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My Husband’s Toxic Sister Crossed The Line

NovelMaster · English · Theater: NovelMaster, Lang: English, Genre: Romance, Genre: Thriller, Genre: Magic, Genre: Realistic, Genre: Reborn, Genre: Werewolf ·

Theater: NovelMaster  |  Language: English  |  NEW

Synopsis

On our wedding night, my husband Lucas’s adopted sister was lying half-naked on our marriage bed. She had even taken down our wedding portrait and replaced it with a photo of the two of them.
She smirked at me and purred, "Elena, you know I’ve needed Lucas to tuck me in since we were kids. You don’t mind, right?"
When I tried to set boundaries with my husband, he snapped at me for making a scene.
That was the moment I saw the light.
When dealing with shameless people, you have to be ten times more shameless than them!
"Well, my cousin Liam has always tucked me in since I was little too! I can’t sleep without him! Lucas, if you’re cool with my cousin lying in our bed and holding me to sleep, then I won’t say a word about you and Chloe!"
Lucas’s face instantly turned green.
My hands trembled as I pushed the door open. Sure enough, Chloe was lying on our marriage bed, barefoot and stripped down to her lingerie.
On the wall above, the wedding portrait of Lucas and me was gone. In its place hung an intimate photo of the two of them.
"Elena, you know how it is. Lucas has always tucked me in since we were kids. I can’t fall asleep without him."
"He’ll come back to you once I’m asleep. You’re not gonna be petty about it, right?"
Chloe looked at me, her eyes dripping with smug triumph.
Ever since the day Lucas and I tied the knot, Chloe had been targeting me at every turn.
She was adopted by his family, raised alongside him since childhood. At first, I chalked it up to separation anxiety and tried to be patient with her. But now? It was just straight-up disgusting.
Keeping my voice flat, I retorted, "You’re an adult now, Chloe. You should know what boundaries between a man and a woman are. Don't tell me you have zero gender awareness. I don’t see you walking into the men’s restroom when you need to pee!"
At that, Chloe instantly burst into tears. "Elena, you’re humiliating me!"
Before I could say another word, a violent shove hit my back. I lost my balance and slammed hard against the hardwood floor!
Lucas stepped into the room. He didn’t even glance at me. Instead, he wrapped his arms tightly around the sobbing Chloe, murmuring soft comforts.
I stared at him in shock. Pain shot through my body, matching the ache in my chest.
Over the past few days, Lucas had defended Chloe unconditionally, but he had never laid a hand on me.
He glared down at me with cold disgust. "When are you going to stop throwing tantrums? Ever since you married into this family, there hasn’t been a single day of peace!"
I was stunned, unable to believe what was coming out of his mouth.
Chloe had a child out of wedlock, the father nowhere to be found. She had been left traumatized and diagnosed with clinical depression.
To prevent her from being triggered, the entire family catered to her every whim—Lucas most of all.
I had sympathized with what she went through. I brushed off her passive-aggressive jabs and tried my best to be supportive, hoping she’d heal.
I never imagined she would weaponize my empathy and cross every line imaginable!
I pushed myself up from the floor, shaking. "Am I the one making a scene, or is she? You’re a married man, Lucas! What grown woman lounges in her brother's marriage bed wearing nothing but a bra and panties—"
Before I could finish, Lucas cut me off sharply. "Your mind is sickening!"
"She’s my sister! We’re family! There’s nothing dirty between family members. What, did your own dad never see you in your clothes?"
Humiliation and fury choked my throat. I couldn’t even find the words to respond to his twisted logic.
"I know you dislike Chloe and want her gone," Lucas pressed on. "Let me make this crystal clear: Chloe is my family. My home is her home. No matter what you say, I am never kicking her out!"
"And another thing: my parents are moving in next week. They’ll be living with us permanently."
None of this was what we agreed on before marriage.
I looked at Lucas, my heart turning cold.
Chloe shot me a victorious grin from behind his shoulder.
I watched as Lucas coaxed her until her tears turned into giggles. Saying nothing, I stood up and walked into the living room.
Chloe’s four-year-old son, Leo, was still playing on the rug. When he saw me come out, he ran over and repeatedly slammed his toy metal truck into my bleeding finger.
"Mean lady! Stop bullying Mommy! It’s all your fault! Bad lady!"
I winced in pain and yanked my hand back. Instantly, the little brat threw himself onto the floor and began wailing at the top of his lungs!
Lucas and Chloe came rushing out.
Chloe scooped up her kid, looked at Lucas with tearful, helpless eyes, gave me a venomous glare, and retreated into her room.
That left just Lucas and me in the living room.
I stared at him, waiting for an explanation.
Lucas lit a cigarette and gave me an accusing look.
"Are you seriously picking on a little kid now? What happened to the promise we made? Didn’t you promise to love my family?"
How ridiculous. I had agreed to be a loving partner, but never a doormat in this madhouse!
Ignoring him, I reached for the first-aid kit to bandage my hand. But before I could open it, Lucas slapped my hand away.
"I promised Chloe that everything in this house requires her permission before you can use it."
"If you want to use the medicine, go apologize to Chloe and Leo first."
He had already pinned all the blame entirely on me. A dry, bitter laugh escaped my lips.
"Lucas, do you even remember who you actually married?"
This was supposed to be our home. Yet the apartment had been completely stripped of anything that belonged to me.
Every piece of decor had been replaced by Chloe. Every framed photo of Lucas and me had been swapped out for pictures of him and her.
The disappointment that had piled up day after day finally crushed the last shred of affection I had for him.
Lucas paused, but his tone remained patronizing. "Chloe is young and fragile. You're the mature one here—why do you have to pick a fight over every little thing?"
"It’s just home decor. It doesn’t change who you are."
Chloe was twenty-five years old and had already popped out a kid!
I bit my trembling lip, forcing back the tears. Without another word, I turned on my heel and walked into the guest bedroom.
I locked the door behind me and dragged out my suitcase.
Lucas’s furious yelling pounded against the wood outside. "Elena! It’s just an apology! You’re the one who started this drama out of nowhere! What the hell is wrong with your attitude?!"
No matter what garbage he spewed, I stayed dead silent.
By the time I finished packing, the house had fallen completely quiet.
I surveyed the room. Calling it a guest room was generous—it was basically a dump.
Everything I had bought for our new home had been broken by Chloe and her kid, then tossed in here like garbage.
I wrapped my bleeding finger with a paper towel, took a deep breath, and sat on the floor until the first light of dawn.
My resolve had never been clearer.At sunrise, I zipped up my suitcase and headed for the front door.
Just as I reached it, the master bedroom door swung open. Lucas stepped out, shirtless. When he saw my suitcase, he froze, his expression quickly twisting into irritation.
"I thought you were above playing these cheap hard-to-get games."
"Fine, my bad. Can you just unpack and get back inside?"
He mumbled the half-hearted apology and reached out to grab my bag.
I stepped aside, dodging his hand. My voice was eerily calm. "Lucas, I want a divorce."
"Are you insane?! We literally just had our wedding! Getting a divorce right now will make a laughingstock out of my entire family!"
He reached out again, taking my hand and giving it that familiar, pleading shake.
We had been together for four years. Every time he crossed a line, he would pull this exact move.
And every single time, I had forgiven him.
Just then, Chloe stepped out of the bedroom. Lucas instantly dropped my hand like it was on fire.
Chloe looped her arm intimately through his. "What are you doing, Elena? I already forgave you for last night."
"Mom and Dad are coming over this morning. You better hurry up and make breakfast."
Ignoring her bossy tone, I reached for the doorknob.
The moment the door opened, Lucas’s parents were already standing on the welcome mat.
They blinked at the sight of my suitcase. Then, Martha grabbed my arm and dragged me back inside.
"Where do you think you’re going with that luggage, young lady?"
Her voice dripped with fake concern.
I had gotten along with them reasonably well before the wedding, but blood is thicker than water. Between her biological son, her precious adopted daughter, and an outsider wife, I had no illusions about whose side she’d take.
Feigning hurt, I briefly recounted what happened the night before, without bringing up the divorce just yet.
Martha rolled her eyes impatiently. "You’re overthinking everything! Family being close is a blessing!"
"Chloe and Lucas grew up under the same roof for over twenty years. They’re soulmates of family. You’ve only been around for a few years—how could you ever compare to that kind of bond?"
Just as I expected. I kept my head down, playing submissive.
Martha turned to Lucas, her face hardening. "A woman only learns her place through a beating. Now that she's married to you, she belongs to our family. How you discipline her is entirely up to you!"
A chill ran down my spine.
Lucas chuckled in agreement, while Chloe snuggled into Martha’s arms, throwing me a gloating smirk.
"See, Elena? You should actually be thanking me. If I hadn’t held Lucas back last night, he would’ve kicked your door down."
I glanced at Lucas, only to see him looking at Chloe with nothing but tender affection.
Leo waddled out of his room. Hearing his grandmother’s words, he rushed straight at me, punching my legs with all his might while chanting, "Hit the woman! Hit her!"
The whole family burst out laughing. Martha even cheered the boy on, telling him to hit harder.
I saw that the front door was deadbolted. Fighting back physically right now would only lead to a beatdown. I gritted my teeth and endured it in silence.
Secretly, however, my fingers tapped my phone screen, hitting record.
Lucas acted like none of this was happening. He walked into the bathroom and came out holding a damp pink bundle.
It was Chloe’s underwear.
After hanging it out on the drying rack with his own hands, he finally turned to his mother. "Alright, Mom. Put her to work. Tell her to cook."
Martha rattled off their dietary restrictions. I walked into the kitchen, my hands trembling uncontrollably.
This wasn’t a marriage. It was a psychological prison. I had to get out.My attempt to leave had clearly triggered their paranoia. Lucas’s parents stayed, and the four of them watched me like prison guards.
Under the excuse of 'family rules,' they confiscated my phone, cutting off all my contact with the outside world.
Lucas and Chloe’s interactions grew more unhinged by the day, flaunting their intimacy right in front of my face.
I became an unpaid maid in that house, forced awake at 5:00 AM and forbidden from sleeping before midnight.
Martha declared she needed to "break my stubborn spirit." She removed the mattress from the guest room, forcing me to sleep directly on the bare hardwood floor without even a blanket.
Except for Chloe’s underwear, which Lucas personally hand-washed every single day, Martha made me hand-wash everyone else’s clothes—banning the use of the washing machine.
Every surface had to be spotless. Martha would run her finger along the tables to check for dust.
At mealtimes, they sat while I stood, and I was only allowed to eat their scraps.
The only silver lining was that she never let me touch Leo.
More than once, I watched Martha chew up food with her own mouth and spit it into Leo’s mouth like a bird feeding a chick.
I watched with cold detachment, silently glancing at the framed photo of Lucas and Chloe on the mantel.
Worn down by physical exhaustion and freezing nights, my body finally gave out. I collapsed with a burning fever. Yet they refused to take me to urgent care.
Martha ordered Robert to grab several heavy winter duvets and piled them all on top of me. "Sweat it out. A fever won't kill you."
The crushing weight suffocated me. When I tried to push the blankets off, Robert and Martha held down the sides with their full weight.
"Fevers... are contagious," I gasped out weakly. "You... really want Leo... catching this?"
Martha’s hands faltered.
Her precious golden grandson was her absolute lifeline.
She couldn’t risk a single scratch on him.
My days of apparent obedience had lowered their guard.
Just like that, I finally got out the door—and managed to snatch my phone back on the way.
After all, none of them were willing to spend a single dime of their own money on my medical bills.
The moment I was around the corner, I called my parents. By the time I stumbled into the hospital emergency room, I blacked out.
When I woke up and told my parents everything that had happened over the past week, my dad slammed his fist on the bedside table, shaking with rage!
"No wonder! Every time we called to check on you, they made up a dozen excuses!"
"Those sick, abusive degenerates dared to lay a hand on my daughter?!"
"That’s it. I’m going over there right now to break his neck!" Dad roared.
Mom clutched my hand, tears streaming down her face.
Knowing how completely unhinged that family was, I held my dad back.
"I’m calling the police," I said, my voice steady and cold.
Just as we were getting ready to process my discharge, Mia—a mutual friend of Lucas and mine—burst into the room, waving her phone around.
"Elena! What are you doing here?! Lucas and his family are going out of their minds! They were literally about to file a missing persons report!"
Right behind her, Lucas came barging into the room, screaming at me with theatrical panic:
"Do you have any idea how sick Chloe and Mom got from worrying about you?!"
"And look at you! Playing hooky in a hospital bed! Get your ass home right now!"
He lunged forward to grab my wrist. Mia chimed in, "Seriously, Elena, just go home. You’re a married woman now. How could you hide out in a hospital just to dodge some basic housework?"The murmurs from the surrounding patients and visitors shifted instantly.
"Young women these days are so spoiled. The husband’s family paid a fortune for the wedding, and she won’t even wash a dish?"
"Tell me about it. Faking an illness and taking up a hospital bed just to be lazy? Disgraceful."
"Look at how she’s dressed—definitely not the domestic type. Probably out cheating on him!"
The judgment rained down on me from every corner, fueling my fury.
My parents immediately started shouting back to defend me.
A smug smirk flickered across Lucas’s face. He raised his voice for the crowd. "Alright, fine. Come home, and I’ll let you rest, okay?"
"You didn’t even send a text to let us know you were safe."
"Chloe and Mom have been having panic attacks over you."
Mia shook her head in disapproval. "Come on, Elena. You’re a grown woman, why are you acting like a brat?"
"It’s just chores. How hard can it be?"
"You’re a stay-at-home wife! All you do is hold your hand out for his money. A little laundry and dusting is the easiest gig in the world."
I could see the jealousy dripping from her eyes.
What she didn’t know was that everything on my body had been paid for with my own hard-earned money.
Right after the wedding, Lucas had transferred all our marital assets to Chloe—including my dowry and the entire wedding fund my parents had gifted us.
I only discovered that financial betrayal while packing my suitcase that night.
"Enough drama. Let’s go," Lucas hissed, grabbing for me again. When I yanked my arm away, he leaned in close and whispered a vile threat:
"Elena, you better play smart. We’re legally married. Even if I drag you out of here by your hair, the cops will just call it a domestic dispute. At most, they’ll tell us to talk it out."
"Come home with me right now, and I’ll pretend this never happened."
"In your sick dreams!" I spat through gritted teeth.
"Lucas!"
Chloe appeared out of nowhere. She shot me a territorial look, grabbed Lucas’s hand, and wrapped his arm snugly around her waist.
"Elena, stop being so dramatic. Just come home with us."
Before I could tear into them, the commotion drew the attention of the floor nurse.
Taking in the scene, the nurse snapped at Lucas, "Excuse me? Your wife was admitted with a fever of 104 degrees! She was literally comatose and only regained consciousness today! Are you seriously claiming she faked that?!"
The room fell dead silent. The gossipers froze, their faces burning with embarrassment.
Seizing the moment, I said loudly, "Ever since we signed the marriage papers, you’ve been glued to Chloe 24/7. If I hadn’t dragged myself to the hospital, I would’ve died on your floor, and you wouldn't have cared!"
"Shut your damn mouth!" Lucas barked.
"Did I say anything that isn't true? Isn't she totally helpless? Doesn't she need you to hand-wash her lingerie every single day because she just can't survive without your special care?"
The entire ward gasped.
Disgusted, horrified looks locked onto Lucas and Chloe.
I looked at Lucas’s pale face, flashed a radiant smile, and made an announcement:
"Tell you what, Lucas! I’m all about fairness! I’m calling my cousin Liam right now. I’ve needed Liam to tuck me into bed since I was a kid too! I can’t sleep a wink without him holding me! If you’re cool with my cousin lying in our marriage bed and cuddling me to sleep every night, then I won’t say a single word about you and Chloe!"

Chapters (4)

Chapter 1   Chapter 2   Chapter 3   Chapter 4

Chapter 1

On our wedding night, my husband Lucas’s adopted sister was lying half-naked on our marriage bed. She had even taken down our wedding portrait and replaced it with a photo of the two of them. She smirked at me and purred, "Elena, you know I’ve needed Lucas to tuck me in since we were kids. You don’t mind, right?" When I tried to set boundaries with my husband, he snapped at me for making a scene. That was the moment I saw the light. When dealing with shameless people, you have to be ten times more shameless than them! "Well, my cousin Liam has always tucked me in since I was little too! I can’t sleep without him! Lucas, if you’re cool with my cousin lying in our bed and holding me to sleep, then I won’t say a word about you and Chloe!" Lucas’s face instantly turned green. My hands trembled as I pushed the door open. Sure enough, Chloe was lying on our marriage bed, barefoot and stripped down to her lingerie. On the wall above, the wedding portrait of Lucas and me was gone. In its place hung an intimate photo of the two of them. "Elena, you know how it is. Lucas has always tucked me in since we were kids. I can’t fall asleep without him." "He’ll come back to you once I’m asleep. You’re not gonna be petty about it, right?" Chloe looked at me, her eyes dripping with smug triumph. Ever since the day Lucas and I tied the knot, Chloe had been targeting me at every turn. She was adopted by his family, raised alongside him since childhood. At first, I chalked it up to separation anxiety and tried to be patient with her. But now? It was just straight-up disgusting. Keeping my voice flat, I retorted, "You’re an adult now, Chloe. You should know what boundaries between a man and a woman are. Don't tell me you have zero gender awareness. I don’t see you walking into the men’s restroom when you need to pee!" At that, Chloe instantly burst into tears. "Elena, you’re humiliating me!" Before I could say another word, a violent shove hit my back. I lost my balance and slammed hard against the hardwood floor! Lucas stepped into the room. He didn’t even glance at me. Instead, he wrapped his arms tightly around the sobbing Chloe, murmuring soft comforts. I stared at him in shock. Pain shot through my body, matching the ache in my chest. Over the past few days, Lucas had defended Chloe unconditionally, but he had never laid a hand on me. He glared down at me with cold disgust. "When are you going to stop throwing tantrums? Ever since you married into this family, there hasn’t been a single day of peace!" I was stunned, unable to believe what was coming out of his mouth. Chloe had a child out of wedlock, the father nowhere to be found. She had been left traumatized and diagnosed with clinical depression. To prevent her from being triggered, the entire family catered to her every whim—Lucas most of all. I had sympathized with what she went through. I brushed off her passive-aggressive jabs and tried my best to be supportive, hoping she’d heal. I never imagined she would weaponize my empathy and cross every line imaginable! I pushed myself up from the floor, shaking. "Am I the one making a scene, or is she? You’re a married man, Lucas! What grown woman lounges in her brother's marriage bed wearing nothing but a bra and panties—" Before I could finish, Lucas cut me off sharply. "Your mind is sickening!" "She’s my sister! We’re family! There’s nothing dirty between family members. What, did your own dad never see you in your clothes?" Humiliation and fury choked my throat. I couldn’t even find the words to respond to his twisted logic. "I know you dislike Chloe and want her gone," Lucas pressed on. "Let me make this crystal clear: Chloe is my family. My home is her home. No matter what you say, I am never kicking her out!" "And another thing: my parents are moving in next week. They’ll be living with us permanently." None of this was what we agreed on before marriage. I looked at Lucas, my heart turning cold. Chloe shot me a victorious grin from behind his shoulder. I watched as Lucas coaxed her until her tears turned into giggles. Saying nothing, I stood up and walked into the living room. Chloe’s four-year-old son, Leo, was still playing on the rug. When he saw me come out, he ran over and repeatedly slammed his toy metal truck into my bleeding finger. "Mean lady! Stop bullying Mommy! It’s all your fault! Bad lady!" I winced in pain and yanked my hand back. Instantly, the little brat threw himself onto the floor and began wailing at the top of his lungs! Lucas and Chloe came rushing out. Chloe scooped up her kid, looked at Lucas with tearful, helpless eyes, gave me a venomous glare, and retreated into her room. That left just Lucas and me in the living room. I stared at him, waiting for an explanation. Lucas lit a cigarette and gave me an accusing look. "Are you seriously picking on a little kid now? What happened to the promise we made? Didn’t you promise to love my family?" How ridiculous. I had agreed to be a loving partner, but never a doormat in this madhouse! Ignoring him, I reached for the first-aid kit to bandage my hand. But before I could open it, Lucas slapped my hand away. "I promised Chloe that everything in this house requires her permission before you can use it." "If you want to use the medicine, go apologize to Chloe and Leo first." He had already pinned all the blame entirely on me. A dry, bitter laugh escaped my lips. "Lucas, do you even remember who you actually married?" This was supposed to be our home. Yet the apartment had been completely stripped of anything that belonged to me. Every piece of decor had been replaced by Chloe. Every framed photo of Lucas and me had been swapped out for pictures of him and her. The disappointment that had piled up day after day finally crushed the last shred of affection I had for him. Lucas paused, but his tone remained patronizing. "Chloe is young and fragile. You're the mature one here—why do you have to pick a fight over every little thing?" "It’s just home decor. It doesn’t change who you are." Chloe was twenty-five years old and had already popped out a kid! I bit my trembling lip, forcing back the tears. Without another word, I turned on my heel and walked into the guest bedroom. I locked the door behind me and dragged out my suitcase. Lucas’s furious yelling pounded against the wood outside. "Elena! It’s just an apology! You’re the one who started this drama out of nowhere! What the hell is wrong with your attitude?!" No matter what garbage he spewed, I stayed dead silent. By the time I finished packing, the house had fallen completely quiet. I surveyed the room. Calling it a guest room was generous—it was basically a dump. Everything I had bought for our new home had been broken by Chloe and her kid, then tossed in here like garbage. I wrapped my bleeding finger with a paper towel, took a deep breath, and sat on the floor until the first light of dawn. My resolve had never been clearer.

Chapter 2

At sunrise, I zipped up my suitcase and headed for the front door. Just as I reached it, the master bedroom door swung open. Lucas stepped out, shirtless. When he saw my suitcase, he froze, his expression quickly twisting into irritation. "I thought you were above playing these cheap hard-to-get games." "Fine, my bad. Can you just unpack and get back inside?" He mumbled the half-hearted apology and reached out to grab my bag. I stepped aside, dodging his hand. My voice was eerily calm. "Lucas, I want a divorce." "Are you insane?! We literally just had our wedding! Getting a divorce right now will make a laughingstock out of my entire family!" He reached out again, taking my hand and giving it that familiar, pleading shake. We had been together for four years. Every time he crossed a line, he would pull this exact move. And every single time, I had forgiven him. Just then, Chloe stepped out of the bedroom. Lucas instantly dropped my hand like it was on fire. Chloe looped her arm intimately through his. "What are you doing, Elena? I already forgave you for last night." "Mom and Dad are coming over this morning. You better hurry up and make breakfast." Ignoring her bossy tone, I reached for the doorknob. The moment the door opened, Lucas’s parents were already standing on the welcome mat. They blinked at the sight of my suitcase. Then, Martha grabbed my arm and dragged me back inside. "Where do you think you’re going with that luggage, young lady?" Her voice dripped with fake concern. I had gotten along with them reasonably well before the wedding, but blood is thicker than water. Between her biological son, her precious adopted daughter, and an outsider wife, I had no illusions about whose side she’d take. Feigning hurt, I briefly recounted what happened the night before, without bringing up the divorce just yet. Martha rolled her eyes impatiently. "You’re overthinking everything! Family being close is a blessing!" "Chloe and Lucas grew up under the same roof for over twenty years. They’re soulmates of family. You’ve only been around for a few years—how could you ever compare to that kind of bond?" Just as I expected. I kept my head down, playing submissive. Martha turned to Lucas, her face hardening. "A woman only learns her place through a beating. Now that she's married to you, she belongs to our family. How you discipline her is entirely up to you!" A chill ran down my spine. Lucas chuckled in agreement, while Chloe snuggled into Martha’s arms, throwing me a gloating smirk. "See, Elena? You should actually be thanking me. If I hadn’t held Lucas back last night, he would’ve kicked your door down." I glanced at Lucas, only to see him looking at Chloe with nothing but tender affection. Leo waddled out of his room. Hearing his grandmother’s words, he rushed straight at me, punching my legs with all his might while chanting, "Hit the woman! Hit her!" The whole family burst out laughing. Martha even cheered the boy on, telling him to hit harder. I saw that the front door was deadbolted. Fighting back physically right now would only lead to a beatdown. I gritted my teeth and endured it in silence. Secretly, however, my fingers tapped my phone screen, hitting record. Lucas acted like none of this was happening. He walked into the bathroom and came out holding a damp pink bundle. It was Chloe’s underwear. After hanging it out on the drying rack with his own hands, he finally turned to his mother. "Alright, Mom. Put her to work. Tell her to cook." Martha rattled off their dietary restrictions. I walked into the kitchen, my hands trembling uncontrollably. This wasn’t a marriage. It was a psychological prison. I had to get out.

Chapter 3

My attempt to leave had clearly triggered their paranoia. Lucas’s parents stayed, and the four of them watched me like prison guards. Under the excuse of 'family rules,' they confiscated my phone, cutting off all my contact with the outside world. Lucas and Chloe’s interactions grew more unhinged by the day, flaunting their intimacy right in front of my face. I became an unpaid maid in that house, forced awake at 5:00 AM and forbidden from sleeping before midnight. Martha declared she needed to "break my stubborn spirit." She removed the mattress from the guest room, forcing me to sleep directly on the bare hardwood floor without even a blanket. Except for Chloe’s underwear, which Lucas personally hand-washed every single day, Martha made me hand-wash everyone else’s clothes—banning the use of the washing machine. Every surface had to be spotless. Martha would run her finger along the tables to check for dust. At mealtimes, they sat while I stood, and I was only allowed to eat their scraps. The only silver lining was that she never let me touch Leo. More than once, I watched Martha chew up food with her own mouth and spit it into Leo’s mouth like a bird feeding a chick. I watched with cold detachment, silently glancing at the framed photo of Lucas and Chloe on the mantel. Worn down by physical exhaustion and freezing nights, my body finally gave out. I collapsed with a burning fever. Yet they refused to take me to urgent care. Martha ordered Robert to grab several heavy winter duvets and piled them all on top of me. "Sweat it out. A fever won't kill you." The crushing weight suffocated me. When I tried to push the blankets off, Robert and Martha held down the sides with their full weight. "Fevers... are contagious," I gasped out weakly. "You... really want Leo... catching this?" Martha’s hands faltered. Her precious golden grandson was her absolute lifeline. She couldn’t risk a single scratch on him. My days of apparent obedience had lowered their guard. Just like that, I finally got out the door—and managed to snatch my phone back on the way. After all, none of them were willing to spend a single dime of their own money on my medical bills. The moment I was around the corner, I called my parents. By the time I stumbled into the hospital emergency room, I blacked out. When I woke up and told my parents everything that had happened over the past week, my dad slammed his fist on the bedside table, shaking with rage! "No wonder! Every time we called to check on you, they made up a dozen excuses!" "Those sick, abusive degenerates dared to lay a hand on my daughter?!" "That’s it. I’m going over there right now to break his neck!" Dad roared. Mom clutched my hand, tears streaming down her face. Knowing how completely unhinged that family was, I held my dad back. "I’m calling the police," I said, my voice steady and cold. Just as we were getting ready to process my discharge, Mia—a mutual friend of Lucas and mine—burst into the room, waving her phone around. "Elena! What are you doing here?! Lucas and his family are going out of their minds! They were literally about to file a missing persons report!" Right behind her, Lucas came barging into the room, screaming at me with theatrical panic: "Do you have any idea how sick Chloe and Mom got from worrying about you?!" "And look at you! Playing hooky in a hospital bed! Get your ass home right now!" He lunged forward to grab my wrist. Mia chimed in, "Seriously, Elena, just go home. You’re a married woman now. How could you hide out in a hospital just to dodge some basic housework?"

Chapter 4

The murmurs from the surrounding patients and visitors shifted instantly. "Young women these days are so spoiled. The husband’s family paid a fortune for the wedding, and she won’t even wash a dish?" "Tell me about it. Faking an illness and taking up a hospital bed just to be lazy? Disgraceful." "Look at how she’s dressed—definitely not the domestic type. Probably out cheating on him!" The judgment rained down on me from every corner, fueling my fury. My parents immediately started shouting back to defend me. A smug smirk flickered across Lucas’s face. He raised his voice for the crowd. "Alright, fine. Come home, and I’ll let you rest, okay?" "You didn’t even send a text to let us know you were safe." "Chloe and Mom have been having panic attacks over you." Mia shook her head in disapproval. "Come on, Elena. You’re a grown woman, why are you acting like a brat?" "It’s just chores. How hard can it be?" "You’re a stay-at-home wife! All you do is hold your hand out for his money. A little laundry and dusting is the easiest gig in the world." I could see the jealousy dripping from her eyes. What she didn’t know was that everything on my body had been paid for with my own hard-earned money. Right after the wedding, Lucas had transferred all our marital assets to Chloe—including my dowry and the entire wedding fund my parents had gifted us. I only discovered that financial betrayal while packing my suitcase that night. "Enough drama. Let’s go," Lucas hissed, grabbing for me again. When I yanked my arm away, he leaned in close and whispered a vile threat: "Elena, you better play smart. We’re legally married. Even if I drag you out of here by your hair, the cops will just call it a domestic dispute. At most, they’ll tell us to talk it out." "Come home with me right now, and I’ll pretend this never happened." "In your sick dreams!" I spat through gritted teeth. "Lucas!" Chloe appeared out of nowhere. She shot me a territorial look, grabbed Lucas’s hand, and wrapped his arm snugly around her waist. "Elena, stop being so dramatic. Just come home with us." Before I could tear into them, the commotion drew the attention of the floor nurse. Taking in the scene, the nurse snapped at Lucas, "Excuse me? Your wife was admitted with a fever of 104 degrees! She was literally comatose and only regained consciousness today! Are you seriously claiming she faked that?!" The room fell dead silent. The gossipers froze, their faces burning with embarrassment. Seizing the moment, I said loudly, "Ever since we signed the marriage papers, you’ve been glued to Chloe 24/7. If I hadn’t dragged myself to the hospital, I would’ve died on your floor, and you wouldn't have cared!" "Shut your damn mouth!" Lucas barked. "Did I say anything that isn't true? Isn't she totally helpless? Doesn't she need you to hand-wash her lingerie every single day because she just can't survive without your special care?" The entire ward gasped. Disgusted, horrified looks locked onto Lucas and Chloe. I looked at Lucas’s pale face, flashed a radiant smile, and made an announcement: "Tell you what, Lucas! I’m all about fairness! I’m calling my cousin Liam right now. I’ve needed Liam to tuck me into bed since I was a kid too! I can’t sleep a wink without him holding me! If you’re cool with my cousin lying in our marriage bed and cuddling me to sleep every night, then I won’t say a single word about you and Chloe!"

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