Chapter 1

The key sat in the lock. I had just been about to turn it.

Laughter drifted from inside the house, bright and sharp. Each word they uttered stabbed straight into my ears.

"Keith, you're so good to me! This is limited edition. I've been looking everywhere, but I couldn't find it."

Caroline Jenkins' voice was syrupy sweet, the exact tone my husband, Keith Collins, loved most.

My voice had always been cool and quiet. I could never fake such soft, clingy sweetness.

I used to think he loved me because I was different, with my calm, detached edge.

Until the day I accidentally overheard him joking with his friends.

"Silvia's great in every way. It's just her personality and her voice. They're too bland. It's kind of tasteless."

Since that moment, those words had lodged inside me like a tiny thorn. Every time I opened my mouth to speak, there was a trace of hesitation, a hint of quiet insecurity.

I took a deep breath, but the tightness in my chest did not ease.

Then, I shoved the door open.

The laughter in the living room froze. All three of them turned to look at me, their smiles stiffening instantly.

My mother-in-law, Melanie Collins, had a healthy flush on her cheeks. There was not a single sign of the ‘allergy’ she always complained about.

Caroline was wrapped around Keith's arm, clinging to him intimately. In her hand was the perfume I had wanted so badly last month but could not bring myself to buy.

"You're back?" Keith instinctively pulled his arm away from Caroline. "Today isn't one of the days you're supposed to come home."

I had not even said anything yet.

Caroline looked at me timidly, her eyes wide. "Silvia, don't misunderstand. I just came to visit my godmother."

I glanced at her calmly. "Why are you so nervous? I didn't even do anything. You're making it look like I'm the bad guy."

Caroline looked even more frightened. It was the kind of fragile, pitiful expression that made people want to protect her.

Keith frowned as he looked at me. "What's wrong with you today?" he asked, his tone dropping. "Who upset you? Why are you talking like that?"

Then, his voice hardened. "Silvia, this is not the place for you to throw a tantrum."

I lifted my gaze to him. He was looking down at Caroline. I could not see his full expression, but I caught the faint curve of a smile at the corner of his lips. Was this what he found amusing, carefully staged sweetness?

The tightness in my chest deepened.

Just then, Melanie grabbed her chest, coughing uncontrollably.

"Why are you back? Ever since you showed up, everything's gone wrong. I can't breathe anymore!"

Her face flushed red, tears spilling out instantly.

Keith rushed over right away, patting her back anxiously. "Mom, are you okay? Don't panic. I'll make her leave right now!"

He turned to me, his voice sharp. "Can't you see Mom isn't feeling well? Why are you still standing there? Leave!"

In the past, seeing this scene would have filled me with guilt. I would have packed my things and left immediately.

How stupid I was.

I looked at her calmly. "Mom, stop pretending."

Everyone froze.

Keith's expression darkened. "Silvia, how could you talk to Mom like that? You know her health isn't good."

Oh, I knew. I knew all too well.

That was exactly why I was not going to put up with it anymore.