Divorce Him Before We Even Marry - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

After a long day on the road, all I wanted was to turn in early. But Linda had other plans - twirling around the living room in her white dress, stretching on her yoga mat like she owned the place. Meanwhile, Lily kept darting in and out of Ethan's room, treating his bed like her personal bounce house. The chaos drove me outside with my washbasin just to catch my breath.
"Sarah? I thought you went to visit your aunt and uncle?" Mrs. Flower called out, emerging from her house with her own basin. She fell into step beside me as we headed toward the well.
"Just got back today," I replied. The Flowers lived comfortably thanks to her husband's accounting job at the mine. They were the kind of neighbors who'd bring over steaming bowls of dumplings - we'd always gotten along well.
"Oh honey..." Mrs. Flower's voice dropped as she glanced over my shoulder. She suddenly pulled me forward a few steps.
At the well, she gave my forehead a motherly tap. "What were you thinking? Do you know what kind of woman she is?" Her whisper turned urgent. "Her husband's barely cold in the ground and she's already parading around, stirring up trouble! And you - bringing her into your home? Ethan's prime real estate, sweetheart. Like leaving honey out for flies!"
As Mrs. Flower lectured, the picture became clear - Ethan had told everyone this was my idea. That I'd taken pity on the poor widow and her child. How convenient for him to make me the scapegoat.
I just smiled tightly. Why bother correcting them when I'd be gone soon anyway?
Mrs. Flower kept at me all the way back, offering to help "get rid of that woman" if I was too soft-hearted. Nosy? Sure. But her heart was in the right place.
The living room was empty when I returned. But the bathroom told a different story - my soap and towel had been exiled next to the trash can, replaced by Linda's array of products.
"Excuse me, sister-in-law?" Linda's sugary voice came from behind as she bumped me into the doorframe. She was already holding Lily over the toilet. "Could you move? You're in our way."
Her words might have been polite, but those smug eyes told the real story.
I didn't budge. "Apologize."
Linda froze, clearly not expecting pushback. But her little attack dog was ready - Lily shoved me hard, wailing, "You're mean! Stop bullying Mommy!"
Ethan came running at the commotion. While he comforted Lily, Linda turned on the waterworks. "It's my fault... Lily needed the bathroom and sister-in-law was..."
I didn't miss Ethan's disapproving look as he carried off the still-sobbing child. "Don't cry, sweetheart. Uncle Ethan will make Auntie say sorry, okay?" Linda shot me a victorious smirk before following them.
Later, after my shower, I found my room empty again. A box of cartoon-character candies sat on the nightstand - Ethan's peace offering to his precious Lily.