I Can Hear My Family’s Thoughts

He was usually a clean freak dressed in a crisp suit. Today, he wore old work clothes and had cleaning supplies in hand. It seemed like he was there to help Sarah with the deep cleaning of her new home.

My heart sank.

During all the time we spent together, he had never lifted a finger for the housework. Not even during my postpartum confinement. He did not even know how to use a mop at home.

“Sarah, it’s dusty over here. You should go inside. Your allergies will act up. You shouldn’t be breathing in this stuff!”

“Exactly! Sarah, leave this to my dad and my grandma. You should go back inside and get your beauty sleep. Don’t waste your energy on someone who doesn’t matter.”

Hearing this, Margaret immediately rolled up her sleeves and prepared to get to work. Robert and Rayan chattered on. Neither of them acknowledged me. I had cared for them at home for so many years. They had never once offered to help. When my own allergies started acting up, I asked Margaret to sweep under the bed for me, but Robert directly scolded me for acting like a spoiled princess. He told me that I did not have the fortune of the wealthy but acted like one.

“Put on an extra mask if your allergies bother you that much. Plenty of people have allergies. They don’t all quit doing housework and stop functioning.”

Back then, I actually felt guilty. I even felt sorry that I had not adjusted to his way of living sooner.

I had only realized that they did know how uncomfortable allergies could be. It was just that my discomfort was never important to him. The way the whole family eagerly fawned over Sarah greatly pleased her. The harsh look on her face disappeared. She scrunched up her face and acted as though she were the one being wronged.

“Robby, it’s not that I don’t want to go inside, but since Ms. Harper showed up, the least I can do is be hospitable.”

At that moment, Robert finally followed Sarah’s gaze and spotted me.

“Tsk. Having second thoughts? If you regret what you did, then take the stuff and start cleaning. You’re an adult. Learn to read the room.”

The security guard noticed that Robert seemed to know me. He quickly came forward to curry favor. He was clearly worried about being held responsible.

“Mr. Price, I take it this is the cleaner you brought in for Ms. Hartley’s place?”

Robert looked at me with disdain and did not deny it. His reaction gave Sarah a great boost of confidence.

“That’s right! She’s the cleaner we hired. One hundred dollars an hour. If any of you need her services, feel free to reach out. I quoted the right price, didn’t I, Robby?”

Robert shot me a look. He silently endorsed Sarah’s words.

He kicked both the bucket and the mop to my feet. “Hurry up and get to work.”

By then, the onlookers had seen enough.

“Ms. Hartley is so lucky. A father who adores her and a boyfriend who loves her. She’s living the dream.”

“Exactly. Someone like her deserves nothing but the best.”

I stared at Robert blankly. It was as if I was trying to see right through him.

And at that moment, I heard his inner thoughts.

“It’s just cleaning. She won’t mind. If she really wanted a divorce, she would have left by now. The fact that she followed me here proves she can’t live without me.”

I could also hear Rayan’s and Margaret’s inner thoughts.

“This is so embarrassing. I’d rather die than admit she’s my mother.”

“Divorce? What a joke. If she’s so capable, why is she following us here? I knew a housewife couldn’t stir up any real trouble.”

I tried my best to suppress the anger rising in my heart. My gaze was fixed on Robert. Seeing me stand there in a daze, he seemed to grow annoyed.

“Grace! Did you hear me? Why is it so difficult for you to do one simple thing?”

I saw how self-righteous he looked and finally lost my composure. I grabbed a nearby broom and swung it hard at Robert.

I hit him while cursing him out.

“She’s just the mistress who stole my husband. How dare she order me around?!”

Sarah saw Robert getting hit and immediately stepped in front to shield him. She raised her hand and slapped me across the face. Then she looked me up and down with a sneer.

“Take a good look at yourself in the mirror. Calling you a cleaner would be generous. If I really wanted your man, you wouldn’t stand a chance.”

I held my stinging left cheek as hatred surged through me.

Rayan’s and Margaret’s inner thoughts echoed in my ears again.

“Serves her right. Mom has been asking for this. How dare she talk about divorce? Someone needed to knock some sense into her.”

“She wants a divorce but can’t go through with it. Pathetic. Now she blames someone else for taking her husband. Worthless.”

Afraid that I might fight back and hurt Sarah, Robert, along with Rayan and Margaret, pinned me down. They let Sarah kick and punch me.

Tears streamed down my face. I screamed like I was losing my mind.

In the middle of this despairing moment, a familiar figure appeared at the entrance.

“Dad!”

“Dad!”

To my surprise, Sarah had also called out “Dad.”

She rushed over first to play the victim. “Daddy, this woman hit me! And she claims this house is hers. You have to stand up for me!”

My father saw me behind her. I had been beaten beyond recognition.

He slapped Sarah to the ground. Then he pulled me into his arms with a pained expression and roared, “This is my daughter!”