Chapter 1

At my in-laws' silver anniversary party, my husband's ex-wife showed up uninvited, two bottles of almond milk in her arms.

They threw the cake I'd made by hand into the trash, then turned around and cradled the milk Ava Delgado had brought like it was treasure.

"Ava's the thoughtful one. She knows we're getting older and need something to keep our strength up."

"Not like Layla Swanson, all vanity, throwing money around. Everything she gives us is gaudy and flashy, all show and no use."

My husband, who barely said two words most days, chimed right in.

"That's true. Ava's the one who really knows how to run a home."

"On a day like this, Ava never would've booked a hotel this expensive. Just money down the drain."

It wasn't the first time they'd humiliated me in front of everyone.

Whenever Ava was around, they piled on me, and they always said the same thing.

"We can't upset Ava. She'll take back custody of the child."

All at once I was done. I stood up, calm, and dug out the gold bracelet and the new folding phone I'd hidden inside the cake.

Then I turned to the waiter at the door.

"Don't bring the food out. Just cook twenty bowls of plain noodles and serve those."

While I was at it, I returned the new car I'd ordered for my husband and cancelled my stepdaughter's enrichment classes.

Running a home, is that it? Who can't do that?

1

The waiter looked caught out.

"Ma'am, our deluxe private rooms all have a minimum charge."

I pulled a gold card from my bag and handed it over.

"Then make all the dishes, box them up, and send them to my parents' house. In here, just twenty bowls of noodles."

With that I turned and walked back into the room. My in-laws had just finished fawning over Ava, and now they reached for the bracelet and the phone.

I snatched them back.

"Mom, Dad, you're right. These things are too gaudy. I'll go return them in a bit."

They exchanged a look, like they hadn't expected me to say that.

My mother-in-law crossed her arms, displeased.

"In that case, kneel down and kowtow to your father and me a few times. That's not gaudy at all."

I turned to look at my husband, Damian Henson. His face didn't change.

"Go on and kowtow. Last time it was Mom and Dad's birthday and you happened to be away on business, so you missed the chance to show your respect. Now you can make up for it."

Except last time I'd given each of them a red envelope with ten thousand dollars inside.

Before I could say anything, my mother-in-law reached out and pressed down on my shoulder.

"Kneel. Or are you saying you don't want to give us anything at all?"

The relatives joined in too.

"Exactly. Whoever heard of taking back a gift you've already given? Do you even know how to treat people?"

"It's just a few kowtows to your in-laws. I remember at your wedding, you didn't even kowtow during the tea ceremony, did you?"

"When it comes to honoring your in-laws, you just can't measure up to Ava."

I thought back to my wedding, when someone told me to kneel and kowtow while serving the tea.

My mother-in-law had said, right then and there, "No need. Layla married into our family to be pampered."

Now, not even a year into the marriage, they'd already shown their true faces.

The moment I pulled free of my mother-in-law's hand, I felt someone kick me behind the knee.

I was forced down onto one knee.

I turned my head and saw Ava, looking smug.

"I couldn't even watch. All anyone's asking is that you kowtow to your elders a few times. Are you really that precious?"

"Damian, I'm just disciplining your wife for you. You won't be mad, will you?"

Damian only pushed his glasses up and said nothing.

I reached out and yanked Ava down to the floor with me.

"You love kowtowing so much? Then kowtow all you want."

A knock came at the door, and the waiter's voice followed.

"Hello, sorry to interrupt. We've brought your food."