Chapter 1
My mother-in-law slapped me while I was eight months pregnant and ordered me to sign divorce papers. She never heard my husband unlock the front door behind her.
The slap snapped my face sideways so hard my ears rang.
I grabbed the kitchen counter before my swollen body could fall.
“Please, Diane,” I whispered. “You could hurt the baby.”
She pointed at the shredded divorce papers scattered across the floor.
“You just destroyed your last chance to leave with dignity.”
“Ryan never asked for a divorce.”
“He doesn’t have the courage to tell you himself.”
She grabbed my wrist and twisted until I cried out.
We were alone in her Charlotte home while Ryan was away on business.
For weeks, Diane had insisted her son regretted marrying me.
That morning, she placed the papers in front of me and demanded my signature.
I had tried calling Ryan, but every call went straight to voicemail.
“Those papers didn’t come from him,” I said.
“Then sign another copy and find out.”
“No.”
Her palm struck my cheek again.
My shoulder slammed against the refrigerator.
The baby kicked so violently that I wrapped both arms around my stomach.
“Please stop,” I begged. “I’m eight months pregnant.”
Diane leaned close enough for me to smell her coffee.
“Cry louder. Maybe the neighbors will believe you.”
She raised her hand for a third slap.
The front lock clicked.
Diane froze with her hand still in the air.
Ryan stood in the doorway, his suitcase beside him.
His eyes moved from my swollen cheek to his mother’s raised hand.
“Mom, what are you doing?”
“She attacked me,” Diane said quickly.
Ryan looked at the finger-shaped marks on my wrist.
Then Diane lifted her hand again and pointed at my face.
Ryan crossed the kitchen in three steps.
He pulled his mother away from me.
Then he slapped her across the face.
The sound silenced the entire room.
“She is eight months pregnant!” he shouted.
Diane touched her cheek, then slowly smiled.
“I never signed anything,” I said through my tears.
She reached into her purse and pulled out an untouched copy of the divorce papers.
May you like
“She already signed them,” Diane said, throwing the page toward Ryan.
Ryan stared at the signature, then looked up at his mother. “Mom… that’s your handwriting.”
