Chapter 5 I finally understood why Linda hated me so much, why she'd been trying to drive me out all this time. I don't know how I left their bedroom. My feet moved mechanically toward the living room. When I got to the doorway, I don't know if it was the emotional shock hitting my already weak body, but everything suddenly went black and I collapsed. I was woken up by Linda hitting me. found myself was still lying on the freezing floor. Wave after wave of pain made me scream. You disgusting piece of trash, what are you doing back here? Who said you could come back?!" You shameless thing..." he was crying now, too-hitting me with a wire hanger while trying to shove me out the door. This time I didn't get angry. I didn't fight back. My limbs were too weak, so I just crawled toward the exit on my hands and knees. t felt like something was blocking my throat. All I could do was sob-I couldn't get a single word out. Get out! Don't ever let me see you again!" As she finally pushed me out the door, Linda threw a few bags after me. They contained my personal belongings and ID documents. But just as she was about to slam the door, two police officers came rushing out of the elevator. he first one was a female officer. She flashed her badge: We just received a call from your neighbors reporting that you frequently assault your daughter-in-law without cause. The severity of the situation requires you to come with us to the station." cried silently, unable to speak. expected Linda to throw a fit and resist, but instead she just laughed and held out her wrists: Alright, then. Wouldn't want you to have wasted the trip." That made sense. Except when dealing with me, Linda had always presented herself as a kind, gentle, model citizen-nothing like the stereotype of a rashy, abusive mother-in-law. Looking at the bruises and welts all over my body, the officers just took a simple statement, then the female officer accompanied me o the ER for a medical examination. Seeing how silent I'd been the whole time, she probably thought I had psychological trauma from years of domestic abuse. HATSOENS While we waited for my exam results, she tried to comfort me, her voice tight with suppressed anger: "Don't be afraid. The police won't let this kind of abusive monster get away with it. This can't just be written off as a family conflict. anymore. It depends on your medical report and what you want to do..." Seeing how earnest the officer was, I smiled bitterly and shook my head. Linda would show them her phone. And then they wouldn't be saying any of this. The test results came back quickly. Both the doctor and the female officer looked tense: "...Ms. Hart, these are your test results. You're... you're pregnant." "Six weeks along." My expression froze. My emotions were all over the place. Pregnant? After we got married, Callum had been eager for us to try for a baby. I'd wanted to have our child too. And now this baby was coming at the worst possible time, when I least wanted it. "Look, this is good news! Your neighbors said your husband treats you well. With a baby on the way..." Before the officer could finish, I suddenly started sobbing uncontrollably. How could someone like me deserve to be a mother? How could I bring a child into this world right now? After a while, once I'd finally calmed down, the confused officer took me back to the station. The moment we walked in, another officer came running over with a strange expression on his face. He glanced at me a few times, then pulled the female officer aside and whispered something in her ear. I watched silently. I didn't need to guess. He'd obviously seen what was on Linda's phone. Sure enough, the female officer's expression changed too. She stared at me for a few seconds without saying anything, then turned and went to get Linda. Her demeanor and movements became gentler. She hurriedly released Linda from the holding cell. "Mrs. Vaughn, you're free to go." Linda nodded without saying a word. The officer hesitated, glancing at me as if asking for my permission. My heart dead, I nodded. Then I handed my medical report to Linda. After seeing what was written on it, her eyes suddenly went wide. Her hands started trembling uncontrollably. She'd been calm up until that point, but suddenly she started wailing loudly. Not caring that we were still at the police station, she grabbed her purse and hurled it at me: "What, you think you can use this pregnancy to make me back down?! Fat chance! I've never accepted you as my daughter-in-law, and a baby won't change that!" "You little whore! Get rid of it! Get an abortion!" The officers freaked out and rushed to restrain the seemingly crazed Linda. But not one of them condemned her. I said nothing. I wiped my tears and left with the female officer. "...Don't worry, we'll help you handle this situation. But your mother-in-law, she..." Seeing the officer struggle to find words, I shook my head: "It's fine. I knew how this would go. You don't need to worry about me." With that, I waved and walked out of the police station.