Chapter 4

Grace Gardner's POV

The excruciating pain tortured me for three days.

During those three days, Zachary went out early and came home late as usual. He did not even ask one word of concern.

And Mrs. Foster’s mental torment of me gave me no chance to breathe at all.

Before the family’s month-end tea gathering, Walter, the butler, arrived at the annex villa right on schedule.

“Mrs. Foster said there will be a meeting in the main hall in three days. All the women of the family are to attend.” Walter paused, his gaze mocking. “You only need to bring your ears.”

I held on to the doorframe, my left knee still aching as if needles were stabbing into it.

Only bring my ears meant depriving me of the right to speak.

Like a servant, I was arranged at the very end of the long dining table, in the seat closest to the door.

Mrs. Foster tapped the tabletop and raised her voice. “Starting this year, seats will be adjusted. Some people still have outstanding debts, so it is unsuitable for them to participate in internal family affairs!”

The women around the table whispered among themselves, their contemptuous gazes sweeping toward me.

I shot to my feet.

Mrs. Foster immediately raised her hand and snapped sharply, “Today, you only brought your ears!”

I did not sit down. I looked past the long dining table, straight at Zachary on the other side.

Zachary sat there, his screen lit.

With my own eyes, I watched his thumb swipe once, twice, three times. On the fourth time, he finally stopped.

But he still did not raise his head to look at me even once.

With a cold smile, Mrs. Foster had the butler remove the nameplate marking her as the Foster family’s eldest daughter-in-law in front of everyone.

The metal plate struck the tabletop with a piercing, muffled thud.

In the entire room, not a single person said even half a word for me.

After the meeting ended, I stopped Zachary in the corridor and held that removed nameplate in my palm.

“Your mother took down my nameplate in front of everyone.” My voice trembled slightly.

Zachary only swept it a bland glance, his brows faintly furrowing. “Things like that are only formalities. Don’t take them too seriously.”

“Formalities?” I stared at him.

“Mother only wants to reassure the elders. Stop making a scene.” He lifted his hand, making the exact same impatient gesture Mrs. Foster had used just now to stop me. “Go back and rest.”

I shut my mouth instantly.

Back in the room, I opened the drawer.

The photocopy claiming I owed a debt lay side by side with this nameplate symbolizing the Foster family’s eldest daughter-in-law.

The two things were like two lies so disgusting they made me sick.