2

I could feel all eyes on me the moment I took a seat on the dining table, Dale beside me and Nora on his other side.

The glares from his family was unmissable.

One would think I'd stolen the most valuable thing from them with how they always addressed me.

It was only his dad, Finn, and Dale's youngest sister, Tina, who didn't bother with one.

They both didn't hate me, they just didn't care.

Like Dale.

But the rest let their hatred very evident.

“Let's eat.” Finn spoke sternly, enough to let their eyes drift from me for a second.

Just a second.

“That might have been a lot easier if this filth wasn't sitting with us.” Sophie, his younger sister of four years huffed, hurling a glare my way.

Well, here come the unnecessary drama that takes place every single family dinner.

I had to resist an eye roll.

Seriously, if it wasn't for trying to make Dale like me, then I most certainly wouldn't be taking a lot of shit they offered.

His frown was still worn, bothering me further.

Something really was wrong.

“Sophie, this is not the—”

“Oh please, it's not like she's wrong.” Amber, his mom, cut Tina off, her face in a sneer, then to me, “I don't see why my son left a perfect human like Nora, to go about feeding dogs and letting them live like lions.”

My lips parted slightly.

She just called me a dog.

“Right?” Sophie had a lopsided smile on. “And he still brings this orphaned garbage to eat with us. If it were only Nora and her graceful—”

“That's enough.” Dale stared up at them, expression plain, but cold. “No one must say any word about her again.”

Him standing up for me brought a smile to my face.

There most certainly would be love in there somewhere.

Be it he was oddly colder that day or not, he would still have something for me.

But my happiness vanished when Nora spoke. “Yeah, you guys should stop being so mean to her. She's my friend after all.”

I had to bite my lower lip to stop a retort.

She was enjoying being praised. That was obvious.

“But Chloe,” she turned to me with that practiced feigned smile, “you too should learn not to embarrass us. Maybe I could give you some training on how to act later.”

Oh this bitch.

“Th—”

“I said that's enough.” Dale spoke more sternly.

But I was pissed, my internals boiling furiously.

If I didn't leave then, I might possibly explode.

“Please, excuse me. I have to use the ladies room.” With a small smile, I stood up, then left for the toilet, clutching my purse the entire way.

“Nora, you asshole.” I huffed, quickly retrieving my phone, then dialing Emery, my sister's number.

The only one I could confide in ever since our parent's death in an accident.

She answered after the second ring. “Yello.”

“You will need to talk to your boyfriend.” My cheeks were reddening.

“Why?”

“He had better snap some senses to Nora, because she's pissing me off and I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep my cool.” Two years was enough, I wasn't sure if I could do more.

“Woah, calm down. I'll talk to him, but what happened?” She replied.

“She's here pissing me off, hugging my husband, and enjoying everyone calling me a dog, then she even as much as says she's going to give me some lessons.” I snorted. “Who wants lesson from a low-life hypocrite bitch like her.”

I could see her frown from the voice call. “Don't you think maybe Dale should do something about that? His family can't keep on insulting you and he sits there listening.”

“Oh no, he actually told them to stop.”

“Oh-kay.” She sounded like she wasn't believing, but I was true though. “Well, if you want, you can come over to visit. I'm always available.”

“Thanks, maybe I'll come tomorrow.”

“And I'll be here.”

After a few more minutes of talking, we said our goodbyes, then I hung up.

Time to get back to my in-laws and Nora, who I'd have to get stuck with her fake sweetness.

With a sigh, I left the toilet, then started towards the dining room.

One thing I couldn't help but notice was how all the workers' eyes rested on me.

I was used to being stared at by Dale's family, but never the workers.

They still respected me regardless.

But now, they stared at me like I'd done the most absurd thing, which was… very weird.

Still, I said nothing, and just made my way to the dining room.

“Ah, there she is!” Amber's loathe-filled voice greeted me once I was in, startling my feet to stop.

“Huh?” I stared up at all the faces, glaring at me with fury, even Finn.

Dale was nowhere to be found though, but the eyes on me made me wish he was here.

“You bitch!” Sophie headed towards me, grabbing my arm in a grip so tight, I was only further surprised.

“What's going on?” Someone needed to clear things up.

“You money laundering shameless bitch!” She began pulling me with her.

“Stop this!” Furious, I yanked myself free. “Will you tell me what the heck’s going on or just fuck off?”

“It seems you've still got the wings to talk after everything.” She eyed me with disgust.

One even more than she'd ever offered.

“Oh, you want to know, right?” Amber scoffed, moving to stand in front of me. “Then, see this.” She pushed her phone to me.

And my eyes widened the moment I stared at the screen.

It showed a transaction from Dale's company to me, then another account.

From what the phone read, I'd stolen twelve million dollars from his company.

“And this.” She scrolled to the next photo.

One that made me gasp.

A photo… tons of them, of me with a guy, handing money to him.

And the next was a voice recording.

My voice, talking to some guy on how to get rid of Dale as soon as possible.

“What the—?”