Chapter 1

When my mother, Katherine Case told me that my husband, Trent Keegan had cheated on me, my first thought was that she'd been scammed.

Honestly, I'd rather believe in ghosts than believe Trent was unfaithful.

It was not that I was naive. But I knew for a fact his brain only had room for coding. Even my mother-in-law, Betty Rusell would joke that if it weren't for me, he might just marry his computer.

Mom grabbed my wrist and urged me with a frown. "What are you waiting for? Divorce him now!"

I snapped back to reality and tried to stay calm. "I'll talk to Trent when he gets home from work."

"Talk to him about what?" Mom yanked my ear so hard it stung. "I told you from the start, rich people like him are the least reliable! You're just a dull and ugly-looking community college graduate. How could he ever actually like you? I'm your mother. Do you really think I'd lie to you?"

My ear was on fire, and I was pretty sure she was about to rip it off.

I struggled to pull away from her grip and took a few steps back before saying, "I'm not saying you'd lie to me, but I need to confront Trent myself. If he cheated, I have to protect my rights too. Besides, today's the first day of my art exhibition. I have work to do."

Although I didn't believe Trent had cheated on me, I had to pacify Mom somehow. Otherwise, all my hard work would be ruined if she were to cause a scene at the exhibition.

I thought I'd found a perfect excuse to put the matter off, but to my surprise, Mom was unyielding. She tightened her grip on me, and her face twisted in exasperation.

"Monica, I didn't raise you just so you could turn into some gold-digger, who's out to squeeze money from a man. Have you got no shame? He doesn't even love you, and yet you're clinging to him. Must you throw away your dignity and let others stomp all over it?"

Her voice was so loud that several guests at the exhibition turned to look at me in shock.

My cheeks burned with mortification as I reached out to pull Mom aside. "Mom, they can hear you. If you have something to say, let's talk in private."

However, she shook off my hand and pointed a finger at me as she turned to the guests. "Tell me I'm wrong! Am I being unreasonable? She knows he doesn't love her, yet she's trying to get money from him. That's downright shameless!"

The guests frowned, and their gazes were filled with judgment and disdain.

Mom proceeded to sigh dramatically, then looked at me with disappointment. "Monica, you're a woman, but that doesn't mean you can't be independent. Depending on a man to fund your art exhibition and make money is no different from sleeping around for money.

"I wouldn't be ashamed if you worked as a waitress and scrubbed dishes, because at least you earned the money yourself. But this? No matter how much you make, I feel utterly ashamed! Listen to me, break it off with him now. I'm your mother. I only want the best for you!"

She was incredibly skilled at twisting the truth, making it sound like the art exhibition was built on some man's money. And it was as though that man in question wasn't my husband.

Not knowing the real story, the guests nodded in agreement.

Some grew impatient and chimed in, "Ms. Laurent, I've always thought your art carries positive messages, but what you're doing is the opposite of what you want to convey."

"Everyone makes mistakes, but correcting them in time is what matters most."

"Listen to your mother. She wouldn't steer you wrong."

While they were too polite to openly insult me, their remarks hurt my pride deeply.

I stared at Mom, not missing the flash of satisfaction in her eyes. She'd always been like this, using half-truths to turn people against me and paint me as an ungrateful rebel.