Chapter 15
Abigail
The air in the room shifted the moment Marceline entered Her presence commanded the kind of attention no one dared ignore. She stood there, sharp and commanding, her gaze sweeping over un like a storm about to break. Her eyes landed on Liliana, lingering with the kind of intensity that could make even the boldest person stop in their tracks. Marceline’s lips pressed into a thin line as she turned to Conrad.
“And who, may I ask, is this?” she demanded, her voice cutting through the tense silence.
Conrad cleared his throat, stepping forward. “Mother, this Liliana. She’s Susanna’s sister and-”
Marceline cut him off with a sharp wave of her hand, her gaze never leaving Liliana. “I didn’t ask for her life story, Conrad.” Her tone was ice. “Our family’s been very busy lately, and we don’t have time to take in Susanna’s relatives.”
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I bit back the urge to grin as Liliana stiffened, her practiced expression faltering for a split second.
Conrad, ever the peacemaker when it suited him, tried to step in. “Mother, it’s not like that.” His voice was strained. “Liliana is here to support Susanna. With everything she’s been through, she-”
“Is Susanna the sun now?” Marceline snapped, her voice full of mockery. “Does everything and everyone in this house have to revolve around her? And someone who almost kicked the lady of the house out–does she even know how to take care of herself, let alone anyone else?”
Her words hit like a hammer, leaving Conrad speechless and Liliana shifting uncomfortably. Her lips parted as if to argue, but no words came out.
Marceline’s words were sharp, but for the first time in what felt like forever, someone was speaking up for me.
“Mother,” I murmured, gently touching her arm. “Please, don’t get too worked up. It’s not worth it.”
Marceline glanced at me, her features softening for a moment. “Angry? Oh, Abigail, you’re too kind,” she said, almost scolding. “That’s always been your problem. You let these fools walk all over you.”
I swallowed hard, unsure how to respond.
She shot Conrad a pointed glare before rummaging through her handbag. “And since my son can’t seem to do anything right, I’ll take care of it myself.” To my surprise, she pulled out a blank check and handed it to me. “Fill this out and buy yourself a dozen or so sets of jewelry. That way, some people won’t think these baubles are worth stealing.”
Her pointed words hit their mark, and I saw Liliana’s face flush with barely concealed anger. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, but she didn’t dare argue with Marceline. She shot a glare at me, as if I had planned for this to happen.
Liliana lingered, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Marceline turned her piercing gaze back to her, raising an eyebrow. “And what are you still doing here?”
The dismissal was so sharp it was almost physical. Liliana’s cheeks flushed, but she forced a tight smile, her lips pressed into a thin smile. “I was only trying to help resolve the matter of Susanna’s missing jewelry,” she said, her tone overly sweet.
Marceline scoffed, unimpressed. “A better woman would have handled it with class. But what would you or Susanna know about class?”
The insult hit harder than anything Marceline had said before. Liliana’s mask cracked for just a moment, her eyes
Chapter 15
+25 BONUS
flashing with anger, but she quickly composed herself. “I only hope there are no hard feelings, Abigail,” she said though her words felt more like a challenge. “This was all for Susanna’s sake, after all.”
Marceline didn’t even dignify her with a response, turning back to me as though Liliana were no longer worth her attention. The slight was too much for Liliana to bear. She turned abruptly and left the room in a huff, her heels. clicking sharply against the floor as she mittered something under her breath.
As the door slammed shut behind her, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. I turned to Marceline, a tired smile tugging at my lips. “Thank you,” I sald softly, looking at Marceline with something close to awe.
She waved me off, her sharp demeanor softening. “Don’t thank me, Abigail. You’ve put up with enough nonsense from this household.”
I couldn’t help but smile. It was hard to reconcile this protective woman with the distant mother–in–law I’d known when I first married Conrad. Back then, Marceline had been cold, keeping me at arm’s length. She’d been polite but uninterested. But over the years, our relationship had changed. When Alexander’s death had shattered our family, it was Marceline who had suffered the most as she grieved for him even though he was not her blood son. I had spent weeks at her side, watching over her as she mourned him. In those quiet moments, we had bullt something unshakable.
Now, sitting together on the edge of my bed, it felt like we were finally on the same side. She saw through Susanna and Liliana’s schemes in a way that was refreshing
‘She’s been pulling strings from the moment she stepped into this house,” Marceline said, her tone sharp as ever. “And you” she turned to me, her expression softening again, “you deserve better.”
For the first time that day, I felt lighter. With Marceline here, I wasn’t alone.
As the evening wore on, the rest of the household seemed to sense the shift in power. By dinnertime, everyone gathered at the table, their usual defiance tempered by Marceline’s presence. Even Susanna, her face tight with barely concealed anger, sat quietly at the far end of the table. Just because Liliana’s being kicked out, she’s suddenly fine and heading home.
Dinner that night was a strained affair, the silence broken only by the clinking of silverware. I kept my gaze on my plate, trying to avoid Conrad’s eyes.
Marceline, however, seemed unbothered by the atmosphere. She turned to me, her voice cutting through the quiet. “Abigail, when are you planning to have a child?”
The question caught me off guard, and I froze, not sure how to respond.
Conrad, however, didn’t miss a beat. “We’re not ready yet,” he said firmly, his tone making it clear the matter. wasn’t up for discussion.
Marceline raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Not ready? It must be your issue. Abigail’s been ready, right?”
Mother.” His jaw tightened, and I saw the flicker of irritation in his eyes. “It’s not the right time, Marceline leaned back in her chair, her gaze piercing. “It seems to me that nothing is ever the right time for you, Conrad. You have a beautiful, capable wife, and yet you spend all your time chasing after ghosts.”
The words hung in the air like a challenge. Susanna shifted uncomfortably, her hands fidgeting in her lap, but she didn’t dare look up.
I kept my gaze on my plate, my hands trembling slightly as gripped my fork. Marceline’s words cut deeper than I cared to admit, but they also brought me a selfish sense of validation.
“Abigail,” Marceline continued as she turned to me. But patience has its limits.”
“You’ve been more patient than most women would ever be
Chapter 15
Conrad closed his eyes, his teeth grinding audibly. “Mother drop it. I told you, we’re not ready yet.”
There was a tone in his voice that even Marceline couldn’t ignore. She gave him a long, disapproving look before shaking her head.
