Chapter 2

I'd given my blood, sweat, and tears. I truly couldn't hold on any longer. All I wanted was for him to act like a mate, a father, and a son. He needed to shoulder his basic responsibilities.

How did that make me greedy and lazy?

I was shaking with anger. Just as I was about to speak, the bedroom door on the second floor opened.

His parents had clearly heard the argument. My mother-in-law looked down at me from the top of the stairs. She put on a fake look of concern.

"Serena, you aren't thinking straight."

"David is a highly respected pack hero now. It's bad enough that you aren't proud of him, but why are you scheming for his money?"

A wave of frustration hit my chest, but I suppressed my anger and explained.

"Mom, David is a part of this family too. I just hope he can consider us when he donates his money."

"Besides, I'm not spending that money on myself."

"Dad's wolfsbane complications require rare herbs. A small bottle of that imported extract costs six hundred dollars. Your daily physical therapy bills are also piling up. If we don't pay the bills, you two won't have any medication next week."

My mother-in-law waved her hand impatiently.

"Alright, stop nagging. We know our own bodies."

"Stop using our illness as an excuse. At the end of the day, you're just spoiled. You don't want to work hard."

My father-in-law snorted coldly.

"Exactly. I've never seen such a selfish daughter-in-law."

"David is famous across the packs because he dedicates everything he has. He never keeps a penny for himself. By forcing him to pay for household expenses, you're ruining his reputation."

"He finally entered elite pack circles and earned respect. As his mate, you should learn from him. Instead, you're trying to hold him back over a few measly dollars?"

The three of them backed each other up. They condemned me like I was a criminal.

It felt like a bucket of ice water was poured over my head. My mind instantly cleared.

Over the years, David was always busy attending donation ceremonies and charity galas.

And me? I worked my life away in the emergency room. I gave up my rest time to drive his parents across the state to specialist clinics.

I often skipped lunch just to wait in line for their doctor appointments.

Every time we got the medicine, my mother-in-law would grab my hand and sigh.

"Oh, Serena. David has such a big heart, but he forgets about us. Thank goodness we have you holding this family together."

My father-in-law would look grateful. "Good girl, you sacrifice too much. If David ever treats you badly, just tell us."

Even David would swear to me during intimate moments. "Baby, having a mate as strong and understanding as you is a blessing from the Moon Goddess."

"Don't worry. I'll make up for everything I owe you. I'll never let you suffer."

Every word they said back then seemed so sincere.

And I was stupid enough to believe them.

So for all this time, I swallowed my pain. I endured it alone, even when I was so exhausted I could barely stand.

I thought they truly cared about my struggles, appreciated my sacrifices, and needed me.

I used to hope that once David was satisfied, he would act like a true mate. I thought he would support this family with me and protect me.

But today, the mate bond felt like a cruel joke. I finally realized how terribly wrong I was.

All their gratitude and pity were fake. They were just lies to squeeze every last drop of value out of me.