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Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 4
Claudia set her spoon down. "These days, anything can be faked. A pregnancy's no different. You can steal an ultrasound online or have someone else take the test for you. I need to see it for myself to believe it. Isn't that what's best for this family?"Claudia's years as a writer had sharpened her mind to a deadly edge. Without hard evidence, she trusted no one. That was all it took. Hailey's bravado cracked, and she collapsed to her knees with an audible thud."Claudia, I'm sorry!" she cried. "I lied! I'm not pregnant." Tears streamed down her face as the confession poured out. "But I really love Joe! I just wanted to marry him, so I made it up."Joe's face went blank. "You're not pregnant?"Hailey nodded miserably. "Every time I see Vera call you, I get so jealous. You said if I got pregnant, you'd marry me. But we've been together for so long, and still—nothing, so..."Her voice broke, and she hugged Joe, sobbing harder. "Joe, you promised you'd love me no matter what. That h
Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 5
"The lunch you packed for me was so salty and bitter I had to toss it.""Hailey, why do you need so many luxury items when you're home all day? Who are you even trying to impress? Can't you save some money? I'm already paying the mortgage and covering your bills.""Hailey, when Vera was my wife, she wasn't wasteful or careless like you."Hearing Joe's sudden shift made my stomach churn. Now, after everything, he realized my worth? Too bad for him—it didn't matter anymore.Joe and Claudia's nonstop criticisms only seemed to stoke Hailey's hatred for me. It was like she needed to shove her relationship with Joe in my face just to feel in control.When Claudia wasn't home, Hailey strutted around the house in lace lingerie, practically throwing herself at Joe.One time, she pinned him down on the couch, kissing him like we weren't in the same room. "Honey, I'm feeling so itchy. Why don't you slip your hand in and scratch me?" she cooed, loud enough for me to hear.I wasn't mad—just
Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 6
Joe grabbed Hailey's hand and shot her a quick wink, like he was telling her to pipe down. "Let's just get the marriage certificate first. We can figure out the rest later.""That won't work! I'm my parents' only daughter. Just signing papers without a wedding or bride price? That's humiliating. This is my first marriage, Joe. My parents expect a big wedding."Hailey clutched his hand as she went on. "Oh, and I saw this gorgeous three-carat diamond ring the other day. I NEED it. Plus, my family's bride price is $80,000. And I want an outdoor wedding on a lawn—super trendy right now. I mean, don't you want it to be perfect?"The longer she talked, the darker Joe's face got. When she finally stopped, he yanked at her sleeve. "I don't have eighty grand lying around, Hailey. Where am I supposed to get that kind of money?"Hailey's eyes darted to Claudia. "You don't, but your mom does! Didn't you say your mom's books made her a fortune? She could pitch in for the bride price and the wed
Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 7
I frowned. "Hailey Slutz, you're the one who planted the manuscript in my room, aren't you?"She rolled her eyes. "Please. Stop blaming me for your mess. I'm not as shady as you.""Enough!" Claudia got up and went to her room.I figured that was the end of it. Except they didn't.The publishing company sent the manuscript back a few days later. Claudia's story had already gone live on another platform—published, polished, and out in the world. With no dates on the handwritten pages, there was no way to prove it had been stolen.And the only person who could've accessed it? Me.Claudia, her expression like a storm brewing, called the three of us into the living room. "Whoever took my manuscript, confess now. If not, I'll let the police handle it."Hailey shot me a contemptuous look. "It was Vera! She stole it, sold it to another publisher, and tried to cover it up!"Joe chimed in, backing her up. "Unbelievable. My mom lets you stay here, and you repay her by stealing? I'm callin
Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 8
Joe said, "I wasn't thinking straight! I didn't know you were planning to steal my mom's manuscript to make money. You're disgusting!"Hailey cried even harder.When she was taken away, Joe crouched on the floor and sobbed for a long time.But then the plot twist hit: Hailey was pregnant.The news kept her out of jail, but she didn't dare come back to the Powell house. Instead, she scraped together enough cash to rent a tiny apartment near Joe's office. She wasn't sticking around for Claudia's wrath—or the cameras. Survival mode engaged.***Meanwhile, my own life was finally on the upswing. The novel I posted online blew up fast, racking up recognition and bringing in solid income in just a month.Claudia, always one step ahead, invited me to join her writers' association. She even offered me space in her studio to work during the day—with Luca in tow.Of course, I said yes. After being out of the game for so long, I jumped at the chance to rebuild my life. It wasn't just abou
Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 9
I gave Frank a polite smile, letting his offer roll off my shoulders. Relying on someone else wasn't in the cards for me. Claudia had already done more than enough by giving me a place to learn and grow at her studio. The rest? That was on me.***With the studio closed for the weekend, I decided to take advantage of the sunny weather and head to the park with Luca. While he soaked up the fresh air, I set up with my laptop to work on my novel.I wrapped up a strong chapter but hit a wall, staring blankly at the screen. Nearby, Luca had just finished his bottle and was napping peacefully, looking like a little cherub with his chubby cheeks.Out of nowhere, Frank appeared, a lunchbox in hand. He set it on the table with a warm smile. "I made this myself. Mind giving it a taste and letting me know what you think?"Before I could say much, he slid into the seat next to me, leaning over to peek at my laptop. "I've been keeping up with your novel. It's really good, but this part between
Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 10
I couldn't figure out if Frank was so kind because I was his old friend's ex-wife and Luca's mom, or if he genuinely cared about me.His little gestures were constant. He'd text or call to share snippets of his day, things that made him laugh, or just to check in. Sometimes, he'd show up with a homemade strawberry cake, setting it down in front of me with that warm, easy smile of his.When I hit writer's block, he'd cheer me on, help me untangle my ideas, and offer advice that always seemed to click. Rain or shine, he'd be there, driving me to and from work every single day without fail.Even the hardest heart would crack under that kind of care, and I wasn't immune. I found myself deeply moved.But the more I let myself feel, the more it hurt to remember how Joe had never treated me like this.When I was pregnant, I craved strawberries so badly I'd begged Joe to pick some up on his way home. After reminding him over and over, he'd either forget or brush it off, claiming he was to
Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 11
The next day, Joe was back at the Powell house.He announced he'd broken up with Hailey because she'd "ended the pregnancy."Then came the pity party—how she broke his heart and how he couldn't deal with her "trashy" parents anymore. He was done chasing after her. Done with all of it.***Weirdly enough, Joe acted like a brand-new guy. When Luca cried in the morning, he didn't ignore him—he fed him, changed his diaper, and even rocked him back to sleep. Then he whipped up a legit breakfast. After I finished eating, he asked if I wanted to take a nap while he watched Luca.I froze, staring him down. "No, thanks. I'm taking Luca to Claudia's office. I've got him covered."His face darkened, and the cup in his hand hit the floor, shattering. "Vera, don't push your luck! I'm trying to help you here!"I held Luca tighter, heart pounding, but I kept my voice steady. "Your sudden father-of-the-year act means nothing to me. I don't need your help, Joe. We're done."***Over lunch, I c
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Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 11
The next day, Joe was back at the Powell house.He announced he'd broken up with Hailey because she'd "ended the pregnancy."Then came the pity party—how she broke his heart and how he couldn't deal with her "trashy" parents anymore. He was done chasing after her. Done with all of it.***Weirdly enough, Joe acted like a brand-new guy. When Luca cried in the morning, he didn't ignore him—he fed him, changed his diaper, and even rocked him back to sleep. Then he whipped up a legit breakfast. After I finished eating, he asked if I wanted to take a nap while he watched Luca.I froze, staring him down. "No, thanks. I'm taking Luca to Claudia's office. I've got him covered."His face darkened, and the cup in his hand hit the floor, shattering. "Vera, don't push your luck! I'm trying to help you here!"I held Luca tighter, heart pounding, but I kept my voice steady. "Your sudden father-of-the-year act means nothing to me. I don't need your help, Joe. We're done."***Over lunch, I c
Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 10
I couldn't figure out if Frank was so kind because I was his old friend's ex-wife and Luca's mom, or if he genuinely cared about me.His little gestures were constant. He'd text or call to share snippets of his day, things that made him laugh, or just to check in. Sometimes, he'd show up with a homemade strawberry cake, setting it down in front of me with that warm, easy smile of his.When I hit writer's block, he'd cheer me on, help me untangle my ideas, and offer advice that always seemed to click. Rain or shine, he'd be there, driving me to and from work every single day without fail.Even the hardest heart would crack under that kind of care, and I wasn't immune. I found myself deeply moved.But the more I let myself feel, the more it hurt to remember how Joe had never treated me like this.When I was pregnant, I craved strawberries so badly I'd begged Joe to pick some up on his way home. After reminding him over and over, he'd either forget or brush it off, claiming he was to
Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 9
I gave Frank a polite smile, letting his offer roll off my shoulders. Relying on someone else wasn't in the cards for me. Claudia had already done more than enough by giving me a place to learn and grow at her studio. The rest? That was on me.***With the studio closed for the weekend, I decided to take advantage of the sunny weather and head to the park with Luca. While he soaked up the fresh air, I set up with my laptop to work on my novel.I wrapped up a strong chapter but hit a wall, staring blankly at the screen. Nearby, Luca had just finished his bottle and was napping peacefully, looking like a little cherub with his chubby cheeks.Out of nowhere, Frank appeared, a lunchbox in hand. He set it on the table with a warm smile. "I made this myself. Mind giving it a taste and letting me know what you think?"Before I could say much, he slid into the seat next to me, leaning over to peek at my laptop. "I've been keeping up with your novel. It's really good, but this part between
Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 8
Joe said, "I wasn't thinking straight! I didn't know you were planning to steal my mom's manuscript to make money. You're disgusting!"Hailey cried even harder.When she was taken away, Joe crouched on the floor and sobbed for a long time.But then the plot twist hit: Hailey was pregnant.The news kept her out of jail, but she didn't dare come back to the Powell house. Instead, she scraped together enough cash to rent a tiny apartment near Joe's office. She wasn't sticking around for Claudia's wrath—or the cameras. Survival mode engaged.***Meanwhile, my own life was finally on the upswing. The novel I posted online blew up fast, racking up recognition and bringing in solid income in just a month.Claudia, always one step ahead, invited me to join her writers' association. She even offered me space in her studio to work during the day—with Luca in tow.Of course, I said yes. After being out of the game for so long, I jumped at the chance to rebuild my life. It wasn't just abou
Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 7
I frowned. "Hailey Slutz, you're the one who planted the manuscript in my room, aren't you?"She rolled her eyes. "Please. Stop blaming me for your mess. I'm not as shady as you.""Enough!" Claudia got up and went to her room.I figured that was the end of it. Except they didn't.The publishing company sent the manuscript back a few days later. Claudia's story had already gone live on another platform—published, polished, and out in the world. With no dates on the handwritten pages, there was no way to prove it had been stolen.And the only person who could've accessed it? Me.Claudia, her expression like a storm brewing, called the three of us into the living room. "Whoever took my manuscript, confess now. If not, I'll let the police handle it."Hailey shot me a contemptuous look. "It was Vera! She stole it, sold it to another publisher, and tried to cover it up!"Joe chimed in, backing her up. "Unbelievable. My mom lets you stay here, and you repay her by stealing? I'm callin
Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 6
Joe grabbed Hailey's hand and shot her a quick wink, like he was telling her to pipe down. "Let's just get the marriage certificate first. We can figure out the rest later.""That won't work! I'm my parents' only daughter. Just signing papers without a wedding or bride price? That's humiliating. This is my first marriage, Joe. My parents expect a big wedding."Hailey clutched his hand as she went on. "Oh, and I saw this gorgeous three-carat diamond ring the other day. I NEED it. Plus, my family's bride price is $80,000. And I want an outdoor wedding on a lawn—super trendy right now. I mean, don't you want it to be perfect?"The longer she talked, the darker Joe's face got. When she finally stopped, he yanked at her sleeve. "I don't have eighty grand lying around, Hailey. Where am I supposed to get that kind of money?"Hailey's eyes darted to Claudia. "You don't, but your mom does! Didn't you say your mom's books made her a fortune? She could pitch in for the bride price and the wed
Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 5
"The lunch you packed for me was so salty and bitter I had to toss it.""Hailey, why do you need so many luxury items when you're home all day? Who are you even trying to impress? Can't you save some money? I'm already paying the mortgage and covering your bills.""Hailey, when Vera was my wife, she wasn't wasteful or careless like you."Hearing Joe's sudden shift made my stomach churn. Now, after everything, he realized my worth? Too bad for him—it didn't matter anymore.Joe and Claudia's nonstop criticisms only seemed to stoke Hailey's hatred for me. It was like she needed to shove her relationship with Joe in my face just to feel in control.When Claudia wasn't home, Hailey strutted around the house in lace lingerie, practically throwing herself at Joe.One time, she pinned him down on the couch, kissing him like we weren't in the same room. "Honey, I'm feeling so itchy. Why don't you slip your hand in and scratch me?" she cooed, loud enough for me to hear.I wasn't mad—just
Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 4
Claudia set her spoon down. "These days, anything can be faked. A pregnancy's no different. You can steal an ultrasound online or have someone else take the test for you. I need to see it for myself to believe it. Isn't that what's best for this family?"Claudia's years as a writer had sharpened her mind to a deadly edge. Without hard evidence, she trusted no one. That was all it took. Hailey's bravado cracked, and she collapsed to her knees with an audible thud."Claudia, I'm sorry!" she cried. "I lied! I'm not pregnant." Tears streamed down her face as the confession poured out. "But I really love Joe! I just wanted to marry him, so I made it up."Joe's face went blank. "You're not pregnant?"Hailey nodded miserably. "Every time I see Vera call you, I get so jealous. You said if I got pregnant, you'd marry me. But we've been together for so long, and still—nothing, so..."Her voice broke, and she hugged Joe, sobbing harder. "Joe, you promised you'd love me no matter what. That h
Mother-in-Law Knows Best Chapter 3
Joe barely came home at night anymore. When I tried to bring it up, he'd shut me down with insults. "You're just a useless housewife," he'd snap. "All you do is obsess over me and the kid. You add nothing to my life."Then Hailey entered the picture.Fresh out of college, she was everything Joe wanted: young, beautiful, and full of energy. She joined the company as the CEO's secretary, and it wasn't long before she and Joe became inseparable.The reason they refused to move out of this house was obvious: Claudia.Over her career as a bestselling author, Claudia had built a fortune worth millions. If they left the house, that inheritance would inevitably go to Luca—Claudia's only grandchild. And since I was the one raising him, Luca would naturally side with me when he got older.In their eyes, that money might as well already be mine.***At dinner, I stood up to help with the dishes, but Claudia waved me off. "Vera, you've got enough on your plate with Luca. Let someone else ha
