impatiently.

"I'm just asking you to go out and work for a month, do you really have to be so dramatic?"

"Didn't you always say you were an independent woman? You even skipped my parents' birthday dinner just to close a deal back then."

"Now I'm helping you get back into your career, and you're giving me attitude?"

Chloe chuckled, adding snidely.

"Exactly, Sera, you're a Master's degree holder from a top-tier university. Yet you're not even half as mature or independent as Bethany. All that education, wasted."

Bethany, the housekeeper, walked over, pregnant belly protruding, carrying a cup of coffee.

She smiled sweetly, handing it to Brandon, and gently linked arms with him,

Her voice as soft as honey.

"How can I compare to Seraphina? Seraphina has been pampered and spoiled her whole life, and married a good husband like you. She's destined for a life of luxury."

She lowered her head, sighing lightly.

"Unlike me, growing up in the countryside, learned hardship young. How could I ever feel at ease enjoying a comfortable life?”

“Look at me now, seven, eight months pregnant, and still working to make ends meet."

At this, she looked up again, a fake smile on her face.

"Oh, Brandon, don't push Seraphina too hard. If she doesn't want to go to work, then so be it. After all-you're earning all the money."

Bethany's words only added fuel to the fire.

Brandon's face instantly darkened. He turned and pushed me, along with my luggage, out the door.

"Just because I'm from the countryside, does that mean I should suffer and support a family my whole life?"

"You're my wife, you're supposed to build a life with me, through thick and thin, not find a servant to work for you while you eat, drink, and have fun!"

He roared furiously.

"The baby's coming soon, how will you set an example for them like this? I have to cure you of this dramatic behavior before the baby's born!"

With that, he rummaged through my purse, pulled out my bank card, and sneered.

"If you want to be independent, then you can't use my money. Use your own salary card to support yourself."

"Didn't you used to earn a lot? The money in your card should be enough for a month's living expenses, right?"

"Don't tell me your card's empty, and you've blown it all."

I clutched the bank card he'd tossed at me, and a flash of my past life crossed my mind.

Back then, I was so angry I burst into tears, threw the card back at him, and we had a huge fight.

The savings in that card had already been moved by him to gather the wedding funds.

It was already empty.

But all I got in return was Brandon's cold sneer.

He snapped the bank card in half right in front of me and said coldly.

"The wedding funds were for you, weren't they? Didn't you say you're a modern, independent woman? The wedding funds were just a formality, to stay with our family?"

"What, you can't come up with any money now? As expected, you just took all my hard-earned money to spoil your parents!"

The words fell, and with a "bang," he slammed the door shut.

"You want money? Go ask your parents for it!"