Chapter 4

The day before the wedding, my mother-in-law cornered me in the kitchen. She had been watching me, her eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"Chloe," she said, her voice deceptively sweet. "That insurance money... it must have come through by now."

I feigned ignorance, my face a mask of sorrowful confusion. "Money? I haven't even thought about it. My world has fallen apart."

"Of course, dear," she said, patting my hand. "But these things are important. For Leo's future. You should let me handle it. I'll put it in a trust for him. It's what Michael would have wanted."

She wanted to control it. To control me.

"That's very kind of you," I said, my voice soft. "But Michael and I always said that money should be for Leo's education. I'll make sure it's taken care of."

Her smile tightened. "You're just a young woman, Chloe. You don't understand finances. It's a man's world. Let me and Mark handle it for you."

I looked down at my hands. "I'll think about it."

Later that day, I went to the bank and withdrew a stack of cash. Ten thousand dollars. I put it in an envelope.

That evening, I found her in the living room. I handed her the envelope.

"You were right," I said meekly. "I was overwhelmed. Here. This is... this is the first payment from the insurance company. Can you hold onto it for me? For Leo?"

Her eyes lit up as she saw the thick stack of bills. She didn't even count it. Greed made her stupid.

"Of course, my dear," she said, tucking the envelope into her purse. "You did the right thing. We'll take good care of you. Don't you worry about a thing."

She thought she had won. She thought she had secured the golden goose. She had no idea it was just a few feathers.

The wedding preparations were in full swing. Michael was spending money like it grew on trees. A lavish reception at a five-star hotel, a custom-made dress for Ashley, a ten-piece band. He put it all on his credit cards and the joint accounts, assuming the massive death benefit would cover everything.

A friend of the family, a nosy neighbor named Carol, cornered me by the catering table.

"Look at all this," she said, gesturing around the decorated living room. "He never did anything this grand for you, did he, Chloe?"

I gave her a sad smile. "Michael was always more practical. He said saving for a house was more important than a big party."

It was a lie. He was just cheap with me.

Ashley, overhearing us, swept over. "Mark knows I deserve the best," she said, preening. "He wants to give me the world."

"And you deserve it, darling," Michael said, kissing her loudly. "Nothing is too good for my wife."

He looked at me, a smug, pitying look on his face. He thought he had it all. The woman he loved, the money, the freedom. And a built-in nanny and housekeeper for when they got back from their honeymoon.

I just had to endure one more day.

That night, as Ashley was trying on my diamond necklace, she pouted. "It's beautiful, but it pinches a little."

Michael turned to me. "Chloe, can you take this to the jeweler tomorrow morning and have them adjust the clasp? It needs to be perfect for her."

He wanted me, his wife, to run errands for his new bride on their wedding day.

"Of course," I said. "I'll take care of it first thing."

I smiled. They had no idea what I'd be taking care of.