My mother-in-law always said that women should put family first and not be too ambitious.

On the very day I poured my heart into winning an International Award, she barged into my corporation with a strange man and slapped me in front of everyone.

“You shameless woman! To win that award, you sold your body and cheated on my son!”

My colleagues and leaders all believed in my abilities.

But my mother-in-law pulled out a stack of intimate photos of me with that man.

I tried desperately to explain, yet no one believed she would frame her own daughter-in-law with such filthy rumors.

I was fired on the spot, and my six-figure commission was taken back.

When I got home, my husband Daniel Carter was also dismissed, and my son Ethan Carter was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Only then did my mother-in-law show a hint of regret.

“I just didn’t want your boss to keep making you work overtime, so I found someone to stage a little scene. Who knew your company cared so much about face?”

My father-in-law and Daniel only fanned the flames.

“If you were truly upright, who could frame you?”

“Exactly. If you were really a key employee, would the company fire you so easily?”

Even my ten-year-old son hated me. He pushed me off the balcony.

“If you had returned to the family earlier, my illness would’ve been discovered sooner.”

“You slaved away for others for years, yet couldn’t even pay for my treatment.”

I died in pain. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day when my in-laws once more urged me to quit my job and become a full-time housewife.

I smiled and agreed.

I wanted to see how their son alone could possibly support this family.

At the dinner table, my in-laws echoed each other, spittle flying.

“Emily, we’re only saying this for your good. What’s the point of career success? In the end, a woman must return to family.”

“That’s right. Look at our Daniel—he makes over sixty thousand a month. More than enough to support you!”

Daniel sat beside me with the posture of a victor.

“Emily, listen to Mom and Dad. Quit your job. I’ll take care of you.”

That line again.

As if he really were the one earning sixty thousand a month.

In my last life, to preserve his pride, I never revealed that I earned far more than he did.

All I got in return were endless quarrels and my mother-in-law’s ruthless suppression.

This time, I raised my head with a docile smile.

“All right, I’ll listen to you.”

“I’ll resign tomorrow.”

Their surprise and satisfaction nearly overflowed. My mother-in-law even clapped her hands repeatedly.

“Now that’s the right attitude! Our Emily is so sensible!”

Daniel hugged me tightly, planting a kiss on my forehead, full of triumph.

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ll make sure you live a good life.”

I leaned meekly into his arms, my lowered lashes concealing every emotion.

A good life?

Their good life was about to end.

The next day, I handed in my resignation at the company.

My director Michael Lewis was heartbroken.

“Emily Carter, think it over! NovaTech is about to be nominated for the International Innovation Award. This is three years of your hard work!”

Michael pushed the resignation back to me.

“Michael, I’ve already finished handing over all my work.”

My voice was calm as I pushed the letter back to him.

“My mind is made up.”

Michael sighed deeply, then signed his name.

Downstairs, I took one last look at the place where I had struggled for fifteen years.

In my last life, I fled here like a beaten dog.

This time, the initiative was mine.

When I returned home, my mother-in-law greeted me with a bright smile.

“You quit? Wonderful! Emily, I’m so happy today. Go buy a King Crab—we’ll celebrate tonight!”

She gave her orders as if I were born to serve them.

“Sure.”

I didn’t argue, just went out obediently.

At dinner, the Carter family feasted, grease running down their chins, laughing merrily.

“Having a daughter-in-law at home is the best! From now on, Emily can cook us gourmet meals every day!”

“That’s what real life should be like!”

I listened quietly to their chatter and took out a bank card from my purse, placing it gently on the table.

“Dad, Mom, Daniel.”

My tone was soft.

“This card contains all of Daniel’s savings from his years of work—two million in total. Since I won’t be working anymore, please use it for the household expenses.”

In my past life, this card was snatched from my purse and squandered recklessly.

This time, I offered it myself.

My mother-in-law’s eyes lit up instantly, her voice trembling with excitement.

“Oh Emily! You’re so considerate! I knew I raised you well!”

Daniel also looked touched.

“Sweetheart, you’re too good to me.”

Life after resignation, in their words, was “comfortable.”

My mother-in-law kept saying women should be full-time housewives—just a little housework, the rest of the time eating, drinking, and enjoying life.

I strictly followed her words. I slept until I naturally woke, ordered five-star hotel takeout when I didn’t want to cook.

When she asked me to mop the floor, I simply called a housekeeper.

Her face turned dark immediately.

But I threw her own words back at her.

“Mom, are you saying I shouldn’t live this way? Then maybe I should go back to work.”

She was forced to pull an awkward smile.

Soon, my dressing table was filled with luxury skincare products.

Unable to hold back, she pointed at the bottles and jars, demanding:

“Emily! You don’t work anymore, yet you spend so lavishly? Can these things feed us?”

I looked up at her with a smile.

“Mom, you’re the one who told me a woman should treat herself well.”

I picked up the most expensive cream and applied it to my face.

“Besides, haven’t you been using this too? I saw how great it worked on you, so I bought some for myself.”

She was speechless, only managing a furious glare before slamming the door on her way out.

I met friends for spa days and shopping trips, never coming home before the mall closed.

At night, I walked in with arms full of shopping bags.

“Dad, Mom, Daniel, I bought clothes for you all.”

Those clothes cost less than a thousand in total.

But in another elegant bag was my new handbag—worth over fifty thousand.

My mother-in-law finally lost her temper, leaping up from the couch and pointing at my nose.

“Emily! You don’t earn a cent now, and you’re spending our Carter family’s money! Do you even know how to behave as a daughter-in-law?”

I ignored her and turned to Daniel, looking pitiful.

“Daniel, Mom scolded me again…”

I pouted, eyes brimming with tears.

“Didn’t you say you’d support me? Or… are you saying you can’t afford me anymore?”

One line nearly exposed his entire lie.

“I—I can! Sweetheart, what Mom means is… we need to be more cost-effective when shopping.”

Watching him stubbornly deny it, I sneered inwardly.

His monthly salary was barely eight thousand, not enough even to cover his parents’ daily expenses, let alone to support me.

The family’s luxurious life these past years had been entirely sustained by my income.

Yet Daniel couldn’t stand losing face. He told everyone my job didn’t earn much.

I struck the final blow.

“You can’t expect me to live worse now than when I was working, can you?”

The living room fell into dead silence.

I looked at their darkening faces and sneered inwardly.

This was only the beginning.

Their so-called good days had just started to unravel.

Daniel’s company couldn’t hold on. Profits plummeted, and the department was abuzz with layoff rumors.

His once-thick bonuses shrank into a few thin bills.

Meanwhile, I completely abandoned financial planning at home.

I had only one task—spending money.

For Ethan’s extracurricular classes, I chose the most expensive ones with foreign teachers.

At home, I replaced every appliance with the newest “smart” version, whether we needed it or not.

I said, “It’s all for this family, for Ethan. We can’t let him fall behind at the starting line. We need to keep up with the times.”

My in-laws didn’t understand, but when the neighbors praised me for being so devoted, they were overjoyed.

The bank balance dropped quickly under my efforts.

Finally, Daniel confronted me in the living room, his face dark, holding a credit card bill.

He slammed it onto the coffee table with a loud smack.

“Emily Carter, are you insane? A hundred thousand! You spent a hundred thousand in just one month!”

His chest heaved with rage as he jabbed at the details on the statement, his voice trembling.

“Imported soy sauce—three thousand a bottle? German dishcloths—five hundred each? What are you, wiping the floor with gold?”

I poured myself a glass of water leisurely, not even looking at him.

“You were the one who promised to give me and our child the best life. And your mom said the Carter family could afford to keep someone who didn’t need to work. Besides, isn’t this the same level of spending as when I was working?”

The only difference was, back then I paid the bills myself.

I lifted my head and stared at him.

“What’s wrong, Daniel? Can’t afford me anymore?”

The words pierced his fragile pride. His face flushed crimson.

“Starting next month, every major expense must go through me!” he gritted out between his teeth before slamming the door on his way out.

The next day, my mother-in-law came over, her voice syrupy sweet.

“Emily, you see how tight things are now. How about… you go back to the corporation for a while? Once Daniel recovers, you can quit again. I promise I won’t stop you then.”

I pulled my hand away, feigning surprise.

“Mom, how could I? When I resigned, my director nearly turned green with anger. If I go back now, wouldn’t it be so awkward?”

“Besides, if I start working again, who will pick up Ethan? Who will cook for the family? Weren’t those the very reasons you pushed me to resign?”

I returned her old arguments almost word for word.

Her mouth opened, but she had nothing to say. She left, sulking.

After that, the atmosphere at home grew unbearably tense.

Daniel worked overtime more and more, returning home each night with a heavy face.

My mother-in-law no longer coddled me, instead sighing in the living room every day, praising other daughters-in-law for being hardworking and supportive.

I turned a deaf ear and continued my extravagant lifestyle.

Soon, it was Ethan’s tenth birthday.

In my past life, I missed his birthday party because I worked on a project for three days straight.