chapter 4

"Why are you back so late? Let me guess. You were with Yelena, discussing how to handle my stolen wedding dress, right?"

I exposed their plot.

Aileen's face went pale. She charged at me in anger. "Lies! That's slander! I'll rip your mouth to shreds!

"Bullying me in Jack's house? I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"

She looked furious and lunged at me.

Instinctively, I shoved her away.

She fell to the ground, clutching her stomach.

When she looked up again, her face was already covered in tears.

"Jack, I was just trying to apologize to Ms. Stanley. But she looked down on me for being from the countryside and humiliated me by saying I stole her wedding dress. You can't use money to insult my dignity.

"Besides, I'm already carrying your baby. Boo-hoo-hoo ... If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have come tonight."

I froze, staring at Aileen's stomach in disbelief.

Could being reborn really change things so much?

She didn't pull this stunt in my past life.

My arm suddenly hurt. Frida had come over and pulled me away.

She gripped me tightly and glared, then put on a smile as she helped Aileen up.

"What are you talking about? Our whole family's from the countryside. I'd like to see who dares look down on you!"

Jack's eyes lit up for a moment, but the spark quickly turned to guilt when he met mine.

He stood next to Aileen, pretending to be tough, but his voice was weak. "You can't just go around hurting people, no matter how mad you are. What if Aileen got injured?"

Aileen instantly shrank into his arms, looking up at him with a tear-streaked face. "Jack, I'm not asking you to take responsibility. I know that night was just an accident. But now that I'm pregnant, I really have no choice. You know my family's situation; they'll kill me if they find out I'm pregnant before marriage, boo-hoo-hoo ...

"I know you have Ms. Stanley, and you'd never look at me that way. But you're so amazing and gentle ... I don't know who else to turn to."

"It's not your fault. This is just fate."

Jack was so moved and looked at the beauty tenderly. They looked like they were made for each other.

I couldn't take it anymore. I stormed forward and slapped Jack hard across the face, making his head turn to the side.

"Are you kidding me? You brought the mistress you were sleeping with into my house to be a housekeeper? It's only been a month, and she's already pregnant? You've been having an affair all this time, and your whole family is treating me like an idiot!"

Before Jack could speak, Frida stormed over, furious.

She stood between us, one hand on her hip. Then she pointed at me as she yelled, "How dare you hit him! You're always busy with your useless job and never listen to my advice about getting pregnant. If you weren't so disobedient and constantly throwing temper tantrums in front of my son, he wouldn't have gone out drinking and wouldn't have met Aileen! This is all your fault!"

Edward, standing to the side, glared at me. Then he strode forward and slapped me hard. My mind went blank.

"You're married now; you need to act like it. What's the big deal about one more child? Our family can afford to raise it!

"Men are the head of the household—women are not. How dare you hit your own husband? Do you have no respect?

"No parents, no manners—that's your problem. If you can't follow our family's rules, then get out!"

Jack watched me get slapped.

But he did nothing—just blinked and hid behind his parents without saying anything.

"Please don't hit her. Ms. Stanley doesn't have parents, so it's understandable that she doesn't know the rules. I'll make sure to teach her properly," Aileen said mockingly from Jack's arms, her eyes filled with a triumphant look.

My face burned with pain, but looking at their smug faces, I couldn't help laughing in anger.

It was my fault. I'd given them too much respect and spoiled this ungrateful family.

What a fool. I humbly gave them whatever they wanted, just because I wanted their cheap affection. I was so submissive that even my bodyguards didn't dare to step in.