Chapter 3

My face was already red and swollen from the scalding water. A small moan escaped my lips.

"It hurts. It hurts so much."

Karen laughed at the sight and handed the kettle to Eloise with a sweet smile.

"Ellie, your mom is still talking in her sleep. She hasn't fully woken up yet. Take this hot water and splash some more on her."

Eloise immediately grabbed the kettle and threw the water at me. My thin nightgown offered no protection against the boiling water. My skin got scalded again, and I screamed.

"Stop! Ellie, stop!"

Karen laughed at my miserable state. "Oh, you're awake now, Mrs. Garpin. I guess the hot water really does work."

I knew she was doing this on purpose. I struggled to get up, but every movement felt like walking on knives. The pain tore through me.

I looked at John desperately. "John, that was boiling water. I'm in so much pain. Please take me to the hospital."

Karen's expression instantly shifted to fake concern. "Mrs. Garpin, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have done that to wake you up. I was just so worried about you."

John frowned at me coldly the moment he heard Karen's pitiful tone. "Enough. You just got splashed with a little hot water. Karen was worried about you.

"Besides, it didn't kill you. How bad could it be?"

Eloise hugged Karen and looked at me with disgust. "Exactly. Dad's right. It was just a little hot water. Mom, stop getting in the way of Ms. Linsell's home visit."

Home visit? What a load of garbage. This was cheating, plain and simple.

How ridiculous. If I hadn't stumbled across that forum post and discovered everything, they probably would have fooled me for the rest of my life.

I couldn't hold it in anymore. I used every ounce of strength I had left to scream at John and Karen.

"Stop pretending! John, how dare you bring your mistress into my face? Do you have any shame? Any conscience at all?"

I lunged forward, wanting to slap Karen across the face. The next second, John kicked me to the ground. The crushing pain in my lower abdomen left me unable to even crawl.

John stood protectively in front of Karen and stared down at me coldly.

"Enough, Emma. You know the truth now, so just shut up about it. You can still be Mrs. Garpin. What's the point of making a scene?

"Listen. I've kept you as the only woman in my life for all these years. That should more than repay what you invested back then. Stop being ungrateful."

I froze where I lay, staring at him in disbelief. My whole body trembled.

I was the ungrateful one? My eyes turned red, and tears streamed down my face.

Karen acted like she'd been frightened. Her face was the picture of fragility as she looked at John. "John, this is my fault. I insisted on coming over and disturbing you all. I'm so sorry, Mrs. Garpin. I'm so sorry."

When Eloise saw Karen crying, she flew into a rage. She rushed over and shoved me to the ground.

"You're a terrible mother! All you do is bully Ms. Linsell! You're disgusting!"

I had no strength left. Eloise's push sent me stumbling, and my head slammed against the corner of the wall.

My heart had finally shattered completely. Clutching the wound on my forehead, I struggled to my feet and pulled out my phone to call for help so I could get out of here.