“Didn’t you look in a mirror before coming to this house?”
That shrill voice instantly silenced the entire living room.
I stopped in my tracks. The hand carrying the simple cake box began to tremble. Dozens of pairs of eyes turned toward me.
In the middle of the room, Mrs. Ratih—my mother-in-law—stood with her arms folded across her chest. Her gaze was filled with hatred, as if my presence were a stain ruining her birthday celebration.
“You actually had the nerve to bring a cheap cake like that?” she said sarcastically. “Our family never eats cheap food.”
Several guests chuckled.
I lowered my head, trying to swallow the shame burning in my chest.
“I’m sorry, Mom... I just wanted to celebrate your birthday with you.”
“Celebrate?” She sneered. “Do you think we need a gift from a poor woman like you?”
My fingers tightened around the cake box.
I glanced at my husband, Adrian.
The man who had sworn two years ago that he would always be by my side stood only a few steps away. His lips moved, but not a single word came out.
He just stood there in silence.
His silence hurt far more than all the insults I had endured.
“Come on, Mom. That’s enough,” my sibling-in-law said with a mocking smile. “I almost feel sorry for her. Maybe she spent all her savings just to buy that cake.”
Laughter once again filled the room.
I held my breath.
Not because I was incapable of fighting back.
But because I was still trying to respect my husband’s family.
Ever since I married Adrian, I had never been valued.
I came from a modest family. My father had passed away, while my mother worked as a seamstress to support us.
Adrian’s family, on the other hand, was a prominent family. They owned companies, luxurious homes, and lived in luxury.
From the very first day of our marriage, they had rejected my presence.
They said I had married Adrian only for his money.
But when we fell in love, I hadn’t even known Adrian came from a wealthy family.
“I told you from the beginning,” Mrs. Ratih’s voice rang out again. “Women like her only bring bad luck.”
My chest tightened.
I looked at Adrian again.
“Say something...” I pleaded softly.
Adrian clenched his fists.
“Dad is sick, Maya. Please don’t make things worse.”
The words pierced my heart like a knife.
So...
I was the one being blamed for causing trouble?
Even though all I had done was silently endure every humiliation.
Mrs. Ratih walked over and took the cake box from my hands.
For a moment, I thought she was going to accept it.
But then...
Crash!
She threw the box onto the floor.
The cake was smashed to pieces.
White frosting and strawberry slices scattered across the gleaming marble.
“That is exactly where a poor person’s gift belongs.”
My tears finally fell.
I had bought that cake with the money I earned from working overtime for a week.
I was willing to go without new clothes so I could give my mother-in-law something for her birthday.
And yet...
All my sacrifice had never meant anything.
“Are you crying?” my younger sibling-in-law asked with a laugh. “Don’t pretend to be pitiful. If you’re embarrassed, you should have enough self-awareness to divorce Adrian.”
“Exactly,” someone else chimed in. “There are plenty of wealthy women who would be more suitable wives for Adrian.”
I closed my eyes for a moment.
My entire body felt numb.
“Mom...” Adrian’s voice was soft.
Hope stirred in me again.
Maybe he would finally stand up for me.
But that hope was shattered once more.
“Enough. Maya will understand.”
Understand?
Understand that my dignity was being trampled?
Understand that I was supposed to stay silent while they humiliated me?
Without realizing it, I gave a bitter smile.
For two years of marriage, I had always tried to be a good daughter-in-law.
I woke up first every morning.
I cooked.
I cleaned the house whenever they asked.
I took care of everything the extended family needed.
But none of it had ever been enough.
In their eyes, I was still a poor woman who had no right to be part of this family.
Mrs. Ratih then pulled a thick envelope from her bag.
“Take it.”
I frowned.
“What is this, Mom?”
“Money.”
She threw the envelope at me.
“One hundred million rupiah. Consider it compensation.”
I froze.
“Compensation?”
“Divorce Adrian.”
The room fell silent again.
“Starting next week, we’re arranging a match between Adrian and our friend’s daughter. She’s beautiful, wealthy, and educated. Far more suitable than a poor woman like you.”
I looked at Adrian.
His face was pale.
But once again...
He didn’t argue.
My hands trembled violently.
“Is that true?” I asked softly.
Adrian closed his eyes.
“I... I just want everyone to be at peace.”
That answer destroyed the last remnants of my hope.
I let out a soft laugh.
How funny.
All this time, I thought we were fighting for our marriage.
But it turned out...
I had been fighting alone.
Slowly, I picked up the envelope.
Everyone smiled, thinking I was going to accept the money.
But the next second...
I tore the envelope apart right in front of them.
The bills scattered across the floor.
“I may be poor,” I said in a trembling voice. “But I have never sold my dignity.”
Their expressions changed.
I wiped the tears wetting my cheeks.
“I’m leaving today.”
I looked at Adrian one last time.
“Starting today, you are no longer the place I call home.”
Without waiting for an answer, I turned and walked out of that magnificent house.
No one chased after me.
No one called my name.
Outside, the rain poured down violently.
I walked aimlessly through the rain, crying.
I didn’t know where to go.
I had lost my home.
Lost my husband.
And lost all the hope I had held on to for so long.
But deep in my heart, a determination began to grow.
One day...
This woman they had humiliated would return.
Not as the poor, looked-down-upon daughter-in-law.
But as a woman standing at the pinnacle of success.
And when that day came...
They would realize that the person they had underestimated the most was the one who ultimately stood far above them.