The sun was shining brightly on that day, casting a golden glow over the grand estate where Lin Yue stood in her bridal gown, her heart pounding with a mix of hope and trepidation. She had dreamed of this moment her entire life—a fairy tale wedding to a wealthy and handsome man, a new beginning filled with love and happiness.
But beneath her radiant smile, a storm was brewing.
As she stepped into the luxurious mansion, the reality hit her like a cold knife. The house was opulent but cold, filled with hushed whispers and subtle glances that felt like daggers. The moment she entered, her mother-in-law, Madame Chen, greeted her with a thin, disapproving smile.
"Yue, remember, your place is to serve this family, not to demand anything," Madame Chen said, her voice dripping with disdain. Her eyes flicked across Lin Yue's trembling figure, analyzing and judging.
The wedding banquet was a blur of superficial pleasantries, but as night fell, the true nightmare began.
Madame Chen's words turned sharp and cruel. Every little mistake, every hesitation was met with a slap, a contemptuous snort, or a harsh reprimand. Lin Yue tried to smile, to be polite, but her cheeks burned with embarrassment and pain.
That night, as she stood alone in her new bedroom, the tears finally broke free. She clutched her trembling hands to her face, tears streaming down her cheeks. The mansion echoed with silence, broken only by her soft sobs.
Her husband, Wei Long, was nowhere to be seen. Rumors whispered he was out with his mistress again, neglecting his wife and their young son, Little Wei. She had pinned her hopes on this marriage, believing love and happiness would follow — but it seemed destined to be only a distant dream.
Suddenly, the door swung open. Madame Chen entered, her face cold and angry.
"Yue," she spat, "if you are going to cry like a spoiled child, you might as well pack your things and leave. We have no use for someone like you here."
Before Lin Yue could respond, her mother-in-law raised her hand and slapped her hard across the face. The sting burned, but the humiliation cut deeper. She collapsed onto the floor, eyes filled with despair.
The days that followed were a nightmare. Madame Chen's coldness turned to brutality. Lin Yue was scolded, pushed, and hit. Her husband, instead of protecting her, kept his distance, often disappearing for days without explanation.
Meanwhile, her young son, Little Wei, looked at her with innocent, bewildered eyes. But slowly, he started to call the woman he saw as "Mom" by another name—the mistress, whom Madame Chen favored more and more.
She watched helplessly as her family shattered. Her tears kept flowing, day after day, each tear a testament to her despair and helplessness—until one day, the unbearable pain overwhelmed her, and her world turned dark.