Gretchen looked smug at the sight of me being slapped. "There's the proof you wanted, Melinda—you have syphilis! What else can you say now?"I clutched the diagnosis tightly and pointed to the date on it. "You must've forged this. I was at work on the 14th of July. I didn't go to the hospital at all!"She pointed at the sky. "I swear to God that I'll die of an accident the moment I leave this place if I forged that!"The guests started believing her when they heard her swear on her life like that."Stay away from her, everyone. Syphilis is contagious.""You really can't judge a book by its cover. I can't believe she has an STD when she looks so upstanding!""Anyone would be unlucky to have her as a daughter-in-law."Everyone was starting to side with Gretchen. If I couldn't prove my innocence, things would only end up the same as they had in my past life. I would have to spend the rest of my life being wronged and the target of mockery.But where would the diagnosis have come f
When Gretchen saw the footage, she spat, "What do you have to say now, you bitch? Can you say that isn't you?"The woman in the video wore a mask and my favorite black dress. At first glance, she did resemble me. I didn't expect Shirley to have planned things out so well.She snatched the remote from me and turned the screen off. Then, she turned to me and said, "Let's end this here, Mel. I believe you only made a mistake. I'll convince Jake not to divorce you."Jacob immediately protested, "Are you crazy, Shirley? Why would I still want a whore with an STD?"Gretchen chimed in. "That's the right attitude! We have to make sure the divorce ends with her not having a penny to her name, and she has to compensate us for the mental distress she's caused!"I ignored their words and smiled at Shirley. "Is this how you will treat me when I've been so nice to you over the past two years? You wore my dress, used my identification, and pushed the blame on me. You're the woman in the video."
"What a plot twist. Who would expect Gretchen's daughter to be the one with the STD?""This is such a scary family. Did you see how they pushed the blame on Melinda and hit her? She's lucky there were surveillance cameras around to prove her innocence, or she would've had to spend the rest of her life carrying the blame for something she didn't do.""Am I the only one who pities the groom? His wife has an STD, and he's the last to find out. He might already have been infected for all we know."Shirley's husband couldn't take it anymore when he heard that. He charged onstage and grabbed Shirley by her shoulders, shaking her back and forth roughly. "I can't believe you slept with me when you have syphilis! Are you trying to kill me?"She scowled. "You're the one who asked me to do it, weren't you? You said you wanted to try me out before marriage!""But you're sick!" he roared.Gretchen also ran onstage. Then, she slapped Shirley twice. "Have you forgotten everything I've taught yo
Jacob held my hand and softened his tone. "I know I acted rashly earlier, Mel, but you should also understand that no man can stand the thought of being cuckolded.""Well, a woman needs her husband's support and faith when she's in danger or being framed. She needs him to stand by her side unconditionally and protect her," I said. But what had he done? He'd sided with those trying to hurt me."I made a mistake, Mel. I'll definitely side with you if something like this ever happens again," he said.I shook him off and said, "There won't be a next time, Jacob. I've already decided to get a divorce."He looked at me incredulously. "We've been together for seven years. How can you want to divorce me over such a small matter?"My reputation had been smeared, and he'd slapped me in public, yet he thought these were small matters.I said, "Whatever it is, I'm going ahead with the divorce. The house you and your mother are currently occupying is my premarital property. I'll give you a we
I turned to the door and called, "You heard Gretchen, officers. She refuses to move, so I'm going to need you to step in and handle this!"The two police officers entered the apartment and approached Gretchen, showing her their badges. "You're suspected of occupying someone else's property, Madam Lane. You're required to move out by today, or we'll take action against you."Gretchen stared at me incredulously. "Are you being serious, Melinda?"I snorted. "When have I ever lied to you?"She immediately pulled out her phone and called Jacob. "Come home right now, Jake! We've got trouble—Melinda wants to kick us out!"Half an hour later, Jacob arrived, looking windswept. His eyes lit up when he saw me. "Where have you been, Mel? I couldn't find you despite looking everywhere.""It's none of your business. I'm only here today to tell you two to move out. This is my premarital property—I don't think you would've forgotten that," I said.His eyes turned dull. Then, he nodded. "Pack yo
Perhaps my words the night before had made Jacob finally see sense—he didn't show up on the day the divorce lawsuit was taken to court, so the courts ruled on our divorce. I was relieved when I finally received my divorce certificate. From this moment on, I would have nothing to do with him and his family.However, Shirley knocked on my door a month later. When I opened it, she got to her knees before me. "I'm sorry for what I did, Mel. It's all my fault."I shouldn't have used your identification at the hospital, and I shouldn't have pushed the blame on you because I was afraid of Mom telling me off. I'm the only one at fault here—please, get back together with Jake. We can't live without you."I crossed my arms and leaned against the door jamb while looking down at her. "You guys did pretty well for over two decades without me around, right? No one needs to depend on someone else for survival. Jacob and I are already divorced, so you need to stop thinking of me as your sister-in-l
"Could you zip me up, Mel?" a woman asked.I opened my eyes and took in my surroundings. I saw my sister-in-law, Shirley Lawson, changing in front of me. It took me a while to be sure that I'd been reborn.I ignored Shirley's request and hurried out of the room, heading to the banquet hall. There, I saw Gretchen Lane, my mother-in-law, holding Shirley's mother-in-law's hand. She said, "I've always focused on raising Shirley well, and she's obedient and faithful. You're lucky to have her as a daughter-in-law!"You're not like me. My daughter-in-law is a loose woman who sleeps around with other men. She's even contracted an STD. Oh, why is life so harsh to me?"Everyone at the table turned to look at her when she said that. They couldn't believe she would talk about her daughter-in-law like that.A neighbor who knew me said, "Melinda doesn't look like the type! Are you sure there isn't a misunderstanding, Gretchen?"Gretchen continued, "You guys only see what happens on the surface
Perhaps my words the night before had made Jacob finally see sense—he didn't show up on the day the divorce lawsuit was taken to court, so the courts ruled on our divorce. I was relieved when I finally received my divorce certificate. From this moment on, I would have nothing to do with him and his family.However, Shirley knocked on my door a month later. When I opened it, she got to her knees before me. "I'm sorry for what I did, Mel. It's all my fault."I shouldn't have used your identification at the hospital, and I shouldn't have pushed the blame on you because I was afraid of Mom telling me off. I'm the only one at fault here—please, get back together with Jake. We can't live without you."I crossed my arms and leaned against the door jamb while looking down at her. "You guys did pretty well for over two decades without me around, right? No one needs to depend on someone else for survival. Jacob and I are already divorced, so you need to stop thinking of me as your sister-in-l
I turned to the door and called, "You heard Gretchen, officers. She refuses to move, so I'm going to need you to step in and handle this!"The two police officers entered the apartment and approached Gretchen, showing her their badges. "You're suspected of occupying someone else's property, Madam Lane. You're required to move out by today, or we'll take action against you."Gretchen stared at me incredulously. "Are you being serious, Melinda?"I snorted. "When have I ever lied to you?"She immediately pulled out her phone and called Jacob. "Come home right now, Jake! We've got trouble—Melinda wants to kick us out!"Half an hour later, Jacob arrived, looking windswept. His eyes lit up when he saw me. "Where have you been, Mel? I couldn't find you despite looking everywhere.""It's none of your business. I'm only here today to tell you two to move out. This is my premarital property—I don't think you would've forgotten that," I said.His eyes turned dull. Then, he nodded. "Pack yo
Jacob held my hand and softened his tone. "I know I acted rashly earlier, Mel, but you should also understand that no man can stand the thought of being cuckolded.""Well, a woman needs her husband's support and faith when she's in danger or being framed. She needs him to stand by her side unconditionally and protect her," I said. But what had he done? He'd sided with those trying to hurt me."I made a mistake, Mel. I'll definitely side with you if something like this ever happens again," he said.I shook him off and said, "There won't be a next time, Jacob. I've already decided to get a divorce."He looked at me incredulously. "We've been together for seven years. How can you want to divorce me over such a small matter?"My reputation had been smeared, and he'd slapped me in public, yet he thought these were small matters.I said, "Whatever it is, I'm going ahead with the divorce. The house you and your mother are currently occupying is my premarital property. I'll give you a we
"What a plot twist. Who would expect Gretchen's daughter to be the one with the STD?""This is such a scary family. Did you see how they pushed the blame on Melinda and hit her? She's lucky there were surveillance cameras around to prove her innocence, or she would've had to spend the rest of her life carrying the blame for something she didn't do.""Am I the only one who pities the groom? His wife has an STD, and he's the last to find out. He might already have been infected for all we know."Shirley's husband couldn't take it anymore when he heard that. He charged onstage and grabbed Shirley by her shoulders, shaking her back and forth roughly. "I can't believe you slept with me when you have syphilis! Are you trying to kill me?"She scowled. "You're the one who asked me to do it, weren't you? You said you wanted to try me out before marriage!""But you're sick!" he roared.Gretchen also ran onstage. Then, she slapped Shirley twice. "Have you forgotten everything I've taught yo
When Gretchen saw the footage, she spat, "What do you have to say now, you bitch? Can you say that isn't you?"The woman in the video wore a mask and my favorite black dress. At first glance, she did resemble me. I didn't expect Shirley to have planned things out so well.She snatched the remote from me and turned the screen off. Then, she turned to me and said, "Let's end this here, Mel. I believe you only made a mistake. I'll convince Jake not to divorce you."Jacob immediately protested, "Are you crazy, Shirley? Why would I still want a whore with an STD?"Gretchen chimed in. "That's the right attitude! We have to make sure the divorce ends with her not having a penny to her name, and she has to compensate us for the mental distress she's caused!"I ignored their words and smiled at Shirley. "Is this how you will treat me when I've been so nice to you over the past two years? You wore my dress, used my identification, and pushed the blame on me. You're the woman in the video."
Gretchen looked smug at the sight of me being slapped. "There's the proof you wanted, Melinda—you have syphilis! What else can you say now?"I clutched the diagnosis tightly and pointed to the date on it. "You must've forged this. I was at work on the 14th of July. I didn't go to the hospital at all!"She pointed at the sky. "I swear to God that I'll die of an accident the moment I leave this place if I forged that!"The guests started believing her when they heard her swear on her life like that."Stay away from her, everyone. Syphilis is contagious.""You really can't judge a book by its cover. I can't believe she has an STD when she looks so upstanding!""Anyone would be unlucky to have her as a daughter-in-law."Everyone was starting to side with Gretchen. If I couldn't prove my innocence, things would only end up the same as they had in my past life. I would have to spend the rest of my life being wronged and the target of mockery.But where would the diagnosis have come f
The others seated at the table hurriedly tried to smooth things over."You know what Gretchen is like, Melinda. She runs her mouth when she's drunk," someone said."It's Shirley's big day today, so you and Gretchen shouldn't argue. It'll give others something to talk about," another added.I snarled, "Gretchen has to apologize to me right now if she doesn't want me to cause a scene. I want her to tell everyone that she was only making things up earlier, or I'll call the cops and take her to court for libel!"Gretchen glared at me. "Who do you think you are, Melinda Dashner? No daughter-in-law would dare demand an apology from her mother-in-law!"I roared, "Are there mothers-in-law who falsely accuse their daughters-in-law of being loose and having STDs? Aren't you afraid of going to hell because of these rumors you've spread?"Everyone in the banquet hall turned to look at me when they heard my shouts. Gretchen's face turned red with rage. "Keep your voice down! Or do you think y
"Could you zip me up, Mel?" a woman asked.I opened my eyes and took in my surroundings. I saw my sister-in-law, Shirley Lawson, changing in front of me. It took me a while to be sure that I'd been reborn.I ignored Shirley's request and hurried out of the room, heading to the banquet hall. There, I saw Gretchen Lane, my mother-in-law, holding Shirley's mother-in-law's hand. She said, "I've always focused on raising Shirley well, and she's obedient and faithful. You're lucky to have her as a daughter-in-law!"You're not like me. My daughter-in-law is a loose woman who sleeps around with other men. She's even contracted an STD. Oh, why is life so harsh to me?"Everyone at the table turned to look at her when she said that. They couldn't believe she would talk about her daughter-in-law like that.A neighbor who knew me said, "Melinda doesn't look like the type! Are you sure there isn't a misunderstanding, Gretchen?"Gretchen continued, "You guys only see what happens on the surface