Mary’s marriage to Ed was supposed to be a happy new chapter in her life, but it came with a heavy price—his mother, Scarlett. Scarlett made no secret of her disdain, turning every family gathering into a battlefield of insults and criticism.
From wedding-day jabs to endless complaints, she seemed determined to push Mary to her limits. Yet none of them knew the bombshells that were about to drop.
One day, Mary and Ed found themselves on yet another silent drive to Scarlett’s house. Mary, dreading the visit, braced herself, hoping Ed would be more supportive. But if Ed noticed her unease, he didn’t say a word. Finally, they arrived, and Scarlett was at the door, beaming as she pulled Ed into a tight hug.
“Oh, my baby! You’re finally here! I missed you so much!” she exclaimed, her voice dripping with affection.
“Mom, it’s only been a week,” Ed said, gently pulling away. Scarlett’s grin faltered slightly as she turned to Mary, her expression cold.
“Well, Mary,” she sneered, “I see you’ve put on a few pounds.”
Mary forced a polite smile. “Good to see you too, Scarlett.”
At dinner, Scarlett didn’t hold back, openly criticizing everything about Mary—from her job to her cooking to her clothes. Mary clenched her fork, biting her tongue to keep the peace. Then Scarlett turned to her with a smirk, her voice dripping with mock concern.
“I think it’s high time you gave me a grandchild. Or maybe,” she added, her gaze sharp, “Mary has… some issues?”
Mary’s heart pounded. She and Ed had been trying to start a family, and Scarlett’s words cut deep. Unable to hold back, Mary snapped. “How dare you, Scarlett? Maybe it’s Ed who has the problem!”
Scarlett’s eyes narrowed. “That’s absurd! My son is perfectly healthy,” she said dismissively. “But you… who knows what your past holds?”
Mary looked at Ed, hoping for some support, but he only shrugged, focused on his phone. She felt betrayed, but as dinner dragged on, she began feeling sick, her stomach churning. Scarlett leaned in, her voice mocking. “My neighbor mentioned herbal teas for… people like you,” she said with a smirk.
The nausea hit hard, and Mary rushed to the bathroom. When she returned, she leaned toward Ed, barely holding back tears. “I want to go home,” she whispered.
Later, on the drive back, Mary’s mind raced. She needed answers. “Ed, could you stop at the pharmacy?”
He sighed but pulled over, letting her dash inside to buy a pregnancy test. At home, she locked herself in the bathroom, her hands shaking as she waited. Two lines appeared on the test. Pregnant. A rush of joy filled her—she was finally going to be a mother! She ran to Ed with the news, her face glowing.
“Ed, we’re going to have a baby!” she announced, holding the test out with pride.
He looked at her blankly. “Oh. That’s… good,” he muttered, turning back to his phone. Mary’s heart sank at his lack of enthusiasm, but she tried to stay positive, hoping he would come around.
Days passed, and Ed grew more distant, spending hours on his phone, avoiding conversations. One morning, while waiting for him to get ready for her first doctor’s appointment, his phone buzzed with a message.
Normally, Mary respected his privacy, but his strange behavior made her pause. She picked up the phone, and her stomach dropped. A message lit up the screen with a picture of a woman in a revealing pose, along with the text, “Can’t wait to see you, baby.”
Heart pounding, she unlocked the phone, scrolling through the messages. Ed had been lying to this woman, telling her he owned a construction company and was wealthy. Each message felt like a fresh slap, proof of his betrayal.
When Ed stepped out of the shower, Mary confronted him, her face pale with hurt and anger. “What is this?” she cried, holding his phone toward him.
He looked at her, unfazed. “None of your business.”
Mary’s voice shook. “None of my business? You’re cheating on me, Ed! And I’m pregnant with your child!”
Ed rolled his eyes. “How do I even know it’s mine?” he sneered. “Maybe you’re the one cheating.”
Mary felt the room spin. “You’re serious? We’ve been trying for months, and now you question me?”
Ed’s gaze hardened. “Six months of trying, and now suddenly you’re pregnant? Sounds suspicious.”
Mary took a deep breath, holding back tears. “You’ve been lying to her too! Pretending to be someone you’re not,” she said, her voice trembling.
Unmoved, Ed smirked. “Doesn’t matter. I’m filing for divorce. I’m done.”
Mary’s voice turned cold. “You think she’ll stick around once she finds out you’re not who you say?”
Ed shrugged. “She won’t find out. And I’ll make sure to get everything—this house, and my mom’s money too.”
Mary’s jaw clenched. “This house was bought by my father!”
Ed scoffed. “It’s in both our names.”
Mary’s voice softened. “What about the baby?”
“Can’t prove it’s mine,” he said, his face indifferent. He stormed out, leaving her devastated.
Desperate, Mary decided to go to the one person she never thought she’d ask for help—Scarlett. She showed up at Scarlett’s door, gathering her courage. Scarlett eyed her skeptically but invited her in. Mary laid out everything: Ed’s cheating, his lies, and the proof she had on her phone.
As Mary spoke, Scarlett’s face went pale. She lowered her head, eyes filling with sadness. “I had no idea,” she whispered. “He’s been taking money from me too, claiming it was for doctor visits for your fertility.”
Mary shook her head, tears spilling over. “He never even saw a doctor. I checked our account—he’s drained it.”
Scarlett’s hands shook as she processed the betrayal. “I can’t believe he’s done this to both of us,” she said quietly. “I thought I was helping him start a family.”
“I don’t know what to do,” Mary said, her voice breaking. “I’m pregnant, and he says he’ll take everything.”
Scarlett’s gaze hardened. “We’ll make him pay,” she declared. “You have the messages saved?”
Mary nodded. Scarlett’s mind raced, forming a plan. “Let’s keep a toothbrush of his for a DNA test, just in case. And don’t worry, Mary. I’m going to protect my grandchild.”
Surprised, Mary looked at Scarlett. “You’re really helping me?”
Scarlett sighed. “I spent years making excuses for Ed, just like I did with his father. I don’t want anyone else to suffer the way I did.”
With Scarlett’s support, Mary found the strength to confront Ed. She showed him the messages, her voice steady. “I’ve shown these to Scarlett, so you can’t manipulate her.”
Caught off guard, Ed looked nervous, but Mary continued, her voice unyielding. “Sign the divorce papers, give up your claim to the house, and agree to pay child support—or I’ll make sure your lover knows the truth.”
Cornered, Ed signed reluctantly, unaware that Scarlett still held the final card.
Scarlett paid Ed’s lover a visit, exposing all his lies, his fake claims, his scheming ways. The woman was furious, and Ed’s deceit unraveled completely.
Days later, Mary and Scarlett sat together in Mary’s cozy kitchen, sipping tea, a feeling of quiet victory settling between them. Suddenly, loud banging echoed from the front door, followed by Ed’s voice, filled with fury.
“You promised not to tell her!” he yelled, slamming the door with his fists.
Mary took a calm sip of tea. “I didn’t tell her anything, Ed.”
Scarlett raised her voice, a steely edge in her tone. “I did, Ed. You lied to us both, and you need to face the consequences.”
“You’ll pay for this!” Ed screamed, his rage spilling over. But before he could say more, the police arrived, alerted by concerned neighbors. They took Ed away as he continued shouting threats, his fury echoing down the street.
Inside, Mary and Scarlett shared a relieved smile, each woman knowing that a new chapter—one of freedom and strength—was just beginning for both of them.
