My husband died suddenly, and then his visibly pregnant first love showed up with his will, ready to claim her inheritance.
My daughter wanted me to stand my ground, to fight that homewrecker tooth and nail!
But my in-laws told me, Just let her have it. After all, she’s carrying our family’s bloodline. Even though our son wronged you, our family can’t be without an heir.
I nodded, agreeing to my in-laws’ demand. Ignoring my daughter’s furious objections, I took her and moved abroad.
When my daughter fumed at my apparent weakness, I stayed silent. But when I received that familiar call, I smiled with satisfaction
Julian’s funeral drew a sizable crowd. Besides his family and friends, there were also many of his colleagues and business partners.
When they saw Luna, Julian’s first love, show up visibly pregnant, clutching a will, their faces flickered with a myriad of expressions C it was quite a show.
Many of them discreetly watched me, silent, seemingly waiting to see my reaction. It looked like everyone was ready for some drama.
“Sarah, I know Julian and I both wronged you, but I’m carrying his child. I have to live for this baby, right? I know what I did wasn’t right, but this is the last gift Julian left for me and our child. You can’t be so cruel as to strip us of our rights, can you?”
“Ugh! You utterly shameless witch! You secretly hooked up with my dad behind my mom’s back! And now you have the nerve to show up pregnant, demanding an inheritance? I’ve never seen anyone as brazen as you!” My daughter, Mia, screamed at Luna. Her face was crimson with fury, veins throbbing in her neck, as if she wanted to tear Luna limb from limb.
“Mia! Do you have no manners? I don’t remember your mother raising you to be such a wild banshee!” It was Mrs. Davies, my mother-in-law, who spoke. She shot me a glare. “How have you been raising this child?”
“She ruined my parents’ relationship, she came between my mom and dad. If you won’t help my mom, fine, but now you’re siding with an outsider to accuse Mom and me? What do we even mean to you?!” Mia, usually so compliant, transformed. She shielded me like a mama bear protecting her cub, which touched me deeply, though it also filled me with shame.
Mrs. Davies was stunned by Mia’s outburst, then her expression turned to anger. “This is outrageous! This little girl is starting to lecture her elders?! The adults in this family are still alive; it’s not your place to speak, young lady!” She turned back to me. “I always said daughters were useless!”
Mr. Davies, my father-in-law, stepped forward. “This is adult business, Mia! Don’t you dare interrupt! If you don’t behave, don’t blame me for getting rough with you!” He finished, giving Mia a harsh glare.
Mr. Davies then looked at Luna, then back at me. “Sarah, I know you’ve been married into our family for thirteen years. We’ve seen your character, and we’ve always treated you as one of our own. I hope you can consider our feelings now.”
Listening to Mr. Davies, I calmly asked, “What do you mean?”
“It’s just” Mr. Davies hesitated, then continued, “Luna told us the baby is a boy. Our family has only ever had one son per generation, and we truly hope she gives birth. But now Julian is gone, and it will be difficult for Luna to raise a child alone. We hope you won’t contest the inheritance with her.”
Mrs. Davies chimed in, “Just let her have it. After all, she’s carrying our family’s bloodline. Even though our son wronged you, our family can’t be without an heir.”
My daughter blurted out before I could speak, “Then am I not Dad’s child? Am I not? In your eyes, what am I?” Her eyes reddened as she looked at my in-laws, her voice trembling.
I knew my in-laws didn’t truly value my daughter, but I never imagined they’d say something like this to her face. I realized then that their previous displays of affection for her had all been an act; in reality, they still saw no worth in their granddaughter.
Hearing Mia’s words, Mrs. Davies dropped all pretense. “I never said you weren’t, but you’re a girl. How can a girl carry on our family name? After all your father did for you, and you can’t even think of him? You’re so ungrateful!”
Mr. Davies sternly said, “We’re talking to your mother now, young lady, don’t interrupt!” He then looked at me. “Sarah, for the sake of our years as a family, I hope you can understand us!”
I looked at them, calmly stating, “So, you knew about Julian and Luna all along?”
My words caught both my in-laws off guard. Embarrassed expressions crossed their faces as they exchanged uneasy glances.
Seeing this, my daughter’s face twisted in disgust. “I used to respect you so much, and you always talked about decency and self-respect. I can’t believe I can’t believe you’re just as shameless!”
“What did you say, you rotten girl?! Are you looking for a fight?!” Mrs. Davies lunged forward, trying to hit Mia, but I quickly shielded my daughter behind me.
“Why are you hitting her? Was she wrong?” I asked, my voice chilling as I stared at Mrs. Davies.
Mrs. Davies looked at me, then at Mia, who was safely behind me. She sneered. “Fine, fine, you two! Just because my son isn’t here, you think you can disrespect your elders, ignore me completely, is that it?”
Mrs. Davies then dramatically collapsed in front of Julian’s memorial picture. “Julian, you left us too soon! Your wife and daughter are ganging up on us two old people now! They won’t listen to a word we say, and they even accuse us! All we want is for Luna to give us your heir. Why why won’t they understand our elderly wish?”
The friends and relatives sitting nearby watched Mrs. Davies’ hysterical wailing. Some looked on with disdain, others nodded in agreement, and a few, seemingly not finding enough drama, pulled out their phones to record.
Mrs. Davies’ heartbroken wails sounded utterly pathetic, and Mr. Davies seized the opportunity to approach me. He said earnestly, “Sarah, I know our family has wronged you, but we truly want to have an heir for the Davies family. And we also need Julian’s inheritance to raise the child. We hope you can agree.”
“Mom! Don’t listen to them!” Mia gripped my hand tightly, as if encouraging me.
Seeing my daughter trying so hard to protect me, tears welled up uncontrollably in my eyes. I reached out and stroked her hair. “It’s okay, sweetie. Let Mom make the decision. I’ve already made up my mind.”
Hearing my words, my daughter nodded obediently.
I looked at my in-laws, then at Luna. “You want the company Julian left behind?”
Mrs. Davies spoke up. “Luna used to work there, she naturally knows how to manage the company. To put it bluntly, even if you founded the company with Julian, didn’t you withdraw after you got married? This company in fact, it’s my son’s personal property.”
I stared at her. “You even know that? So, you’ve known about her relationship with your son all along? You and Julian conspired to keep it from me? Oh, and why didn’t you mention Julian also owns a house? Though, it’s registered under your names, so I suppose you had that planned out too, didn’t you?”
Hearing my words, Mrs. Davies coughed awkwardly and said no more.
Luna guiltily averted her gaze and gestured to the lawyer beside her. “You go talk to her.”
The lawyer’s eyes also flickered with a hint of embarrassment, but he still braced himself and walked over. “If you voluntarily give up your claim, you can sign a voluntary waiver here, agreeing not to pursue further action.”
I looked at them, then nodded. “Alright, if that’s what you want, then I agree!”
“Mom!!!” My daughter stared at me in disbelief, and the surrounding onlookers also showed surprised expressions.
My in-laws’ faces lit up with joy at my reaction. Mrs. Davies beamed, “Really?! You said it, no backing out now!”
Luna and her lawyer also looked surprised, then wary, as if afraid I might retaliate.
Luna looked at me. “What are your conditions?”
Hearing her speak, I nodded. “Of course, I have conditions. From now on, I will have no further ties with the Davies family. Don’t ever contact us again.” I looked at my daughter, asking for her consent. “You’ll live with Mom, won’t you? Is that okay?”
My daughter looked at me with a mix of frustration and anger, as if hating my weakness. She said, heartbroken and furious, “Mom, I’ll live with you, but but Dad’s money shouldn’t go to that witch! Mom, please don’t be so weak! Pull yourself together! Even if we have to live on scraps, I don’t want them to have an easy life! If we go down, we all go down together!”
My daughter’s words once again infuriated Mrs. Davies. “You deadbeat girl, try saying that again! I told you girls are useless, just look at them, only brave when they’re attacking their own family!”
Looking at my daughter, I remembered my younger self, kind and impulsive, never keeping anything bottled up. My heart swelled with both comfort and regret. “Sweetie, please, do this for Mom, okay? Your dad stopped loving us a long time ago. He even schemed to leave his property to his first love, regardless of what happened to us and your grandparents are no different. So, why should we cling to your dad’s inheritance?”
My daughter looked at me with tear-filled eyes. “Mom, even if you think Dad’s money is tainted, let’s donate it rather than leave it for that witch! Don’t be so foolish, please!”
“You deadbeat girl!” Mr. Davies, enraged, raised his cane to hit my daughter, but I blocked him.
Crack! The cane struck my arm with such force that I winced in pain. It seemed Mr. Davies wasn’t holding back, even on his granddaughter.
“You” Mr. Davies stared at me in shock.
“You’ve hit me, you’ve cursed me. Isn’t it just Julian’s company you want? I’m letting you have it, isn’t that enough?” I choked out, “Julian betrayed me, and you all conspired with him to keep it from me. Now Julian is ‘dead,’ and you’re ganging up on my daughter and me Isn’t giving up enough?”
I looked at the visibly troubled lawyer. “I will sign the agreement.”
Then I turned to the surrounding friends and relatives, and those holding up phones to record. “You all can be my witnesses here. From now on, I have no relationship with the Davies family, and neither does my child. The responsibility of caring for my in-laws will fall to Luna from now on.”
Luna’s face flashed with a hint of embarrassment when she heard my words, but she dared not speak. My in-laws, on the other hand, watched eagerly as I signed the agreement.
A young onlooker couldn’t stand it anymore. “Sarah, why put yourself through this?”
“Yeah, why be so foolish? Isn’t this just benefiting someone else?”
“Exactly! Even if not for yourself, at least think of your child.”
“Forget it, just look at how those old folks have been treating her!”
My daughter couldn’t help but tug my hand, crying, “Mom, can’t you stop being so silly? Isn’t this just making it easy for them?”
I stroked her forehead. “Honey, we’re cutting ties with them. From now on, it’s as if we have no grandparents. If you still love Mom, then do this for Mom. Cut them off, and don’t get entangled with them anymore!”
Hearing this, my daughter didn’t speak but glared angrily at Luna and the Davies.
After signing the agreement, I took my daughter and left. Even though she was extremely unwilling, I practically dragged her away.
Some busybodies had already filmed the scene and uploaded it online. Many netizens expressed outrage on my behalf, and some legal professionals offered to help me fight for my rights.
However, many others were furious at my apparent weakness, calling me a naive pushover, saying I was a saint for enabling the mistress, and destroying my and my daughter’s interests. They accused me of not being fit to be a mother. Some even used me as a cautionary tale, making videos about my story to gain views.
Luna and Julian’s parents didn’t fare much better. They were also cyberbullied by outraged netizens, condemned as shameless people with no morals.
I was aware of the online buzz, and my daughter argued with me about it for a long time.
Facing netizens’ mockery, sarcasm, or well-intentioned advice, I decided to respond. I recorded a video explaining that I had decided to move abroad and that everyone should live their own lives in peace.
Of course, this “saintly” approach, as I expected, once again provoked netizens’ mockery.
Although my daughter was very reluctant, she eventually compromised and moved abroad with me. As time passed, her initial dissatisfaction with me gradually turned into reconciliation.
With the help of my brother, David, who owned a company overseas, I registered my own company, bought a small apartment, and started a new life. Everything progressed smoothly and methodically; life became relatively easy. Until one day, someone called me, shattering the peace
“You damn bitch! How dare you pull a stunt like this on me!!!” A familiar voice roared hysterically from the other end of the line, as if he wanted to reach through the phone and strangle me.
Hearing that voice, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Oh, you’re not dead, are you? How are you able to call me? What a miracle!”
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