I Worked Three Jobs To Support My Paralyzed Mother-in-law. I Came Home Early And Found Her Dancing While My Husband Filmed Her. How Should I Get Revenge?

The Five Hundred Thousand Dollar Lie

The next morning, as the first rays of sun filtered through the blinds, I was already awake. Kevin was still sleeping beside me, his steady snores a stark contrast to my internal storm. I got up quietly, went to the bathroom, and locked the door.

In my hand, I held a fake pregnancy test with two lines that I had bought online the day before. I looked at myself in the mirror at my haggard face and took a deep breath to prepare for the performance I was about to give. I knew that from this moment on, I was no longer just Chloe, a submissive wife and daughter-in-law. I had to become the best actress in my own life.

I turned on the faucet to let the water run and began to make retching sounds as if I had morning sickness. The sound echoed in the morning silence, loud enough to wake those sleeping in the other rooms. Less than a minute later, I heard hurried footsteps towards the bathroom door. Kevin was knocking insistently, his voice sleepy but full of concern.

“Chloe, what’s wrong? Open the door.”

I splashed water on my face to simulate sweat and slowly opened the door. I leaned against the frame with one hand on my chest and the other holding out the pregnancy test with two red lines. I looked at Kevin with teary eyes and a trembling voice.

“Honey, I’m pregnant.”

Kevin froze, his eyes fixed on the test. For a moment, I saw confusion and panic in his face, but the instinct of a greedy, deceitful man quickly took over. He grabbed the test, looked at it again and again under the light, and shouted with joy,

“Really? Two lines! Oh my god! Mom! My wife is pregnant!”

Kevin’s shout was like a trigger. The door to Helen’s room flew open. My mother-in-law, the one who was supposedly half-paralyzed and had complained yesterday about not being able to move, shot out of her room at such a speed that she forgot her cane. She rushed towards us, her eyes shining like headlights.

“Where? Is it true? Let me see!”

Helen snatched the test from Kevin, held it close to her eyes, and let out a cackle, the same laugh I had heard through the camera.

“The ancestors have blessed us! Finally, there’s luck in this house. Two red lines like that can’t lie.”

She turned to me, her attitude changing 180 degrees. Her usual piercing and critical gaze transformed into that of someone looking at a treasure, a pure gold baby-making machine. She took my arm, her rough hand squeezing mine with a tenderness that gave me chills.

“Dear daughter-in-law, walk slowly. Go to bed and rest. You poor thing, with this morning sickness, you must be exhausted. Let Mom make you some chicken broth to nourish you so my grandson grows up healthy and strong.”

I let them lead me to bed, feeling a true wave of disgust. Seeing Helen walk with a firm step, her back straight without a trace of her usual stooped and suffering posture, made me wonder how they could act so well and how I could have been so blind. It turned out her illness was just an excuse to torment me, and now this fake pregnancy was the excuse for her to reveal her true greedy nature.

Kevin sat on the edge of the bed stroking my hand.

“How are you feeling? Do you want anything? I’ll go buy it. From now on, you don’t have to do anything. Leave it to Mom and me. You just need to take care of your pregnancy.”

I looked into his eyes, searching for a glimmer of sincerity, but I only found cold calculation behind his fake smile. He wasn’t happy about being a father again, but because his plan was going accordingly, or maybe he was already thinking of a new conspiracy.

“I’m a little tired,” I replied in a whisper, forcing a weak smile. “But I’m worried. I have so much work, and Mom is so frail.”

“Worried about what?” Helen yelled from the kitchen amidst the sound of knives and cutting boards. “Ask for reduced hours at work. I’ll take care of the house. I’m fine now. Seeing my grandson on the way has cured me. You rest and take care of yourself. You just have to give me a grandson to carry on the family name.”

I closed my eyes, pretending to sleep to hide the coldness in my gaze.

That evening, the dinner table was surprisingly full. No more boiled vegetables and tofu with tomato sauce; instead, there was beef tenderloin, chicken stew with herbs, and fish soup. Helen kept piling food on my plate, repeating that I had to eat for two so her grandson would be intelligent and strong. Kevin beside me joined the chorus. He peeled fruit for me, poured me orange juice.

If this had happened a week ago, I probably would have cried with emotion, thinking that finally my dedication was being rewarded. But now, looking at all that food, I felt like I was at a hypocrite’s banquet. I ate a little and then put down my silverware, sighing thoughtfully.

Kevin noticed and asked,

“What’s wrong, honey? Aren’t you feeling well? Still nauseous?”

I shook my head. I hesitated for a moment and then said in a low voice, but loud enough for both of them to hear,

“No, honey. I was thinking about my parents. My mom called yesterday. She told me they just sold the old family farm upstate for a very good price.”

Hearing the words “sell,” “farm,” and “good price,” Helen’s eyes lit up. Her chopsticks paused in midair. Kevin also asked hastily,

“Oh yeah? For how much? And what do they plan to do with the money?”

I looked down at my plate to hide a mocking smile.

“For over $500,000, honey. They say since I’m their only daughter and now I’m living in a small apartment, they want to buy me a house here in the city so I can have my own space and live more comfortably. They’ve already seen one they like for around $500,000, and they want to put it directly in my name.”

The dining room fell silent. The only sound was someone swallowing hard. I looked up and saw Helen and Kevin exchange a look filled with greed and calculation. A half-million-dollar house was the dream of their lives, a figure Kevin could never reach with his salary.

I added the final blow.

“But my dad says that since I’m their only daughter and now I’m pregnant and in delicate health, he’s putting a condition on it. I have to give birth without any problems, and the baby has to be born healthy. Only then will they put the deed in my name and the child’s. If anything were to happen, they would donate all the money to charity.”

Helen slapped her thigh and laughed out loud.

“My goodness, your parents are so thoughtful! With me here taking care of you, don’t you worry, I’m sure everything will be perfect. $500,000! No, that house is a blessing for you and my grandson. We can’t let it slip away.”

Kevin squeezed my hand, his voice trembling with excitement.

“That’s right, honey. Your parents love us very much. We have to make an effort. You just rest and take care of yourself. If you need anything, just tell me. Our life is about to change.”

I nodded with a faint smile, thinking ironically to myself. The trap of greed was set, and the prey had taken the bait. With the prospect of a half-million-dollar house, I was sure they wouldn’t dare do anything to this pregnancy, at least until I gave birth. This would be my temporary safe conduct, giving me more time to gather evidence and transfer my assets.