After Rebirth, I Discovered My Sister-in-law's Secret

When I got home, my dad immediately noticed Charlie wasn’t with me. His face darkened as he asked, "Did you quarrel with Charlie?"

His question broke the dam I had been holding back. My frustration and pain, buried deep inside, erupted all at once under the weight of his concern. My throat tightened and tears welled up in my eyes. I tried to wipe them away quickly, but my emotions betrayed me.

My mother, noticing my distress, rushed over with a tissue in hand, gently wiping my tears. "What happened, Mia?" she asked, her voice soft yet full of worry.

I couldn’t hold back anymore. I told them everything—how Julie had ordered me around like I was her servant, how she had treated me with disdain and how Charlie had done nothing to defend me. As I spoke, I could see my parents’ expressions harden. With every word, their faces grew colder, inch by inch.

When I finished, my dad leaned back in his chair, his voice calm but full of reproach. "I’ve told you before that marrying into Charlie's family wouldn’t be easy. His brother may be good to him, but you’re the one who’ll bear the brunt of it."

Hearing his words, I lowered my head in shame. In my previous life, I hadn’t understood my dad’s warnings. I thought Charlie’s loyalty to his brother was admirable and I saw it as a mark of his character that he would care for Julie during her pregnancy. But now, after everything, I finally saw the truth. Charlie could have hired a nanny for Julie, but he expected me to do it instead. It wasn’t kindness—it was outsourcing his responsibility in the name of “family duty.”

My mother squeezed my hand tightly, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Whatever decision you make, Mia, we’re here for you. You don’t have to go through this alone."

As I sat there, surrounded by my parents’ support, my mind raced. On the drive home, I had been filled with anger and frustration. I had wanted nothing more than to divorce Charlie and escape from the hell my life had become. But after seeing Charlie’s behavior today—his eagerness to defend Julie—I couldn’t shake the feeling that something more was going on between them. Could their relationship be more than just familial loyalty?

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts. I couldn’t afford to act rashly. If there was something deeper between them, I needed to uncover it before making any decisions.

After a long silence, I finally raised my head and looked at my parents. My voice was steady and my resolve was firm. "Mom, Dad, don’t worry. I have my own plan."

Though their faces were still etched with concern, my parents nodded. They trusted me. And this time, I was determined to take control of my own fate. No more playing the victim. If Julie and Charlie thought they could continue to manipulate me, they were in for a rude awakening.