After moving there, I asked Arnold to find a high-end housekeeper for me. Her name was Ruby Moone. She was quite a hard worker, and she made delicious meals.

I was quite pleased with how attentive she was. I even gave her a raise after finding out that she was facing some family difficulties.

But I later came to realize that there was something strange about her.

As I applied my face mask, Ruby casually asked me how much it cost. When I answered, she began lamenting her difficult life, saying that she'd never had a chance to use a face mask before.

I gave her a few boxes, along with some high-end skincare products.

Yet, from time to time, she would go on about how women shouldn't spend money like this.

I understood that she'd had this mindset for years, and since she was so conscientious with her work, I chose to tolerate it.

I'd clearly informed her that I was severely allergic to peanuts and ube.

The moment I took a bite of the food, I realized that something felt amiss. I spat it out immediately and even went to the bathroom to throw everything up.

Meanwhile, Ruby just stood by, berating me for wasting food.

I didn't manage to respond before I passed out. After I came to, she apologized repeatedly.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry! I didn't think you would end up like this. There are no such things as allergies. You'll be fine if you just eat them more often. If you can't eat those things, what are you gonna do when you get married? Don't chase me away. I won't do it again!"

When I saw how she was begging me with tears streaming down her face out of fear, I gave in in the end.

After that, she truly did a great job.

Things weren't too busy at work, so I had more time to spare at home. Most of the time, I would just sprawl on the couch, playing games on my phone.

Little did I expect that Ruby would actually start bossing me around.

She told me to handwash my undergarments. After mealtimes, she ordered me to take the plates to the kitchen on my own, and eventually, she made me wash my own dishes as well.

She even made me sweep the floor.

When I refused, she lectured me. "Oh, Nicole, you're a woman. You won't be able to get married if you can't do these things. Plus, these are the basics, and you're already 26 years old. Back in my hometown, women who aren't married by your age are chased out of their families!"

She smiled from ear to ear.

"But don't worry about it. I'll teach you bit by bit. You also have to learn how to cook and clean the house. Otherwise, your in-laws will beat you. I'm telling you this for your sake."

My expression darkened. I was fuming.

I took my phone out and gave my fiance a video call right in front of her.

I said, "I heard women won't be able to get married if they can't do chores. What do you think?"

I angled the screen toward Ruby, showing her my man's charming face.

Dylan was shocked. "Who said that? How could you do the chores?"

I rolled my eyes at Ruby, whose gaze turned grim.

"Will I end up getting beaten if I don't do these things after marrying into your family?" I asked.

"What are you talking about, Nikki? How could that possibly happen? Why would we hire all those helpers at home then? Who is this woman? Let me see your face."

Upon hearing that, Ruby exclaimed in shock, "Who's this?"

I answered, "Didn't you say that I won't be able to get married? This is my fiance. Perhaps you should have a chat with him and explain why you said I'd get beaten up by my in-laws."

She simply stared at me, her expression dark and terrifying. "You're supposed to marry my son! How could you behave like this, you slut?"

I shoved Ruby away as she tried to hit me. Fury burned within me, desperate for an outlet. I took a few deep breaths, then pointed at the door.

"What the hell are you talking about? Get out of here. You're fired!"

A vicious gleam crossed Ruby's eyes. Suddenly, she grabbed my hair and slapped me across my face.

She was remarkably strong, so much so that I actually wasn't able to free myself.

"You bitch! How could you seduce other men and fool around with them? My son's nice enough to accept an old woman like you who's incapable of doing anything. How dare you hook up with other men?"

Grabbing the glass of water on the table, she poured it all over my head and even spat on me.

My vision blurred with drops of water, and a buzz rang in my ears. Through my blurry vision, I realized that the front door of my house had been opened.

I felt a burst of delight, surprised that Dylan had managed to get here so quickly.

But all I heard was a familiar voice exclaiming, "Aunt Ruby, why did you hit her? Matthew is here too!"

It was Maya. Matthew had come as well.

Ruby yelled, "This bitch dared to cheat on Sam. I'm teaching her a lesson!"

"What? You bitch! You should be honored Sam set his eyes on you. How could you treat him like this?"

Maya came up to me and gave me a slap.

It was only through their conversation that I realized Ruby was Maya's aunt and the mother of the cousin she'd told me about, Sam Sullivan.

Before I could even think about why she'd shown up at my house, both women dragged me into the bathroom.

I clung to the doorframe for dear life, my fingernails bleeding from the friction. Maya and Ruby forced my fingers open bit by bit, then dragged me into the bathroom.

My fingers left quite a few trails of blood on the wall, and my face twisted from the pain.

"Matthew is very protective of his sister. Make sure he doesn't see her," Maya said.

"She's messed up, so she deserves to be beaten up! What are you afraid of? You'll marry him soon. Why should you be afraid of someone like her who's just a waste of space?"

Deep down, I sneered. I would love to see how Maya would marry into my family while I was still around.

"Matthew isn't like other men," Maya said, smiling sweetly as she stroked her belly. "Besides, I'm carrying his child. He's about to talk to his parents about our marriage, so it'd be better not to cause trouble."

She was pregnant? I was dumbfounded. How could that be?

When I caught a muffled noise from outside, I cried out immediately. But Ruby moved as quick as lightning and covered my mouth.

"Shut up, you!" she growled.

Upon seeing that, Maya kicked me hard in the stomach. She even gave me a few harsh slaps.

"Shut your mouth, you bitch! How dare you get Matthew to teach me a lesson? You're just a slut who's been played with by men countless times. You should be honored I thought of letting you marry Sam. If not for Matthew, you wouldn't even stand a chance!

"How dare you fool around with another man behind Sam's back? Once he marries you, I'll make sure he disciplines you properly!"

Maya took her phone out and snapped photos. She even tried to rip my clothes off.

"Just look at how slutty you are. No one other than Sam will ever want you!"

Blood seeped from the corners of my mouth, and my face went pale from the pain surging throughout my entire body. I fought to resist with everything I had.

Just then, the bathroom door opened all of a sudden.