My Wicked Mother-in-law

After the wedding, my mother-in-law would praise me for being capable and understanding to anyone who would listen.

The relatives on Jason's side would compliment her for having such a capable daughter-in-law.

I was puzzled at first, not understanding why they praised her so much for our marriage.

I was busy with work, so I returned to the hospital the day after the wedding.

Jason quit his previous job and tried to find a new one in Edgeville but couldn't seem to land anything.

I didn't understand. He was a college graduate, after all. Finding a decent job to make ends meet shouldn't have been this hard.

Until one night, he suddenly confessed, "Honey, I've been hiding something from you. Please don't be mad when I tell you."

After I repeatedly assured him, Jason finally said, "My college degree is fake; the diploma is photoshopped."

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have lied to you. I just love you too much. Can you forgive me?"

I wasn't particularly concerned about Jason's degree, but his dishonesty made me uncomfortable.

I gave him the cold shoulder for two days.

During those two days, he tried every way to win me back—picking me up from work, buying me large bouquets of peonies, standing in line for two hours to buy my favorite coffee.

In the end, I chose to forgive him.

Not because of deep love.

But because of my commitment to marriage. I didn't want to disappoint our parents.

Aside from my mother-in-law always trying to find out how much I had in savings, she was relatively good to me.

She would always make dishes I liked and keep my clothes and bedding clean.

Until I got pregnant and gave birth to a daughter.

That was when my mother-in-law's attitude changed, constantly urging me to have a second child.

I wasn't against a second child. I have a sister and a brother and enjoy that warmth in the family.

What I believe was good, I naturally wish for my daughter to have.

But my mother-in-law kept insisting that the second child must be a boy.

"I heard that your hospital can now do IVF to specify a boy or a girl. You should have a boy. Without a boy in the family, the lineage is broken. How can we continue the family line?"

"Mom, if I can conceive naturally, why do IVF? Isn't a girl part of the Gates family bloodline? How does that affect the family line? Please eat well and mind your own business. Even if I had a son for you now, what if he doesn't have a son? The Gates family line would still end."

My mother-in-law was so angry that she trembled and stopped cooking for me or washing my clothes.

I resolutely refused to go back home, and the two of us were at a standoff.

It wasn't until I brought my daughter, who was about to start elementary school, back to the city from my parents' home that I decided to hire a nanny to take care of her.

My mother-in-law arrived with bags in hand, looking at me with disdain. "You want to leave such a young child in the care of a stranger? Even if you pay them a lot, can they truly be as attentive?"

Her words struck a chord with me. Having an outsider take care of the child could never provide the same peace of mind as having a family member do it, especially when it's her own grandmother.

But less than two months after my mother-in-law began caring for my daughter, she came to me with a request. "Your older sister-in-law wants to start working too, but there's no one to look after her child. I'm thinking she could bring him over here, and I could take care of both."

"Can you handle taking care of two children?"

"Of course not, but your sister-in-law said she would find a job in Edgeville that has weekends off, and her job wouldn't be too demanding. She could come help me take care of the kids when she's free. I could also tidy up a room here for her, so she won't have to pay rent. What do you think?"

"Sure, as long as you've made the arrangements. If you need anything at home, just text me, and I'll have it delivered."

I thought it was simple—having more people to care for the child would be better.

I'd pay, they'd provide the labor; as long as my daughter was well taken care of, I didn't mind being taken advantage of financially.

But I never expected I was inviting a wolf into my home.

My sister-in-law's child was a boy named Patrick, who is thirteen years old.

He was a bit chubby but very sweet-talking and likable.

Every time I came home, he would cling to me, calling me "Aunt" affectionately and even complimenting me on my looks.

Since he arrived, my trunk was always filled with snacks and toys whenever I returned home.

At first, I worried that he might feel uncomfortable living away from home, but he seemed to thrive, growing plump and healthy in my care.

However, my daughter, who used to be a lively little girl, was visibly losing weight and becoming timid.

I took her to the hospital for several tests, but apart from malnutrition, everything else seemed normal.

I couldn't understand the changes in her.

It was until she was rushed to the hospital with a bleeding stomach by a neighbor.

There she lay on the hospital bed, her small face pale and bruised.

She weakly whispered to me, "Mom, it hurts..."

My heart broke; I wished I could take her place. "Nora, don't be afraid. You've just eaten something bad. Mommy will give you a little surgery, and you'll feel better soon."

But I never imagined that when they pumped her stomach, they would find it filled with tiny pieces of a broken knife.

I was about to ask my mother-in-law about it when I overheard her talking to my husband in the hallway. "Son, don't be stupid. If that worthless girl dies, it would be even better. It would save Ethan from being distracted by her all the time..."

When she saw me, there wasn't a hint of guilt on her face. "Ethan, is the child not doing well? Don't be sad. Listen to me: she's just a worthless girl. If she dies, she dies. You and Jason are still young. The most important thing is to give our family a grandson."

My phone buzzed. It was a video sent by the neighbor who had saved my daughter.

In the video, my mother-in-law was seen throwing the broken knife pieces into my daughter's bowl right in front of her. She glared at her menacingly, forcing her to eat them.

My daughter shook her head frantically, crying her heart out.

Beside her, my sister-in-law's son, Patrick, watched the scene unfold with a smile, clapping his hands in delight. He showed no fear, clearly having seen this happen before.

My mind went blank, and I was trembling with rage.

I, who had never shed a tear in front of others, found myself uncontrollably weeping.

I walked silently into the operating room, snatched a scalpel from an assistant, and stormed into the hallway.

Before anyone could react, the scalpel was already at my mother-in-law's throat.

At that moment, there was only one thought in my mind—I wanted her dead!

"What are you doing?"

"Ethan, stop!"

My mother-in-law was so frightened by my sudden loss of sanity that she wet herself on the spot. Jason was as pale as a ghost, and my colleagues were tense.

But I saw none of it. My anger had consumed all of my reason.