Chapter 3 Completely devastated, I fell apart. Over a decade of friendship, just... gone. Just like that. What the hell was on my mother-in-law's phone that could make Iris turn on me like this? My mind spiraled into dark places. I even started wondering if Linda knew some kind of voodoo curse or something, designed to make everyone abandon me and drive me to... I couldn't even finish the thought. Thank God, the next evening, my father-in-law came home. Seeing me looking around for Callum, he explained apologetically: He ran into an old college buddy he hasn't seen in years and promised to grab drinks with him. What's wrong? Did the old lady give you hell while we were gone?" Looking into my father-in-law's concerned eyes, my chest tightened. He reminded me so much of my own dad, who'd passed away years ago. burst into tears: Linda really hates me, and I have no idea what I did wrong..." Seeing me in so much pain, his face filled with worry and heartache: That's just her temperament. I'm sorry, kiddo. I shouldn't have had Callum come with me to the specialist. Don't worry-when your nom gets back, I'll have a serious talk with her." Suddenly, he seemed to notice something: Why is your face so flushed? Your voice sounds hoarse too. Do you have a fever?" That's when I realized-between getting beaten, losing my best friend, and barely sleeping for two days straight, my cold had gotten vay worse. Based on how I felt, my temperature was probably pushing 103. Yeah, I think I'm coming down with something. It's fine though..." Fine? Your health is the most important thing! Come on, let me take you to urgent care." Before I could protest, my father-in-law-who'd just gotten home-grabbed his jacket again and insisted on taking me to the ER. I was so out of it with fever that I just cried and followed him. We didn't get me hooked up to an IV until after midnight. My exhausted father-in-law patted my shoulder: Sienna, you stay here and finish your drip. I'm gonna head home and get some rest." I nodded. I couldn't bear to make this elderly man run around taking care of me all night. Just as he was about to leave, I suddenly remembered something and grabbed his sleeve: ...Dad! Has Mom ever shown you something on her phone?" He turned back, looking confused: "What? No, she hasn't." My heart started pounding violently. A terrible feeling crept over me: Then I'm begging you... if Mom tries to show you something, if she says she wants to kick me out-please don't look at it." His expression turned serious. He nodded and patted my hand: 'Don't worry. I'm not like her with all that superstitious nonsense. I know what kind of person you are. Callum's coming back omorrow morning-I'll have him pick you up." Seeing his confident reassurance, I finally relaxed and let go of his sleeve. I stayed at the hospital all night on the IV. The next day, my fever broke and I felt much better. I waited eagerly at the hospital for my husband to come get me. But by dinnertime, he still hadn't shown up. He wasn't answering his phone. Wasn't responding to texts. Still recovering, I had to drag my exhausted body out and take an Uber home by myself. The moment I opened the front door, I saw my mother-in-law mopping the floor. 'What the hell are you doing back here, you little slut! Were you out hooking up with someone? You're an embarrassment to this Family!" Without hesitation, she swung the mop handle at my head, trying to drive me back out. 'Dad! Callum! Help me!" I screamed, looking around for my father-in-law and husband, hoping they'd stop her from beating me. But when I managed to look into the house, I saw my husband casually walking out of the bedroom. My father-in-law sat on the couch, staring at the TV like nothing was happening. "...You guys..." I froze in place, barely registering the mop handle coming down on my head. "You saw what's on her phone, didn't you?!" I screamed in desperate anguish. My father-in-law glanced at me with a strange expression, disgust flickering in his eyes. My husband frowned, his gaze turning impatient: "Alright, I know your secret now. If Mom wants to discipline you, just take it. Stop with all the crying and screaming-it's embarrassing." My mouth fell open. I stared at Callum in shock. Was this really the same man who used to dote on me? After just a few days apart, it was like he'd been body-snatched or something. He'd seen what was on Linda's phone too! "Why... what's on that phone? What did I do that was so terrible that you all hate me like this?" Linda stared at me, her eyes bloodshot, the muscles and wrinkles on her face trembling. "You've still got the nerve to talk back! What kind of daughter-in-law gets hated by her mother-in-law and still has the audacity to stick around? Any girl with an ounce of shame would've run away by now!" No one stepped in to stop her. My father-in-law put on his jacket and headed for the door. My husband put in his AirPods and started walking toward the bedroom. All the care and love they'd shown me before had completely vanished, replaced by cold indifference.