Chapter 1:

On New Year's Eve, my mother-in-law ordered my daughter and me to go to the kitchen to eat buns.

"This is the rule for daughters-in-law. How come an adult like you still acts so immature?"

I smiled and asked Ethan Grant, "Really?"

"Darling, listen to Mom. Women shouldn't sit at the table. Don't make it hard for everyone."

I flipped the table over.

"Troublesome? Then let's not do it."

1.

I awkwardly stood by the table with my daughter Bella.

The Grant family and my mother-in-law surrounded us, mocking us for eating in the kitchen.

"Emma Knox, regardless of how educated a daughter-in-law is, she still can't sit at the table."

"City girls are so delicate. Who hasn't gone through this? Just her."

"It's her blessing to marry into our family. Ethan is a graduate student! He'll make lots of money in the future!"

Ethan was the first graduate student in the family, and my mother-in-law was so proud, she wanted to control me.

Mother-in-law urged again, "Hurry up and go. You're not even as good as our neighbor Zhang's daughter-in-law, Mia. She just gave birth to a big, healthy son this year. We should've listened to me and married Mia."

Bella whispered to me, "Mom, I want to eat shrimp."

Uncle glared, "Girl, what seafood? It's all for my grandson. Buns will do for you!"

I can endure them saying things about me, but Bella is my precious.

I looked at Ethan, still holding a sliver of hope.

"Emma, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Just listen to Mom. Everyone's here, don't make it difficult for Mom."

I took a deep breath and with all my might, flipped the table, scattering chicken, duck, fish, and shrimp everywhere.

"Difficult? You wish, nobody's eating."

My mother-in-law sat on the floor crying loudly, "Ethan, I said a woman like this is no good. Bringing her into the house brings misfortune, a perfectly good family meal ruined."

"Emma, you're too much. No manners at all. Is this how your family raised you?" My father-in-law said with a cold face.

"Our Old Grant House can't handle a daughter-in-law like you, no rules nor manners."

I looked around the room.

"And you have the nerve to judge me. I bought the dishes, carried the shrimp and abalone all the way from Varrow. I cooked the entire meal alone. So what if I flip it? I made it and I can't even eat it, so I'll overturn it all."

My mother-in-law pointed at me and scolded, "Emma, I twisted my waist, can't get out of bed, asked you to do something, and you act like this. I didn't even help?"

"You helped? I cooked for six hours, you passed by three times, drank one bottle of orange juice, three cans of milk, and ate six ribs, if I remember right?"

"Twisted your waist? Wasn't it you who spent the whole day at the mahjong room the other day, danced yesterday, and gossiped around today?"

I looked at my father-in-law again, sneering.

"My family taught me gender equality. My daughter wants to eat shrimp, what's the big deal with eating shrimp every day? What, you guys still discriminating based on gender, hasn't that been abolished for decades, not announced in your house yet?"

"And Uncle, your family has rules, your grandson eats a whole plate of shrimp alone? That's your rule, didn't know. Aren't you afraid he won't grow well and won't find a spouse?"

Everyone in the room turned red-faced and thick-necked, but couldn't utter a word, my mother-in-law even came over to pull my hair.

Trying to hit me? I didn't learn taekwondo for nothing.

I grabbed Bella and sidestepped, pushing back, causing my mother-in-law to fall to the ground again.

Ethan suddenly pulled my hand tight, "Emma, how can you lay hands on my mom? Apologize now."

"You wish! Ethan Grant, let me tell you, I'm not someone easy to push around."

While Ethan and I were arguing, my mother-in-law rushed over and slapped me.

"You little bitch, let's see if I don't beat you to death."

I shook off Ethan's hand.

"You and your mom love each other for life!"

2.

I took Bella to pack our things in the room, ready to leave.

Bella was only four, yet mature, "Mom, Dad and Grandma are mean to you. We shouldn't take Dad back."

"Mom, don't be sad. You still have Bella. Bella will make lots of money in the future and buy you a big house."

"Emma, it's New Year's Eve, you want to leave, but do you think you can get a car now?"

Ethan walked in with a smug face, "I just called your parents, guess what they said?"

"They said you were wrong, asked me to talk to you. They want to visit and apologize."

I stood up at once, "Ethan, you think using my parents against me will work?"

"With no one taking orders, but if I raise the price to one thousand, two thousand, three thousand, four? Let's see if no one takes it then. Your whole family wants to gang up on me, let me tell you, dream on."

In the next room, mother-in-law was still shouting, "Ethan, divorce that little bitch right away. Mom will find someone better for you, like Lucy, she's rich, filial, and can have sons."

Determined, I held Bella and left.

"Emma, we've had so many years together, you can't do this."

"If not for yourself, at least think of Bella. The child is still young, we can't let her grow up without a father's love!"

"However, you cursed out my family. You should apologize, or I'll call your parents!"

I just left two words: "Divorce."

Once in the car, looking at the Grant family's dark and angry expressions, it's hard to say I wasn't upset.

In my senior year, I met Ethan. I didn't mind his family's poverty and remoteness, I valued his steadiness and maturity, worth relying on.

After college, we married without savings, and soon Bella was born.

"You and Bella are my treasures, I will make sure you both have the happiest life!"

When Bella just turned one, Ethan said that a bachelor's degree had little competitiveness, so he wanted to go for a graduate degree, to work hard for our future.

He put in effort like during exams, studying till midnight every day after work, even on New Year's Day preparing for the exam.

Unexpectedly, right after Ethan graduated, his family thought I was beneath him, wanted to put me in my place.

If I hadn't worked desperately during Ethan's graduate years, even landing in the hospital several times from drinking too much, where would Ethan have had the living expenses to support his graduate studies?

Truly, the first sword of a graduate, is to cut down your loved one.

Originally, we planned to spend the New Year in Varrow this year.

But Ethan Grant said he hadn't spent New Year at home in years, and his parents persuaded me to fulfill my duties as a daughter-in-law, so I agreed.

Before setting off, my dad specifically reminded me that Ethan's parents have lived in the small village all their lives, and I should be more understanding and tolerant of them.

I didn't expect that all I got in return was disdain from the Grant Family and a slap from my mother-in-law.

3.

Bella and I took an early morning flight back to Varrow,

just finished tidying up when my parents called.

"Emma, what's going on? Ethan said you trashed their house and left with Bella, and you want a divorce. What did I tell you before?"

"Emma, don't blame your dad for saying this. He just wants your family to be stable, which is good for the child's growth."

"If you still feel wronged, wait for Ethan to come back, and mom will talk to him for you. Also, apologize to his parents. Couples will argue, but you can't get divorced!"

Bella lifted my hand to the camera, "Grandpa and Grandma, look at mom's hand, it's all red from the cold."

"Mom was made to wash sheets, curtains, and clothes at grandma's house, saying the washing machine was broken and wouldn't let mom use hot water."

"They wouldn't let Bella eat shrimp and made mom and me eat steamed buns in the kitchen. Grandpa, Grandma, Bella is so hungry~"

Bella has been cherished by my parents since she was little, more beloved than even I am as their daughter.

Hearing this, my parents were furious, but finally could only let out a helpless sigh.

"Sigh, Emma, wait until Ethan comes back and talk to him. For Bella's sake, try not to get divorced if you can."

"Darling, it's unfair to you."

I know my parents want Bella to have a happy and joyful childhood, to have a complete family.

I wiped my tears: "Mom, Dad, you know my temper, I won't wrong myself, and I don't want to wrong myself. If Ethan keeps this up, Bella and I can still manage."

"Emma has grown up; she's different from before," my parents tacitly acknowledged.

The next day, I took Bella to Westleigh for a vacation; adult issues shouldn't affect the child.

4.

Ethan didn't call again, and Bella and I had a wonderful five-day vacation.

Returning from Westleigh, we got off the plane and headed straight home.

Upon opening the door, I was stunned; the whole family was sitting on the couch picking their feet.

Shoes piled up at the entrance, and the room stank with a mountain of takeout on the table, some of it even rotten with maggots crawling in it.

Mother-in-law was sitting on the couch picking her teeth: "Isn't this Emma Knox back? Quickly clean up the house and go out to buy some groceries, and get three more pounds of shrimp like last time."

Father-in-law chimed in: "Being a daughter-in-law means acting like one. Being able to marry Ethan is your blessing, so hurry up and clean!"

I pulled out my phone and called Ethan,

"Emma, my parents want to come and take care of our life, maybe even help with Bella, it's nice."

"They're planning to stay long-term and have already entrusted their fields and house to the eldest aunt's family."

"We'll manage. Bella is still young; she can sleep in the same room with us. Parents in the guest room, and my uncle, aunt, and their grandson Zhuang will sleep in Bella's room."

I could feel my blood pressure rising.

Just then, my uncle came out of the room and saw me: "Emma, I heard the school district here is good. Transfer the house to my son so Zhuang can go to school and have a good future."

"Zhuang's schooling is important; the little girl can go anywhere."

Bella bounced into the room and then burst into tears, "Mom, my little rabbit and little bear are ruined! The doll's hair is gone too!"

"Ethan, if you're not back in half an hour, I'll send your parents to your company!"

Ethan came back and saw the chaos at home, seemingly reverting to that gentle and warm husband.

"Emma, these are flowers I brought for you. Welcome back!"

In the past, whenever we fought, I'd foolishly forgive Ethan whenever he brought me flowers.

But hold back, and you'll have ovarian cysts, endure, and you'll get breast hyperplasia.

"Ethan, there's nothing left to say. I want a divorce. You better move your family out of my house quickly!"

"What?" the mother-in-law viciously said, "This house belongs half to my son too. If you want a divorce, we'll leave you the money, and the house stays with my son!"

"Yes, you can't bully us villagers. Who doesn't know? The house is joint property of the couple."

"Emma Knox, it's wise to leave some room in everything. This is too much. Ethan's parents came over to be your support."

I smiled slightly, "The down payment on the house was fully paid by my family, and the mortgage has been paid with my housing fund. Ethan only contributed thirty thousand to buy a mattress for this house. If you're worried about money, just take the mattress with you."

Thankfully, my parents reminded me back then to be cautious and put all our liquid funds into this, giving me the confidence to say such things today.

"I told you Lucy from the east side of the village was good, but you just had to marry this shrew, and now she wants to throw us out!"

"What daughter-in-law treats her in-laws like this, leaving us with no way to live? I don't want to live anymore."

Mother-in-law rushed to the balcony to jump off, holding the railing and crying so loudly that half the neighborhood could hear her.

5.

Ethan and father-in-law nervously held onto mother-in-law: "Everything is Emma Knox's fault; you can't do anything foolish."

"Emma Knox, come quickly, kneel, and apologize to mom!"

What? Did I hear that right? They want me to kneel and apologize.

Seeing no response from me, Ethan directly called my parents.

I have to admit, Ethan has perfectly learned his mother's acting skills, even surpassing the master.

Mother-in-law is now crying hoarsely on the railing, managing three tears. Ethan, on the other hand, was crying to my parents like an Oscar-winning actor.

I couldn't bear to listen anymore, grabbed the phone, started a video, and recorded around the house.

"Mom, look at what Ethan and his family have done to our home, with foot scraps left on the table. Look at the takeout, it's like a pigsty."

"Also, this was the little rabbit we bought for Bella when she turned one. Now cut into pieces; Bella asks for it every night."

"Mom, don't get involved. I can't live this life anymore!"

The mother-in-law continued her exaggerated wailing on the balcony, like a scene from a drama, only for her foot to slip, leaving just a sharp scream.

Father-in-law couldn't hold her, staring dumbfounded as mother-in-law fell.

Everyone was stunned.

I was shocked too, "Is this for real?"