Chapter 2 That night, I curled up on a bench in the park across the street, unable to figure out why my mother-in-law treated me this way. The cold air left me with a splitting headache, my whole body shaking. My husband had driven my father-in-law to a specialist two hours away for a follow-up appointment. I didn't want to call and worry them. Even if they knew, what could they do? They couldn't just ditch the appointment and rush back. I figured my mother-in-law had gone to Trader Joe's, so I dragged my exhausted, feverish body back to the house. I collapsed into bed, but halfway through my sleep, someone yanked me by the hair and pulled me onto the floor: You ungrateful little bitch! You pissed me off yesterday, and now you sneak back and sleep like nothing happened!" "Get up! Get out of this house! You clearly don't give a shit about me!" My forehead was burning up with fever, and it felt like my hair was being ripped right off my scalp. 'Stop! Please, it hurts! Linda, I'm sorry, please let go!" I screamed, begging for mercy. You little homewrecker, nothing good has happened since you wormed your way into this family. It's been how long and you still haven't gotten pregnant? I told Callum from day one to find someone who could actually give me grandkids. Just looking at your scrawny ass makes me sick!" She grabbed the Swiffer from the corner and started beating me with it. The pain made me want to fight back, but after a sleepless night in the freezing cold, plus the high fever, I had zero strength left. I tried to crawl away, but my legs gave out and I crashed to the floor with a heavy thud. [ears poured down my face, mixing with the throbbing pain all over my body. But my mother-in-law didn't soften one bit at the sight of me crumpled on the ground. She grabbed me by the collar and started dragging me toward the front door. 'Go back to your own damn family! I can't stand looking at you anymore. One more second of your face and I'll lose my appetite for a week!" I knew what this was about. She wanted to get rid of me before my father-in-law and husband got back, so she could spin her version of events and make me look bad. I'd overheard her once before, late at night when I got up to use the bathroom, feeding my father-in-law complete lies about me. She said I was shameless, constantly texting the personal trainer at our gym, flirting with him, and if I ever got pregnant, who knows whose kid it would even be. 1704 How My Mother in Chapter She said I was bleeding them dry financially, buying designer dresses that cost several hundred bucks each, totally spoiled, nothing. but bad news. Thankfully, my father-in-law knew me better than that. He tried to calm her down and didn't believe her bullshit. Just then, someone pounded on the front door. My mother-in-law let go of me with a huff and went to answer it. The moment the door swung open, I felt a rush of relief. It was my best friend, Iris. Her face was flushed with panic, her forehead covered in sweat. When she saw me lying on the floor looking half-dead, she shoved my mother-in-law aside and pulled me into her arms. "Oh my God, I heard you screaming on the phone and drove straight here! Is this psycho abusing you again?!" Turns out, I'd accidentally pocket-dialed Iris earlier while getting dragged around. She happened to be in the neighborhood and came running. "This is MY house and MY business! Mind your own damn business and get out!" My mother-in-law tried to kick her out too. I'm the one who set Sienna up with your son! Now she's getting beat to hell-how is that none of my business?!" Iris's face flushed bright red with anger, veins bulging on her forehead. She and Callum were coworkers-they both taught at Riverside Community College. She'd been the one to tell me about him: tall, gorgeous, amazing professor, genuinely good guy, totally professional with his female students. And his dad was the superintendent of the county school district-basically a big deal in our town. She said Callum was perfect for Now, seeing me abused like this, Iris clearly felt responsible. 'You better back off right now, or I'm calling 911 and reporting you for domestic assault!" ris stood her ground, shielding me with her body. But my mother-in-law just sneered. She pulled out her phone-the one I'd come to dread. 'Iris, honey, you should take a look at this first. Let's see if you still wanna play hero after you see what's on here." "I've known her since we were kids! There's nothing about Sienna I don't know. Don't even try your manipulative crap with me!" Iris spat back and got up to look at the screen. My whole body started shaking. I grabbed her wrist desperately: No, don't! Please don't look! You'll hate me!" "Babe, what are you even saying? You could literally burn down an orphanage and I'd still have your back." Iris squeezed my hand reassuringly and marched over to see the phone. She stared at the screen for what felt like forever-maybe five full minutes. Not a single word of the rebuttal she'd prepared came out of her mouth. 'See? Told you. She deserves every bit of what I gave her. She's not fit to be part of this family." watched Iris's face go from flushed red to ghostly white. he didn't argue with my mother-in-law anymore. nstead, she slowly turned to look at me, and her expression was... disgusted. Jesus Christ... Maybe Linda wasn't wrong to discipline you. Guess I was completely wrong about you all these years. I used to think he Vaughn family was lucky to have you. Now I see-you're the one who doesn't deserve them." I'm so sorry, Linda. I was totally out of line. You do whatever you need to do. I won't interfere with Sienna's situation ever again." Vith that, she didn't look at me even once. ler face dark with anger or disappointment-I couldn't tell which-she rushed out the door. stared at Iris's retreating figure in complete disbelief, my hand still reaching out for her, frozen in midair like an idiot. ris and I had known each other since third grade. We were inseparable-closer than actual sisters. he'd once sworn to me, drunk on White Claws at my bachelorette party, that even if I committed mass murder, she'd still ride or die or me no matter what. ut now... I didn't think I'd ever kept any secrets from her. What the absolute hell could be on that phone that would make Iris-my literal soulmate-look at me with such contempt? hat night, after crying alone in the guest bedroom for hours, I tried calling Iris. [y mom had a heart condition-I couldn't dump this on her. Then I really thought about it, Iris was the only person in the world I could turn to. ut I had to call her fourteen times before she finally picked up. he said exactly one sentence and hung up: Either you leave the Vaughn family on your own, or you and I are done. For good." When I called again, the line went straight to voicemail. My best friend forever had blocked me.