Switch of Fate

Madeline’s eyes widened. “Really?”

I nodded.

First, I took her to the bathhouse for a proper wash.

Then we bought her two new outfits to replace the dirty ones she’d been wearing. After that, we went to a hair salon and got her a neat bob haircut.

Madeline stared at her reflection. It was as if she had become a completely different person.

“Will he like me now?”

I shook my head. “This is just the first step.”

“What’s the second step?”

“Go back to school. I asked around. He’s ranked first in his grade. If you want him to like you, you’ll have to rank first, too.”

Madeline immediately deflated. “I can’t do that.”

I smiled slightly. “I’ll help you.”

From that day on, a new kind of harmony formed between me, Donna, and Madeline.

On weekdays, I bought books for Donna, and she helped with housework and cooking.

After meals, the three of us would sit in the living room. I tutored Madeline, going over problems with her, while Donna read quietly beside us.

When Mark came home, this was the scene he saw.

He cleared his throat. Madeline rushed over and hugged him. “You’re back!”

Mark looked at her in disbelief. “What happened to you?”

Madeline grinned. “All thanks to Emma.”

As Mark glanced at me, I felt my face heat up and quickly turned to go back to my room.

Not long after, Mark followed me in and thanked me.

“I heard about everything these past few days. Thank you for taking care of my mom and Madeline.”

I waved it off. “We’re married now. Your mom and Madeline are my family, too. There’s no need to thank me.”

He paused for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled. “Alright.”

From that day on, his attitude toward me changed.

At first, he had been distant and indifferent. Now, he was noticeably friendlier.

As long as he didn’t have to travel for work, he came home every day. And whenever he returned, he would bring me small gifts.

Over time, we really started living like a married couple.

It was then that I realized Mark wasn’t as scary as people said. Sometimes, he was even a little endearing.

Before long, it was time for the customary visit back to my parents’ home.

Dressed in a new outfit, carrying bags of gifts, I arrived just as I ran into Lily, who was also bringing two pounds of pastries.

Lily was dressed plainly.

Because of what happened on the wedding day, she and Jackson never held a proper ceremony.

She glanced at Mark beside me, then lifted her chin and walked in arrogantly.

However, my mom didn’t even look at her. She came straight to us, took the things from our hands, and started fussing over Mark.

Lily couldn’t take it anymore. “Mom, why don’t you ask how Jackson’s been?”

My mom gave a perfunctory response. “Oh, how has Jackson been?”

Lily straightened proudly. “Jackson just received notice. He’s reporting to the county office tomorrow. I have a feeling that within five years, he’ll rise to the top. By then, I’ll be a government official’s wife.”

No one in the room paid attention to her. Instead, they turned to ask Mark about the South and what it was like there.

Lily grew annoyed. “Emma.”

I looked up at her.

She seemed to have something to say. “Let’s go cook.”

In our family, men never entered the kitchen.

Lily and I went in together.

I was just about to start the fire when she leaned in and said, “Taking care of the Hollanders must be exhausting, right? His mom and sister aren’t exactly normal.”

I knew she was trying to stir things up between me and Mark’s family.

“It’s okay. Donna and Madeline are both very considerate. They help with laundry and cooking. Especially Madeline, she always saves the best food for me. I can sleep in as long as I want. It’s much better than having to wake up at five every morning to take care of a whole household.”

Lily’s expression changed.

Only someone who had lived with the Youngs would understand what it meant to be a daughter-in-law there.

Jackson’s parents and his two younger brothers all relied on Lily. All the dirty and exhausting work fell to her.

In just a few days, calluses had already formed on her hands.

She bit her lip, then let out a low laugh. “I heard Mark left to do business on your wedding night. Do you know why he likes going to the South? There’s a woman in his circle named Olivia Carter. Mark likes her.”

At the mention of that name, my hands paused.

Olivia—Mark’s second wife.

I had heard that when Mark rose from a small-town businessman to the richest man in the country, this woman had been by his side the whole time.

Seeing my reaction, Lily continued, “The way Mark treats Olivia, that’s real love. He keeps her by his side all the time and gives her all his money. You know what they say. Where the money goes, that’s where the love is.”

My heart tightened, and I bit down hard on my lip.

Just then, the kitchen door was pushed open.

Mark walked in, his expression dark.