marrying

After marrying the golden boy of the West Coast elite, his older brother's wife constantly used her status as the elder sister-in-law to make my life miserable. She even tried to break us up so her cousin could take my place. Feeling utterly defeated, I called my best friend to vent. To my surprise, she responded, “Don't worry, I'm currently dating your father-in-law. Once we're married, I'll be your mother-in-law, and then I'll deal with her for you.” My jaw dropped. “What?!”

1

I came from a humble background, but fate intervened when I met Ethan, the heir to a West Coast fortune. He fell head over heels for me and eventually married me, despite his family's disapproval. For two years, he was incredibly attentive and loving. Over time, his father, seeing our genuine affection, accepted me into the family. Just as I started to enjoy this peaceful life, Ethan's older brother, Alex, got married. His wife, Olivia, was the epitome of a socialite: wealthy, beautiful, and utterly disdainful of me.

Initially, I didn't understand why. I assumed it was just some quirk of the wealthy elite. Later, I discovered that her cousin, Chloe, had been in love with Ethan for years. Chloe had worked tirelessly to become the woman she thought he deserved, only to see him marry me, a girl from a modest background with nothing but, apparently, a pretty face. Olivia believed I'd used some underhanded tactic to ensnare Ethan.

When Olivia first joined the family, I tried to extend an olive branch. "Olivia," I began, "I think there might be some misunderstanding." She looked at me with disgust. "Don't call me Olivia. Being under the same roof as someone like you makes me sick. Luckily, Ethan's infatuation with you is just a phase. When he gets bored, you'll be discarded. Then he'll realize Chloe is the only one for him." I sighed. She was delusional. I knew my life was about to become much more difficult.

2

As expected, Olivia's dislike wasn't just verbal. She actively plotted to separate Ethan and me. She constantly invited Chloe over, always emphasizing how perfect they were together, especially in front of me. One evening, knowing Ethan was late and I was unprotected, she strategically placed me at the far end of the dinner table, positioning Chloe next to Ethan's usual seat. I felt a knot in my stomach but didn't want to make a fuss over something so petty. My father-in-law, Richard, usually kind to me, seemed oblivious to the subtle power play. Strangely, he was glued to his phone, grinning periodically. It was unusual for the typically stoic Richard. Suddenly, he looked up and asked, "You're close with Ashley, right?" Ashley was my best friend, practically a sister since childhood. I nodded, puzzled by his question, but didn't dwell on it. Alex, clearly on his wife's side, ignored the blatant setup. Olivia, confident that I wouldn't dare challenge her in front of the family, smirked. She was right. I wouldn't argue with her, not because I was scared, but because...