Chapter 6

Upon hearing the unfamiliar man's voice on the phone, my blood boiled, and without a second thought, I clicked open the video file he had sent me.

As soon as I saw the video, I knew it was Vivienne's house. Her husband was live-streaming their home security footage to me.

My daughter wriggled free from her grandmother's arms and ran to me. I put down my phone, wiped the tears from my face, and gently comforted her for a moment.

My mother-in-law looked at me disapprovingly and said, "Look at how other families are celebrating the Christmas with such joy and excitement. And then look at you. Your husband is out there hustling to make money, and you can't even hold down the fort!"

I lifted my head to look at this old woman who was bossing me around. Stripped of her leadership aura, she had become just an ordinary old lady, yet she still felt entitled to criticize my every move.