He ripped her hands away. Her name escaped through his gritted teeth, his dark eyes stormy and foreboding. "Don't forget your place!"
'Place?'
'So he's only this angry because he thinks I, the esteemed Young Madam of the Sterling family, have stooped to selling my wedding ring? Because it makes him lose face?'
Holly Sinclair stared at the returned ring and didn't press the issue.
'So he won't let me take it off?'
'Fine. I can just sell it again tomorrow.'
'After all, I need the money.'
...
Holly Sinclair was summoned back to the old family estate by a phone call from her mother-in-law, Stella Grayson.
"You're only just arriving? Don't you know what day it is?"
The moment she walked through the door, Stella Grayson's rebuke hit her full in the face.
Today was her birthday.
Usually, Holly Sinclair would have been there early in the morning to prepare lunch.
But this year she was late, and in the end, Stella actually had to call and "invite" her over personally.
'Absolutely disrespectful!'
Facing Stella Grayson's scolding, Holly Sinclair, unlike her usual meek and submissive self, simply stood her ground without a word.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and get to the kitchen to prepare lunch."
Stella Grayson was deeply displeased, her words dripping with disgust and contempt for Holly Sinclair.
"I'm not a servant," Holly Sinclair finally said.
Her tone was calm, neither deferential nor defiant.
"What?" Stella Grayson was taken aback.
'In the past, Holly Sinclair had always been utterly respectful and obedient toward her as a mother-in-law. What made her so bold today?'
'How dare she speak to me in that tone!'
"I am Tristan Sterling's wife, not the Sterling family's servant."
She had bottled up those words for two whole years, and it was a relief to finally say them.
In the entire Sterling family, aside from Grandpa, not a single person could stand her.
Including Tristan Sterling.
So after marrying into the Sterling family, she had been walking on thin ice, her status even lower than a servant's.
When she was deeply in love, she had done everything she could to please him and his family, and she had gladly endured all the mistreatment.
But now...
She was done putting up with any of them!
"You..."
Stella Grayson was stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Holly Sinclair, what is this attitude! As a daughter-in-law of the Sterling family, serving your husband and honoring your in-laws is your duty! It's my birthday today, and you feel wronged because I asked you to cook a meal?!"
"Yes."
"Wh-What?!"
"I've been married into the Sterling family for two years. For every birthday or holiday, big or small, haven't I been the only one slaving away in the kitchen? I work my fingers to the bone to make a huge feast, but every single time, you all find fault with it, complaining that this is too salty or that is too bland. If you were in my shoes, wouldn't you feel wronged?"
"You—" Stella Grayson choked on her words.
Everything Holly Sinclair said was true, leaving her unable to retort.
"Sister-in-law!"
A startled cry cut through the air.
Tristan Sterling's cousin, Megan Grayson, came running down from the second floor. She said gently, trying to mediate, "Sister-in-law, you shouldn't say things like that. You've been in the Sterling family for two years, and everyone can see how much Auntie dotes on you."
"Dotes on me?" Holly Sinclair scoffed.
"Of course! Take what happened two years ago, for example. You schemed against my cousin, climbed into his bed, and even faked a pregnancy to force him to marry you. Didn't Auntie accept you without a second thought? If Auntie had objected back then, you never would have been able to set foot in our Sterling family's home. How can you be so ungrateful?"
It sounded like she was offering kind advice, but in reality, she was just fanning the flames.
Holly Sinclair knew Megan Grayson all too well.
A sweet girl in public, a scheming bitch in private.
Megan Grayson had played no small part in fostering Stella Grayson's deep-seated prejudice against her.
"'Our' Sterling family? Heh. Has Miss Grayson forgotten her own last name?" Holly Sinclair mocked faintly.
"Auntie..." Megan Grayson's eyes immediately reddened.
She looked the very picture of someone who had been wronged.
"Holly Sinclair, shut your mouth!"
Stella Grayson shouted, "Megan's parents died when she was young, and she grew up by my side! She's lived in the Sterling home for over a decade. The Sterling home *is* her home! It's not your place to comment!"
"Whatever makes you happy," Holly Sinclair said with a smile.
"Apologize to Megan!"
"Why should I apologize? Did I say something wrong?"
"Auntie, forget it. Sister-in-law just had a slip of the tongue, I'm sure she didn't mean it. She doesn't need to apologize. I don't blame her," Megan Grayson said understandingly.
But the more she acted like a martyr, the more it made Holly Sinclair seem unreasonable and aggressive.
"Apologize to Megan right now!!"
Her heart aching for her niece, Stella Grayson commanded Holly Sinclair harshly.
"Impossible," Holly Sinclair replied.
Her voice was soft, but incredibly firm.
Hearing this, Stella Grayson gasped, her voice rising sharply. "Holly Sinclair, are you saying you have no respect for me, your mother-in-law?!"
"Auntie, I'm really fine. Please don't be angry. I'll worry if you make yourself sick." Megan Grayson continued her sweet, manipulative act, playing the part of the considerate niece to perfection. Then she turned to Holly Sinclair. "Sister-in-law, I know you've been suffering because my cousin has despised you for the last two years, but you can't take your anger out on us. We all genuinely want what's best for you."
The word "despised" successfully pierced Holly Sinclair's heart.
Everyone knew Tristan Sterling despised her, yet she, in her one-sided infatuation, had been head over heels for him for so many years.
'How utterly foolish!'
As for what happened two years ago...
She had explained it many times. She didn't do it!
But no one believed her explanation.
Since they wouldn't believe her, she couldn't be bothered to explain it again.
Faced with Megan Grayson's provocation, Holly Sinclair said nothing, only offering a cold smile in return.
And that smile completely enraged Stella Grayson.
She felt her dignity as an elder had been challenged like never before.
So she raised her hand to teach Holly Sinclair a lesson—
"Mom!"
But before her hand could land on Holly Sinclair's face, a deep, cold voice came from the doorway.
It was Tristan Sterling.
Tristan Sterling strode in, glanced at the tense, confrontational scene, and then at the expressionless Holly Sinclair.
He stepped forward, shielding her.
"Mom, what are you doing?"
Stella Grayson, furious, began to complain, "You're just in time! Your wife is completely insolent! I just asked her to prepare lunch—"
"She is Mrs. Sterling," Tristan Sterling stated succinctly.
The air fell silent.
His subtext was clear: it was one thing that he didn't love Holly Sinclair, but she was, after all, the Young Madam of the Sterling family.
There was no need to make her do a servant's work.
The rest of Stella Grayson's words caught in her throat, unable to come out.
"Not for much longer."
Just as Stella Grayson and Megan Grayson were still reeling from Tristan Sterling's "defense" of Holly Sinclair, Holly's quiet words cut in.
As soon as she spoke, three gazes shot toward her face like sharp swords.
Contradicted in front of everyone, Tristan Sterling's expression turned grim.
"Since my presence is making everyone so unhappy, I won't stay and ruin the mood. Enjoy yourselves."
After speaking, Holly Sinclair turned and walked away without a second glance.
Displeased, Tristan Sterling started to follow her.
"Tristan!" Stella Grayson called out to her son.
He stopped.
"What did Holly Sinclair mean by that just now?" Stella Grayson asked sternly, a hint of shock still lingering in her eyes.
"Tristan, is Holly... is Sister-in-law going to divorce you?" Megan Grayson's face was full of worry, but a flash of excitement and joy darted through her eyes.
Tristan Sterling's expression was grim. He pursed his lips and said nothing.
"I'm asking you, what on earth did she mean by that?!" Stella Grayson demanded, her brows furrowed.
"Happy birthday."
Tristan Sterling didn't answer. He put down the gift and quickly turned to chase after her.
As he came out, Holly Sinclair's car was just pulling out of the garage.
"Stop the car!" he commanded harshly.
Holly Sinclair slowed down, meeting his cold gaze through the windshield.