Gilded Lies Exposed

We had agreed to spend the New Year with our own families, but at the last minute, my husband, Drake Murrell, changed his mind and insisted I go back with him this year.

I agreed, planning to take this opportunity to finally tell him the truth about who I really was.

When we first got married, my parents told me to keep a low profile so that Drake, who came from a single-parent household, wouldn’t feel pressured.

So I hid the fact that I was the daughter of the richest family in the capital, the Thorntons.

When we returned to his hometown, I specifically bought my mother-in-law, Diana Murrell, a pair of gold bangles. She accepted them with a beaming smile, praising me again and again for being such a thoughtful daughter-in-law.

However, the next day, as I passed by the old oak tree at the edge of Willow Creek, I overheard her talking about me with a group of people.

"Oh, you have no idea. My daughter-in-law is absolutely ridiculous!"

My hand froze midair, still holding my phone, as I instinctively ducked behind a haystack.

I heard her continue loudly, "She bought me a pair of gold bangles this year. The moment I touched them, I knew they were fake! I’m telling you, they’re probably those cheap online knockoffs, like the kind that cost next to nothing and start fading the moment you wear them!"

I was stunned with anger. She called pure gold fake?

Looks like the million-dollar New Year gift I had prepared for her wasn’t necessary anymore.

Diana Murrell smugly munched on a handful of walnuts. "Anyway, I’m not wearing that kind of junk. I’d be a laughingstock if people saw me wearing fake gold. What if it stains my wrist?"

"That can’t be right, can it? Liana seems like an honest girl," Martha Kane chimed in.

"Honest? Does being honest put food on the table?" Diana scoffed. "Just look at how shabby she is. She probably barely makes anything all year. Not like Rosalie, who’s about to become a manager at a big company."

The group of women around her burst into sharp, grating laughter. "Oh my God, who even tries to fool their mother-in-law with fake gold these days? That’s unbelievable."

My nails dug deep into my palm. The edge of my phone pressed hard against my skin, but I felt nothing.

Just then, my phone vibrated.

A message from my mother, Mikaela Thornton, popped up. Only one short line: "You’ve made it to your in-laws’ place, right? It’s the holidays. Keep the peace. Do more, say less."

I stared at Mom’s profile picture, forcing the anger in my chest down. Then I turned and walked back into the yard.

I had just carried the cleaned chicken into the kitchen, and before I even had time to wash my hands, the sound of a car engine came from outside.

A sharp screech of brakes followed, stopping right at the front gate.

"Oh! That must be Rosalie!"

Inside the house, Drake Murrell’s eyes lit up instantly at the sound. He rushed outside without hesitation.

I took my time washing my hands, drying them slowly, then walked to the doorway and leaned against the frame, watching coldly.

A brand-new BMW 5 Series was parked at the entrance, its body gleaming.

The car door opened, and a woman stepped out in a tight short dress with her long wavy hair cascading over her shoulders.

Rosalie Hammer.

"Oh, Rosalie! Look at you, coming over and driving such a nice car!" Diana had just returned from chatting outside, her face blooming with delight. The warmth in her voice was even greater than when she saw her own daughter.

At a glance, I noticed a small tag hanging from the car key. It was clearly from a rental company in the city.

"Aunt Diana, Happy New Year! I just got this car, so I drove it back to show you." Rosalie patted the roof proudly, but her eyes kept drifting toward Drake. "Drake, it’s been a year. You’ve gotten even more handsome."

Drake’s cheeks flushed slightly as he looked at her with a doting look. "You always know what to say. It’s cold out. Come in."

Rosalie turned and pulled two cartons of milk from the trunk, along with a bag of slightly bruised apples. "Aunt Diana, I didn’t have time to get anything fancy. Just these cartons of milk to help with calcium."

Diana clicked her tongue in approval. "Look at this girl. How thoughtful! You can tell this milk is a good brand. Must’ve cost quite a bit, right? Not like some people who only know how to bring fake goods to fool me."

She rolled her eyes in my direction, her voice deliberately raised.

I stood in the doorway, making no move to explain.

Rosalie glanced at me, a flicker of disdain passing through her eyes. She gave a fake smile. "Oh, Liana, you’re here too? I heard you still don’t have a real job this year. If things don’t work out, you could come work for me. I happen to be looking for a housekeeper."