I'm the Outsider Daughter-in-Law, Yet I Became Master of the Hensons

In my last life, I walked in on my husband tangled up with his first love, and I ran to my mother-in-law in tears to tell on him.

All she handed me was a divorce agreement.

Stop making a scene. Sign it and go.

I left the marriage with nothing, and in the end I froze to death in a rented room in the dead of winter, with no one even coming to claim my body.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the second before I pushed open the bedroom door.

Through the crack, his first love was cooing at him, calling him her man.

I didn't push the door.

I crept downstairs. Veronica Henson was sitting alone in the living room watching a health program, her teacup long empty, and not a single soul beside her to refill it.

I knelt down to pour her more tea, my smile sweet and soft.

"Mom, Cole's swamped with work. From now on I'll keep you company for tea and a chat every day."

It wasn't until right before I died last time that I finally understood: the sole signing rights to the Henson family's 3.8-billion-dollar trust had always been in Veronica's hands.

What was my husband, really?

Winning him over could never do what winning over his mother could.

That night, I knocked on Veronica's bedroom door with a pillow in my arms, and made my voice small and pitiful.

"Mom, I'm scared sleeping alone. Can I stay with you tonight?"

Hugging my down pillow, I stood timidly in the doorway of the master bedroom.

I held my breath and waited for her to speak from the bed.

Veronica was propped against the headboard, still leafing through a financial report, and only lifted her eyes when she heard me.

I didn't shrink back. I pressed my chin into the soft pillow, and slowly let my eyes redden around the rims.

"You're a grown woman. Still afraid of the dark?"

Her voice was a little hoarse.

"It's not the dark."

I sniffled, keeping my voice very low.

"Cole didn't come home again tonight. The house is too empty, and it makes me anxious."

"Mom, you're all I have."

Her hand went still on the report.

She took off her reading glasses, looked for a second or two at my thin nightgown, asked nothing, and simply lifted the heavy silk quilt, clearing more than half the bed for me.

"Shut the door. Come here."

I hurried under the covers, turned onto my side, and pressed myself close against her arm.

"Mom, you're so warm."

She didn't answer, just reached up and switched off the bedside lamp.

I thought the night was settled, but then a string of heavy, urgent footsteps came pounding down the hallway.

Cole shoved the bedroom door open.

"Jane Fox! What the hell are you doing in the middle of the night?"

He hadn't even taken off his suit jacket, his tie hung crooked around his neck, and there was a faint trace of rose perfume on him.

The very brand Chloe loved most.

He crossed to the bed in a few strides, threw back the quilt, and clamped his fingers hard around my wrist.

"Get back to your own room!"

"Don't come in here bothering my mother's rest!"

I didn't fight it. I let his force pull me while I shrank into the pillow, both hands gripping the edge of the quilt.

"I'm sorry Cole, I was just scared"

"I'll go right now, don't be angry, don't wake Mom"

Seeing me the same meek, take-it-lying-down way I always used to be, Cole only got worse. He yanked hard and dragged half of me out of the covers.

"Enough with the poor-me act."

"Sucking up and playing sweet, is that the only thing you know how to do?"

"Get out, now!"

The next second, a crisp slap rang out, especially clear in the dark.

Veronica sat up and swung her hand hard across Cole's arm. There was real strength in it, enough to knock the designer watch right off his wrist.

"Mom! What are you doing?"

Clutching his arm, Cole's face was pure disbelief.

The light came back on.

Sitting up against the headboard, Veronica's face was grim, and when she lowered her eyelids, Cole instinctively took half a step back.

"Who taught you to kick your own mother's door open in the middle of the night?"

"What, in a hurry to see me into my grave?"

Cole went pale.

"No, Mom, it's Jane. She doesn't know her place."

"In the middle of the night she insisted on running in to pester you. I was afraid she'd disturb your rest."

Veronica listened, then let out a snort through her nose.

"She knows her place better than you do."

She pointed at the door and said just one word.

"Out."

Cole clenched his back teeth and glared daggers at me.

"Mom, don't be fooled by her fake little innocent act!"

"Get out and pull the door shut behind you."

But Cole didn't dare talk back again. He jabbed a finger at me, then turned and slammed the door on his way out.

A crash came from the hall a moment later. He'd probably lost his temper and kicked over the vase in the corridor.

The room went quiet.

I slowly slid back under the covers and tucked the quilt around Veronica again.

"Mom, I'm sorry. It's my fault that Cole got angry."

"I'll go apologize to him tomorrow."

Veronica turned her face toward me and studied me for a long while.

"Apologize for what?"

"He comes home reeking of some other woman. Does he really think my nose has gone blind?"

Last life, Veronica knew perfectly well that Cole was cheating and still swept me out the door, because back then all I could do was cry and make scenes, and the moment trouble came I looked to someone else to fight my battles.

A useless, discarded wife really wasn't worth protecting.

Things were different now.

Through the quilt, I nestled lightly against her arm, my voice soft but steady, no stumbling.

"Mom, whatever Cole does out there, all I want is to take good care of you."

"You're the only one I can lean on in this family."

For a long time, Veronica said nothing.

Only after Cole's footsteps had faded completely beyond the door did she raise her hand and give the back of mine two soft pats.

I closed my eyes, the corners of my mouth curving up.

Three point eight billion in family fortune.

Cole Henson, you won't get a single cent.

At six the next morning, with the sky barely light, I slipped out of bed as quietly as I could.

Downstairs in the kitchen, I rinsed the red dates, soaked the white fungus, and stood over the stove nursing a low flame for two full hours.

Then I poured the finished soup into the custom thermos.

The moment I twisted the lid shut, someone appeared in the kitchen doorway.

Cole.

"Jane Fox, are you deaf?"

"I told you yesterday. Black coffee this morning."

"And whole wheat toast. Where's my breakfast?"

I took my time tucking the thermos into the canvas bag, then turned to the fridge and pulled out a single shriveled slice of leftover bread.

I held it out to him.

"This is all there is."

"You expect me to eat this?"

"Jane Fox, is your brain waterlogged?"

"Is this how you look after your husband?"

I zipped the canvas bag closed, careful about it.

"Mom's stomach's been acting up lately. I have to get up early to make her soup."

"Taking care of her health is the most important thing to me now."

"As for your breakfast, you've got hands. Make it yourself."

"Or if that's too much, go out and buy something."

Cole stared for a second, then let out a laugh of pure disbelief and knocked the dry slice out of my hand.

The bread hit the tile.

He lifted one of his expensive custom slippers and ground his heel down, mashing the crumbs into smaller pieces.

"Jane Fox, feeling brave, are you?"

"My mother takes your side one night and you think you can walk all over me?"

He stepped in closer, his finger almost jabbing the tip of my nose.

"Don't forget, you eat my food, wear my clothes, live in my house!"

"Want to bet I cut off your allowance?"

"Then you can go out and live on air!"

I pulled a tissue, crouched down, and gathered up the crushed bread bit by bit before dropping it in the trash by my feet.

Seeing me turn back into someone easy to push around, Cole pushed three words out through his nose.

"Spineless dog."

"You've got ten minutes. Get the coffee to the table."

With that, he turned to leave.

"The soup smells good."

Cole stopped.

Veronica came down the stairs leaning on her rosewood cane, dressed in her tai chi clothes.

She didn't so much as glance at her own son. She walked straight to the counter and reached for the canvas bag I'd packed.

"Smells done right. Come on, keep me company for my tai chi."

I stepped up and took her arm.

"Of course, Mom. I brought a warm towel too."

Left standing there, Cole couldn't hold it in. He hurried a couple of steps to block our way.

"Mom! She won't even make me breakfast and you're still taking her side?"

Veronica stopped. Her gaze raked once across his face.

"Can't the Hensons afford a housekeeper, or are you crippled?"

"Jane married into this family. She's not a maid you hired."

"You've got two hands and two feet. If you want to eat, make it yourself."

"If you don't want to, then go hungry."

Cole's face went gray with the shutdown. He looked at Veronica, then jerked his head around to glare at me.

I kept my eyes down and stayed at Veronica's side, not even sparing him a sideways look.

And of course, that was the exact moment the doorbell rang.

The housekeeper ran to answer it.

Soon enough, Chloe Fox came clicking in on her heels, sweeping into the Henson house under the excuse of delivering documents.

She wore a fitted business suit and ten-centimeter red-soled heels, her makeup flawless, every lash curled to just the right angle.

"Mr. Henson, there's an urgent file that needs your signature right away."

Chloe ignored me and Veronica completely. She swayed over to Cole and pushed a blue folder against his chest.

As she handed it over, her fingertips trailed lightly down the front of his shirt.

Cole, whose face had been gray with anger a moment ago, softened at once, a flicker of smugness even coming into his eyes.

"Now that's a secretary who knows how things are done."

"Not like some people, who can't even manage a decent breakfast."

He said it loudly on purpose, his eyes never leaving Chloe.

The two of them traded looks right in front of me and Veronica, not bothering to hide a thing.

I gave a small smile.

I walked over, took the folder straight out of Chloe's hand, and with the other hand picked up the freshly poured cup of hot tea from the counter, holding it out to her, steady.

"Secretary Fox, running over first thing in the morning to bring a file. That's a lot of trouble."

"Have some hot tea. Warm yourself up."

The cup was scalding.

Chloe reached for it on reflex, and the instant her fingertips touched the glass she shrieked.

"Ah!"

The cup tipped, and the hot water splashed all over her.

I stepped back half a pace and put on a face full of innocence.

"Oh dear, Secretary Fox, how can you not even hold a cup steady?"

Jane Fox! You did that on purpose, didn't you?

Chloe's shriek sent Cole rushing over. He shoved me aside in one motion.

He tore off his suit jacket and threw it over Chloe's shoulders, fumbling to dab the water off her collar.

Chloe, where did it burn you?

Let me see. Is it red?

Chloe leaned into him, her eyes going pink on cue.

Mr. Henson, I'm fine.

Mrs. Henson probably just didn't mean to

She bit her lower lip and considerately stepped back.

The documents are here, so I'll go now.

I won't intrude on your family time.

She'd barely turned around when Cole caught her arm.

Go where?

Your clothes are soaked, and it's windy out there.

Then he turned his head and barked an order at me.

Go upstairs and get a clean set of clothes for Secretary Fox to change into!

I stayed put, one hand on the counter.

I already told you. Right now the most important thing is taking care of Mom.

My clothes wouldn't suit Secretary Fox.

If she's cold, you can drive her home yourself.

Cole's chest heaved, and he opened his mouth to curse.

Enough!

Veronica, who had been sitting off to the side watching the whole time, finally spoke. Her cane came down hard, with a heavy thud.

First thing in the morning and the house is a shouting match. What kind of behavior is that?

She turned and walked toward the living room.

Since she's here, sit down and get the matter sorted out.

When Chloe sat, she deliberately took the main sofa, and tugged at the collar of the coat the tea had soaked.

Below the slightly open collar, a red mark stood out sharply.

A fresh kiss mark.

Chloe opened her Herms bag and bent her head, digging for a tissue.

A man's custom tie clip rolled out of the bag and knocked against the glass coffee table with a sharp, brittle clink.

Deep blue enamel, its edge ringed with tiny diamonds.

It was exactly the one Cole had been wearing when he left yesterday, the one I'd picked out for him myself.

Chloe's hand froze at the mouth of the bag, her eyes darting to my face in a panic.

I stared at the tie clip, swaying slightly, my eyes going red too, but I asked nothing and only bit down hard on my lip.

Cole's face changed. He stepped forward and reached to snatch the thing away.

At that moment, Veronica picked up the remote from the coffee table.

Beep, beep, beep.

The wellness program on the TV, its volume turned all the way up.

Now, for calcium in the elderly, the key is

Chloe hurried to grab the tie clip and stuff it back in the bag, then raised her voice on purpose, trying to gloss over the awkwardness.

Mrs. Henson, the investment market's been unstable lately.

The company has a few projects in the second half of the year

I didn't give her the chance to keep performing.

I turned and went to the storage cabinet, brought back a cashmere blanket, walked over to Veronica, and tucked it snugly around her knees.

As I smoothed down the edge of the blanket, my body just happened to block Chloe's line of sight to Veronica.

Mom, it's damp in the mornings, and your legs aren't good. You need to be covered up well.

I looked up and smiled.

Veronica looked down at me, and the tightness in her face eased a little.

Jane's the thoughtful one.

Seeing Chloe pushed aside, Cole's temper flared again. He walked straight over to her side and all but shielded her behind him.

Mom, Chloe is here reporting on work.

Even if you don't like her, at least hear her out.

She does all this for the Henson family's business too.

He went on and on, shielding Chloe the whole time, without once thinking about whether his own mother's legs hurt sitting there in the cold draft.

I bent my head over the blanket, my gaze falling on Veronica's hand around the teacup.

The veined fingers were tightening, closing harder and harder.

I nearly couldn't keep the corners of my mouth down.

Cole really was a fool.

What Veronica hated most were seductresses and men who sold out their own family, and he was serving up both right in front of her, and not just once.

He was digging up his own road with his own hands.

As for me, I only had to keep being the dutiful daughter-in-law.

Half a month later, Riverton's top annual charity gala was held at the Intercontinental Hotel.

I put on a simple, elegant custom cheongsam and wheeled my mother-in-law's chair into the room.

The centerpiece of the night was a pair of exquisite Qing-dynasty jade bracelets, something Veronica had wanted for a long time.

"Fifty million, going once!"

"Fifty million, going twice!"

I raised my paddle.

"Sixty million."

The whole room went quiet, then broke into a low murmur.

The auctioneer brought down his hammer.

"Sold. Congratulations, Mrs. Henson!"

I stood up with a smile and went backstage to settle payment with the unlimited supplementary card Veronica had handed me the day before.

Five minutes later, the auctioneer hurried back onto the stage.

"I'm sorry, everyone. There seems to be a problem with the last transaction."

"The payment was declined."

He looked straight at me and said it loud and clear.

"Mrs. Henson, the system shows the supplementary card in your hand has been frozen."

"May I ask, do you have another form of payment?"

I gripped the black card, cold sweat breaking across my palm as the wealthy wives around me stopped their chatter and turned to point at me.

"Can't even clear sixty million, and she's playing the rich wife?"

"I heard she came from some nobody family."

"Maybe she stole the Henson card and came out here to show off?"

"How embarrassing. She's dragged the whole Henson name through the mud."

I stood there, looking down at the frozen black card, my fingertips going cold inch by inch.

How could it be frozen?

Veronica had only given me the card yesterday.

Just as everyone waited to enjoy the show, the doors of the exhibition hall were suddenly pushed open.

Cole strode in with Chloe on his arm.

"Of course she can't get the money out." Cole walked to the center of the floor and gave a smug, cold laugh in front of everyone.

"Jane, did you really think your dirty accounting was flawless? I already reported to Mother that you'd been embezzling company funds. This card was frozen on her direct order!"

"How could the Hensons let a thief like you keep waving our money around out here to con people?"

Sharp gasps went up all around.

Chloe took the cue and opened her Herms bag, pulling out a thick stack of bank statements.

She walked up to me, threw her hand up, and scattered the pages into the air.

They fluttered down and covered the floor.

"Everyone, take a good look!"

"Every line on these is proof that Jane's been moving assets!"

"She sent all the Henson money straight back to that broke family of hers!"

I stared at the statements all over the floor, my breath quickening, then dropped to my knees on the carpet and began gathering up the pages.

"I didn't I really didn't!"

I looked at my mother-in-law in the wheelchair, my eyes red.

"Mom, please believe me."

"I never sent a single cent to my family!"

"These statements are fake!"

Cole stepped forward, kicked away the pages I'd just picked up, then pulled a document from the inside pocket of his suit and slapped it down on the glass table beside us.

"You've come this far and you still dare to argue?"

"Jane, since you have no shame."

"Then there's nothing more to say."

He reached out and tapped the document on the table.

"The divorce agreement. Sign it now."

"Leave the marriage with nothing, then get out of the Henson family!"

The laughter grew louder.

I clung to the hem of Veronica's custom cheongsam, clutching at my last hope the way I had in my past life.

"Mom I really am innocent."

"Please, say something for me"

Veronica looked down at me, her face giving nothing away.

The next second, she yanked the fabric out of my grip, took a pen from her handbag, and threw it down hard on the floor.

"Sign it now."

"We Hensons never keep a thief who steals our money."