Chapter 1

On our wedding night, my husband Lucas’s adopted sister was lying half-naked on our marriage bed. She had even taken down our wedding portrait and replaced it with a photo of the two of them.

She smirked at me and purred, "Elena, you know I’ve needed Lucas to tuck me in since we were kids. You don’t mind, right?"

When I tried to set boundaries with my husband, he snapped at me for making a scene.

That was the moment I saw the light.

When dealing with shameless people, you have to be ten times more shameless than them!

"Well, my cousin Liam has always tucked me in since I was little too! I can’t sleep without him! Lucas, if you’re cool with my cousin lying in our bed and holding me to sleep, then I won’t say a word about you and Chloe!"

Lucas’s face instantly turned green.

My hands trembled as I pushed the door open. Sure enough, Chloe was lying on our marriage bed, barefoot and stripped down to her lingerie.

On the wall above, the wedding portrait of Lucas and me was gone. In its place hung an intimate photo of the two of them.

"Elena, you know how it is. Lucas has always tucked me in since we were kids. I can’t fall asleep without him."

"He’ll come back to you once I’m asleep. You’re not gonna be petty about it, right?"

Chloe looked at me, her eyes dripping with smug triumph.

Ever since the day Lucas and I tied the knot, Chloe had been targeting me at every turn.

She was adopted by his family, raised alongside him since childhood. At first, I chalked it up to separation anxiety and tried to be patient with her. But now? It was just straight-up disgusting.

Keeping my voice flat, I retorted, "You’re an adult now, Chloe. You should know what boundaries between a man and a woman are. Don't tell me you have zero gender awareness. I don’t see you walking into the men’s restroom when you need to pee!"

At that, Chloe instantly burst into tears. "Elena, you’re humiliating me!"

Before I could say another word, a violent shove hit my back. I lost my balance and slammed hard against the hardwood floor!

Lucas stepped into the room. He didn’t even glance at me. Instead, he wrapped his arms tightly around the sobbing Chloe, murmuring soft comforts.

I stared at him in shock. Pain shot through my body, matching the ache in my chest.

Over the past few days, Lucas had defended Chloe unconditionally, but he had never laid a hand on me.

He glared down at me with cold disgust. "When are you going to stop throwing tantrums? Ever since you married into this family, there hasn’t been a single day of peace!"

I was stunned, unable to believe what was coming out of his mouth.

Chloe had a child out of wedlock, the father nowhere to be found. She had been left traumatized and diagnosed with clinical depression.

To prevent her from being triggered, the entire family catered to her every whim—Lucas most of all.

I had sympathized with what she went through. I brushed off her passive-aggressive jabs and tried my best to be supportive, hoping she’d heal.

I never imagined she would weaponize my empathy and cross every line imaginable!

I pushed myself up from the floor, shaking. "Am I the one making a scene, or is she? You’re a married man, Lucas! What grown woman lounges in her brother's marriage bed wearing nothing but a bra and panties—"

Before I could finish, Lucas cut me off sharply. "Your mind is sickening!"

"She’s my sister! We’re family! There’s nothing dirty between family members. What, did your own dad never see you in your clothes?"

Humiliation and fury choked my throat. I couldn’t even find the words to respond to his twisted logic.

"I know you dislike Chloe and want her gone," Lucas pressed on. "Let me make this crystal clear: Chloe is my family. My home is her home. No matter what you say, I am never kicking her out!"

"And another thing: my parents are moving in next week. They’ll be living with us permanently."

None of this was what we agreed on before marriage.

I looked at Lucas, my heart turning cold.

Chloe shot me a victorious grin from behind his shoulder.

I watched as Lucas coaxed her until her tears turned into giggles. Saying nothing, I stood up and walked into the living room.

Chloe’s four-year-old son, Leo, was still playing on the rug. When he saw me come out, he ran over and repeatedly slammed his toy metal truck into my bleeding finger.

"Mean lady! Stop bullying Mommy! It’s all your fault! Bad lady!"

I winced in pain and yanked my hand back. Instantly, the little brat threw himself onto the floor and began wailing at the top of his lungs!

Lucas and Chloe came rushing out.

Chloe scooped up her kid, looked at Lucas with tearful, helpless eyes, gave me a venomous glare, and retreated into her room.

That left just Lucas and me in the living room.

I stared at him, waiting for an explanation.

Lucas lit a cigarette and gave me an accusing look.

"Are you seriously picking on a little kid now? What happened to the promise we made? Didn’t you promise to love my family?"

How ridiculous. I had agreed to be a loving partner, but never a doormat in this madhouse!

Ignoring him, I reached for the first-aid kit to bandage my hand. But before I could open it, Lucas slapped my hand away.

"I promised Chloe that everything in this house requires her permission before you can use it."

"If you want to use the medicine, go apologize to Chloe and Leo first."

He had already pinned all the blame entirely on me. A dry, bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"Lucas, do you even remember who you actually married?"

This was supposed to be our home. Yet the apartment had been completely stripped of anything that belonged to me.

Every piece of decor had been replaced by Chloe. Every framed photo of Lucas and me had been swapped out for pictures of him and her.

The disappointment that had piled up day after day finally crushed the last shred of affection I had for him.

Lucas paused, but his tone remained patronizing. "Chloe is young and fragile. You're the mature one here—why do you have to pick a fight over every little thing?"

"It’s just home decor. It doesn’t change who you are."

Chloe was twenty-five years old and had already popped out a kid!

I bit my trembling lip, forcing back the tears. Without another word, I turned on my heel and walked into the guest bedroom.

I locked the door behind me and dragged out my suitcase.

Lucas’s furious yelling pounded against the wood outside. "Elena! It’s just an apology! You’re the one who started this drama out of nowhere! What the hell is wrong with your attitude?!"

No matter what garbage he spewed, I stayed dead silent.

By the time I finished packing, the house had fallen completely quiet.

I surveyed the room. Calling it a guest room was generous—it was basically a dump.

Everything I had bought for our new home had been broken by Chloe and her kid, then tossed in here like garbage.

I wrapped my bleeding finger with a paper towel, took a deep breath, and sat on the floor until the first light of dawn.

My resolve had never been clearer.