Chapter 1

For the past two nights, I’ve dreamed of a strange old man crawling onto my bed.

Turns out, it wasn’t a dream. It was real.

Even more shocking, it was all orchestrated by my husband of three years—the same man I thought adored me.

All so he could satisfy his sick urges, even if it meant sending me into another man’s bed.

0In the dead of night, I felt a stranger climb into my bed. He stared hard at my face, his head getting closer and closer. I tried to turn my eyes away, but my eyelids felt as heavy as lead.

He pinned my hands above my head, then buried his face against my neck, biting down. I struggled with all my strength, screaming, but found myself utterly helpless.

Paralyzed, I was at his mercy, as he slipped my lace nightgown off my shoulders.

“Rise and shine, sleepyhead!”

“It’s time for breakfast.”

Someone was gently pinching my nose. I snapped my eyes open, gasping for air.

Law Callahan’s face hovered over me, full of warmth. I took in his familiar features, feeling dazed. Was it all just a dream? I sat up, my head spinning and body sore, completely exhausted like I hadn’t slept at all.

“What’s wrong?” Law’s brows knit in concern, and he started massaging my temples.

Looking into his worried eyes, I thought back to last night. A shiver ran down my spine. I shook my head to clear the disturbing thoughts.

“Maybe I just didn’t sleep well, that’s all.” I rubbed his cheeks, playfully squishing his eyes into slits.

“C’mon, aren’t we supposed to go to your mom’s for lunch?”

We’d been married for three years, and Law had always treated me like we were newlyweds. With his good looks and those captivating eyes, I was drawn in, unable to resist.

After breakfast, we set out, only arriving around one due to weekend traffic.

“Son, what took you so long? You must be starving. I bet someone took forever getting ready,” Maxine Callahan, my mother-in-law, shot me a sharp look.

She never approved of me since I was alone, without family to back me up.

“Our Law was the only one from our whole community to make it to college, and a top university at that! So many folks would’ve loved to see him married to their daughter, but he picked you.”

The first time I met her, she’d looked me over with a scrutinizing eye. From that moment, I knew I’d always feel unsteady without parents to support me—even with a college degree.

“Mom, it’s my fault. I just wanted to sleep in a little,” Law said with a wink, easing the tension. I felt the cloud lift as I managed a small smile.

Thank goodness I have Law; he’s always on my side. I see classmates on social media complaining about marriage problems, and it makes me value this quiet happiness even more.

“Mom, I’m so hungry—let’s eat already.” Law, seeing her ready to say more, quickly guided her to the table.

“Come on, son, have some soup. That hen stopped laying eggs, so I went ahead and cooked it up. If it can’t give eggs, what good is it?”

Maxine ladled some soup for Law, casting a pointed glance at my stomach. Even Walter, my father-in-law, put his fork down in disappointment.

“Mom, Ivy’s health isn’t the best. Once she’s better, we’ll have kids.”

I stared at Law, unable to believe he’d take the blame for me.

This wasn’t the first time Maxine had brought it up, but Law always turned the focus back on me. Last time, he’d said I wanted a few more years to enjoy life, and afterward, Maxine whispered that I was selfish.

But the truth was, Law hadn’t touched me in almost three years. I couldn’t exactly have a baby on my own!

0