"This bump, it's making the cheek you slapped earlier hurt again," Heather complained, then caught herself, "Oh shoot! Sorry, I wasn't supposed to mention that to Zach... just slipped out."
"What slap? You look fine to me like you've just put on some blush," Zach commented, admiring Heather's face.
Heather looked my way, a bit stuck, pretending to be tongue-tied.
I casually told Zach, "She spilled her coffee on my dress, so I returned the favor with a slap."
Heather was speechless.
I gently closed her mouth and added, "To make up for my overreaction, why don't you drive her home, babe?"
"Zach, please take good care of Heather for me," I said, then confidently walked away, leaving the private space for them.
Good luck tonight, may your evening be productive.
"Olivia..."
Zach called after I had taken only a few steps.
"You're my girlfriend. How could I leave you?"
Really now?
Acting as a loyal boyfriend already?
"You had a reason to hit her, and I trust you completely, babe."
Just hearing him say "babe" made me shudder.
In my past life, my insecurity led me to obey his every command.
After he got rich, he became a true devil.
The torment I endured at his hands was unspeakable.
Now, I watched calmly as he played his part, wondering what his angle was this time.
I was barely up on Saturday morning when a text from Zach popped up.
He was all: [Make sure you dress up today; we're having lunch with my folks.]
Flashback to my previous life. Zach rushed to introduce me to his parents, and we got hitched right after graduation. But after that, he showed his true colors.
Just the thought of my ex-mother-in-law was enough to make me queasy.
Last time, I gave it all up for love—no dowry, brought property and a car into the marriage.
I figured my sacrifice would make him appreciate me, but it only led to deeper deceit.
And his mom was just the same.
Before the wedding, she couldn't praise me enough.
Once I was part of the family, she flipped like a switch—always had me slaving away or berated me for not popping out grandkids.
She was head over heels for Heather, always praising her as the perfect daughter-in-law.
Her blatant favoritism made my insecurities worse.
Desperate for her approval, I used my dowry to help out financially, only to be repaid with betrayal and my eventual demise.
Seeing her smile, and crow's feet nearly catching flies, I fantasized about dunking her head in a toilet.