Chapter 1. Angelina's secret exposed

"Your time is up, Angelina Sandore, to become Mrs. Axton Barayev Almero!" The loud voice came from Mrs. Evelyn Almero, the old woman who was now pointing to the right where Angelina, the daughter-in-law, stood.

The situation in the living room was tense when Angelina's secret was revealed. For two weeks, she had been hiding something from her husband's family. The big secret was written on a piece of paper from one of the major hospitals that showed she could not have children.

The evidence was in Evelyn's right hand. She crumpled the paper tightly until it was round, then threw it right in front of Angelina's face.

"All this time, you deceived us all! No wonder that after three years of marriage, my son was not blessed with offspring! It turns out that your womb is defective!" Evelyn scolded her daughter-in-law.

"Mother, forgive me!" Angelina tried to approach Evelyn, but her steps stopped when her mother-in-law's gaze was full of hatred.

"I'll call Axton. He must know about his wife's lies!" Evelyn picked up her cell phone, swiping quickly at the screen.

"Mom, please don't call Axton," Angelina said, reflexively pulling Evelyn's hand until the phone almost fell.

"Idiot!" Evelyn's eyes widened sharply at Angelina.

"Please don't tell him. I can explain everything. Please, Mom!" Angelina's palms were clasped together, begging her mother-in-law to keep her secret.

But apparently, that unlucky day had arrived for Angelina. The sound of a car rumbling outside the house signaled that Axton-her husband-had returned from Evelyn's family-owned company.

"See? Axton is home! You'll be kicked out of this house in no time!" Evelyn smiled wryly.

Angelina looked down. Her heart was racing. She thought of ways to keep Axton from getting angry with her. She could already imagine how disappointed Axton would be if he heard her mother-in-law's complaints.

The tall, wide door opened. Axton walked into the living room. His forehead wrinkled slightly when he found his wife and mother there. Axton looked at the faces of the two women in turn.

"Mom, Angelina, what happened?" Axton asked.

Evelyn walked over to her son, standing at eye level with Axton, who was still carrying his briefcase, while Angelina, filled with a sense of dread, looked at her husband.

"Right now, you should divorce Angelina and throw this useless woman out, Axton!" ordered Evelyn, pointing at Angelina.

"What does that mean, Mommy?" Axton looked confused.

"Angelina has lied to all of us! She has lied to the Almero family!" said Evelyn in a loud voice.

"Lied to? Explain; I don't understand," said Axton, unable to grasp where his mother was going.

"All this time, Angelina has been deliberately hiding the truth that her womb is defective! She will not be able to provide offspring for the Almero family's successor!"

Of course, Evelyn's explanation surprised Axton. His sharp eyes were fixed on Angelina, then moved to the floor where the round paper was lying under Angelina's feet.

"Is that so, Angelina?" Axton cast a questioning gaze at his wife.

Angelina was nervous, unable to explain why. If she told Axton the truth at that very moment, her marriage would be ruined. If her marriage was destroyed, Angelina's life would also be ruined, leaving her stranded on the streets. Angelina didn't want that to happen. She couldn't be discarded by the Almero family. She had to defend her marriage.

"Answer, Angelina! What Mom said is all true!" Axton's voice began to rise.

"I'm sorry, Axton. I... can explain everything," Angelina said in a trembling voice.

"Are you not going to be able to give me offspring?!" Axton asked sternly.

Axton clenched his hands into fists, his teeth chattering with anger. Angelina stepped in front of him and then knelt at his feet.

"Axton, don't hate me," she said, looking down. "I know I was wrong. I'm sorry I did that stupid thing. I was afraid you wouldn't love me anymore."

"Don't give her any mercy, Axton! She's a poor, ignorant woman! She doesn't deserve to be your wife. She doesn't deserve to be part of the highly esteemed Almero family! How will people out there judge? A noble daughter-in-law can't produce offspring? Shame on you!" said Evelyn, fed up with seeing Angelina clutching Axton's feet, which were still clad in dress shoes, begging for pity.

Axton bent his body, firmly gripping Angelina's wrists as he pulled her to her feet. Angelina grimaced with pain.

"Do you know the consequences if you dare to play with me, Angelina?" The baritone voice sounded sinister.

"Get out of my house right now!" Axton yelled right in front of his wife's face.

"I'm not leaving!" snapped Angelina.

Axton's anger peaked. He dragged Angelina roughly, walking quickly as he brought her towards the main door.

"Axton, please! I love you so much!"

"Six years of your life. Don't you remember our sweet memories?"

Angelina was still trying to hold on in the last seconds before she was completely dumped by the Almero family.

"Don't mind her talk! That woman doesn't deserve to be with you, Axton!" said Evelyn, anxious about Angelina, who was still persistent.

"Please, Axton. Please...!"

The sound of Angelina's moaning did not discourage Axton from throwing his wife's thin body onto the porch. Angelina fell to the floor.

Axton and Evelyn stood side by side, looking down at the floor with contempt for a woman who could not have offspring.

Angelina was disposed of like a carcass that smelled, as if something disgusting must be destroyed immediately.

"You've dared to lie to me all these years! Now bear the consequences!" Axton grumbled, not feeling sorry for his wife at all.

With her face flushed with tears, Angelina replied, "But I'm still your wife, Axton!"

"Anyone who dares to deceive me is my enemy!" Axton said.