Seven Years as a Maid

After cleaning my mother-in-law Ruth's body, I scrolled across a post titled What's the Ultimate Way to Spoil Your Wife?

Of course it's finding an old woman to keep at home to serve your parents~ My husband does exactly that. He married that woman, and now she has to stay home wiping my mother-in-law's ass and piss, serving his half-paralyzed father-in-law, and he doesn't even have to pay her. He gives me $50,000 a month, and all I need to do is stay beautiful~

Many people questioned whether she was just a kept mistress.

But the blogger posted a wedding photo:

"That woman is the mistress! I'm the legal wife!"

Looking at that photo, my heart clenched violently.

Wasn't that my husband Ferdinand?

The blogger continued showing off:

"My husband threw that woman a fake wedding that only cost six thousand dollarsthe same price as our dog. What a bargain!"

My hands trembling, I called my brother, whom I hadn't contacted in ages:

"I regret it."

"What are you dawdling for! Hurry up and make dinner!"

Ruth sipped her tea while impatiently giving orders.

But this time, I didn't submit meekly. Instead, I turned and went back to my room.

Ruth froze for a few seconds, then cursed furiously, spittle nearly hitting my face.

"Doria, are you deaf! Didn't you hear me!"

"Your father-in-law ate too much and shit the bed again. Get over there and change his clothes! What are you doing messing around in here!"

She kicked over my suitcase.

I didn't even look up.

"It's New Year's. I'm going to bring Ferdinand some things and surprise him."

Panic flashed through Ruth's eyes as she stuttered a rebuttal.

"Wh... what surprise! You just stay home obediently and take good care of us for Ferdinand's sake. That's more important than anything!"

A voice came from the next roommy father-in-law.

"Exactly! At New Year's, Ferdinand's company must be swamped. Why are you causing trouble for no reason?"

My hands paused. I raised my head and met Ruth's panicked gaze.

So they all knew. They knew Ferdinand had another wife he treasured outside.

The whole family had conspired together, letting those two live freely outside while using moral obligation to bind me, making me waste my entire life at home, day after day cooking, washing clothes, and dealing with their shit and piss.

I clenched my fists and said nothing, then headed to City Hall.

The clerk took the marriage certificate and frowned slightly.

"This certificate is fake. The system also shows you as unmarried."

My mind exploded with a buzzing sound, leaving only a sharp ringing in my ears.

Ten years ago, Ferdinand and I were tied for first place in our university's finance program.

During college, we won countless awards and secured investment from top financial firms.

After graduation, when his parents had back-to-back accidents, I willingly stepped back to support him, letting him pursue his entrepreneurial dreams without worry.

The day he proposed, he cried like a child, his voice trembling.

"Doria, I will make you the happiest person in the world."

I believed him. But where did it all go wrong?

I stumbled out of City Hall, whispers following behind me.

"Young women these days are so gullible, getting used for nothing."

"Maybe she's the mistress on the side!"

I couldn't wait any longer. The next morning, at the crack of dawn, I left without telling Ferdinand's parents.

No matter what, I needed an explanation from Ferdinand.

But as soon as I arrived at the company, security stopped me.

"Who are you? Do you have ID?"

I said expressionlessly, "I'm Ferdinand's wife."

The moment the words left my mouth, harsh laughter erupted around me.

"You? Ferdinand's wife? Why don't you piss and look at yourself in the reflection!"

"Everyone in Las Vegas knows Ferdinand's wife is our company's director. The two of them are lovey-dovey all day long, even planning for a third kid!"

The guard held a cigarette in one hand while pointing inside with the other.

"See that? That's the real Mrs. Ferdinand, head to toe in designer brands! One necklace alone is worth $200,000!"

"Looking like a beggar and trying to scam us? Get lost!"

I said nothing, just stared at the woman's back.

The moment she turned around, my heart was viciously wrenched.

It was her. Christiana.

Six years ago, she broke her right leg.

Ferdinand told me she was a distant cousin and asked me to take good care of her.

During those days, loving him meant loving those around him. I willingly washed her underwear, made nutritious meals with variety every day, and served her for over half a month.

Before she left, worried that a young woman alone might not be safe, I even gave her five thousand dollars.

Five years ago when Christiana had a baby, three years ago when her child got sickFerdinand sent them both to me to take care of.

His reason? Her husband was gone, and single mothers have it hard.

So the child was his. It was all an excuse.

They'd been involved all along.

Then what was I? A caregiver or a nanny?

I clenched my fists, my nails digging painfully into my palms.

Ferdinand, what right do you have to treat me this way?

Tears slid from the corners of my eyes. I rushed forward regardless.

"Everyone move aside. I need to see Ferdinand."

The guard laughed mockingly.

"Are you crazy! Are mistresses this brazen now?"

"Someone get her out of here! Don't disturb Ferdinand and Christiana's good mood!"

With that, he was about to forcibly throw me out.

"What's going on?"

A sickeningly sweet voice came from inside.

Christiana wore an expensive gown, her figure graceful.

Seeing her, the guard immediately bowed and scraped.

"Director, why did we disturb you? This crazy woman says she's Ferdinand's wife. I was just about to throw her out!"

Christiana smiled brightly, waving her hand magnanimously.

"Oh, it's Doria. I know you've liked Ferdinand for a long time, but... but after all, today is the company's New Year party. It's not very appropriate for you to come cause trouble, is it?"

The guard frowned.

"Director, you know this person?"

Christiana spoke gently and generously.

"She's an acquaintance. The housekeeper from our hometown, specifically hired to take care of Ferdinand's parents."

Hearing this, everyone began talking, looking at me with contempt.

"So the housekeeper wants to climb the ladder! The real wife is standing right here! How shameless!"

"Girls these days don't study hard, just want shortcuts!"

My heart felt like it was being stabbed by millions of needles. I wanted to refute, but when even the marriage certificate was fake, what could I say?

Bitterness spread through my heart, but I had no words.

Christiana continued graciously.

"Everyone don't worry. I trust Ferdinand. He won't do anything to betray me."

With one casual sentence, she nailed me to the pillar of shame as the mistress.

Everyone fawned and flattered.

"Exactly! Ferdinand treasures you like a precious jewel! Not just anyone can insert themselves!"

"She doesn't weigh her own worth, thinking she can climb high branches. Pure delusion!"

Facing everyone's mockery, I held back the tears threatening to spill and asked calmly.

"Christiana, where's the money?"

"What?"

"I mean, the salary."

I raised my head, meeting her smug gaze, my tone calm.

"Since you say I'm the housekeeper, where's the salary? Seven years taking care of two elderly peoplesurely Ferdinand isn't too poor to pay?"

Hearing this, Christiana's face turned from green to white.

The next second, she suddenly smiled and came forward, grasping my hand, whispering.

"Doria, I advise you not to cause trouble."

"Otherwise, it'll only make Ferdinand hate you more."

Christiana completely revealed her true nature, her eyes full of undisguised provocation and smugness.

"He's the one who wronged me!"

I pushed her away without hesitation.

But before I even touched a hair on her head, Christiana screamed and stepped back, finally stumbling into Ferdinand's arms.

"Who dares touch my wife?"

The man was full of anger, about to settle accounts with me the next second.

The moment he saw my face, Ferdinand visibly panicked.

"Doria? How did you get here?"

I stubbornly raised my head, staring into his eyes and demanding.

"Ferdinand, you tell me, what am I? A housekeeper or a caregiver?"

"And what is Christiana to you? Your wife?"

A flash of guilt passed through Ferdinand's eyes, but he said nothing.

His silence was like a bucket of cold water, chilling me from head to toe.

Christiana quickly emerged from his embrace to smooth things over.

"Alright Ferdinand, I'm fine, aren't I?"

"Doria is just too lonely, that's why she came looking for us."

"How about this, DoriaJohn from the security team lost his wife two years ago. Why don't I introduce you two?"

"John is divorced, but he's the security captain. He makes good money!"

Hearing this, everyone covered their mouths and snickered.

"A housekeeper matched with a security guardperfect match!"

"The director is doing you such a favor, and you're not grateful!"

The mocking laughter drilled into my ears. I bit my teeth and roared.

"Using a security guard to humiliate meChristiana, is this what you call class!"

Seeing my barely contained tears, Ferdinand's expression wavered for a moment, then he gripped my wrist and threatened in a low voice.

"Enough, Doria. I'll talk to you about this when we get home."

"Go back first. Mom just had surgery two days ago, and Dad's still half-paralyzed. You're leaving them unattendedare you even a qualified daughter-in-law!"

He looked at me coldly, his words piercing like ten thousand arrows.

To this day, he felt no guilt for what he'd done, still using that same rhetoric about being a dutiful daughter-in-law to control me.

At this moment, Ferdinand still pretended to be the perfect husband.

When we first married, I mentioned trying for a baby, but he said:

"Doria, the company is just starting. I want to give you and our child a stable life. Can we wait a few more years?"

I waited seven years, while he had three children with another woman outside.

Tears blurred my vision.

I was wrong. I should never have broken with my entire family for this kind of person.

I mentally slapped myself hard twice for my poor judgment.

I wiped my tears and stubbornly raised my head.

"Misunderstanding, Ferdinand. I'm not here looking for a man. I'm here for my salary."

"Taking care of two elderly people, 0-00,000 a month isn't unreasonable, right?"

"Twelve months a year, seven yearsthat's $840,000 total. Cash or transfer?"

At these words, the entire hall fell silent.

Ferdinand's face turned black as the bottom of a pot.

"Doria, must you humiliate yourself here!"

Me, humiliate myself?

Should I just be kept in the dark my whole life, being their family's unpaid labor!

Just then, Christiana stepped forward again, biting her lip and righteously accusing me.

"Doria, how can you extort us? Moreover, you stole their family heirloom last time, and I didn't even report it to the police!"

At her words, the scene exploded again, countless insults flying at me.

"So she's a thief too. How could you keep someone like that in your home?"

"Director, you should send her to jail!"

Christiana nestled in Ferdinand's arms, tears in her eyes.

"I took pity on her poverty and couldn't bear to fire her..."

Hearing this, everyone gave her thumbs up, praising her kind heart.

Christiana smiled while accepting everyone's flattery. I couldn't take it anymore and raised my hand, slapping her hard across the face.

"Ahhh"

Her cheek instantly swelled red, tears falling in large drops.

Two children rushed over, desperately beating my shins.

"Bad woman!"

"Daddy! Kill this bad woman!"

Everyone pointed at me, their eyes full of disgust.

"Ferdinand is such a good person. How did he end up with this housekeeper?"

"Good people really get no reward!"

Ferdinand turned to look at me with a vicious expression.

"Doria, apologize to Christiana."

I gritted my teeth stubbornly.

"Want me to apologize? Give up that dream!"

Smack! He slapped my face, making me stumble backward.

"Someone make her kneel and apologize!"

A guard kicked the back of my knee. With intense pain, I was forced to kneel on the ground.

Christiana's son raised his wine glass and smashed it hard against me.

"Bad woman! I'll kill you!"

Blood flowed from my forehead down my cheek, but I felt no pain.

Glass shards pierced my body, staining the floor crimson.

Ferdinand frowned and ordered sternly.

"Enough. Take her away so she stops embarrassing herself here."

But the next second, with one look from Christiana, those guards rushed over, looking at me with lewd, greasy eyes.

"Not bad looking. Feeling lonely? We'll keep you company!"

I used all my strength to raise my head and spat at the man.

"Get lost!"

The lead guard became furious and slapped my face.

"Well, quite the temper!"

Then they covered my mouth tightly, leaning close to my ear and threatening in low voices.

"Bitch! Already been played by everyone, still pretending to be virtuous!"

"Today we'll show you what we're made of!"

Ferdinand frowned slightly.

"Just teach her a lesson."

The guard bent over, squeezing out a fawning smile at him.

"Don't worry, the guys know what to do."

But the next second, they showed disgusting expressions, their rough hands roaming over my body.

Before leaving, Christiana looked down at me condescendingly, her eyes full of smugness.

"Doria, everyone has their fate. You should just go back and obediently serve Mom and Dad. Stop hanging around in front of usit's an eyesore."

She turned and picked up the two-year-old child, her face full of triumph.

"Son, let's go! Daddy and Mommy prepared presents for you!"

My vision kept going black. I was about to pass out.

Just as I was being dragged away, more than a dozen Maybachs suddenly raced over, stopping steadily at the entrance to the hall.

The next second, a bullet pierced through the lewd man's palm. Blood splattered, and heart-wrenching screams echoed throughout the entire hall.

My brother rushed to me, held me, and asked with heartbreak:

"Doria, who did this?"