Breaking Free from the Abyss: A Story of Betrayal and Resilience

I suddenly realized that the child I had cherished for so long was the result of an illicit affair.

Meanwhile, my real child had met an untimely death.

Some people thought I would be hysterical, wallowing in self-pity.

But no! I swiftly sent my mother-in-law Kate Palmer to prison, ruined Toby Martin's reputation, and started a new life.

1.

On our wedding night, after all the guests had left, Toby and I sat on the bed to sort through the wedding gifts.

The cash gifts alone totaled a whopping 100, 000 dollars.

I was stunned, grinning from ear to ear, but tonight's main event wasn't about the money. Ignoring Toby's protests, I quickly stashed the cash away.

In front of him, I pulled out a set of cool and sexy lingerie from the bottom of the wardrobe.

I changed into it right away, and just as Toby eagerly approached, there was a sudden, urgent knock on the door. I quickly put on my nightgown.

Opening the door, I found Kate standing there with a pillow.

I felt a bit resistant, unsure of her intentions.

Kate wasn't like the stereotypical elderly woman; she was well-maintained, still charming, and at the moment, wearing a nightgown as revealing as mine, without any undergarments, her figure quite evident.

Her words left me completely stunned.

"Kate, isn't it inappropriate for you to sleep with us?"

"It's fine, Zoe." Toby said.

"Zoe, are you upset with me just after newly marrying my son?" Kate demanded.

Though shocked, I quickly calmed down and spoke.

Unexpectedly, Toby agreed before I could reject.

I was angry. Sharing our wedding night with Kate was bad enough, but having her sleep between us? Unbelievable.

Kate settled onto the bed as if it were her own, her tone dripping with condescension.

"Don't be so petty; in the Martin family, you should be gracious and understanding." Her words stung, but I bit my tongue.

Anyone would be livid if their wedding night was hijacked by these stupid excuses.

To make matters worse, Toby hadn't even asked for my opinion.

I swallowed my anger, knowing I couldn't make a scene so soon after joining the family.

I thought that was as bad as it could get.

But then, in the middle of the night, I woke up to find Toby's arm draped over Kate-who wasn't wearing a stitch of underwear.

My stomach churned, but I told myself not to overthink it.

After all, Kate was his mother. Their resemblance was undeniable.

I decided I'd vent to my best friend the next day.

And I'd make sure Toby made it up to me for ruining our wedding night.

With those thoughts, I drifted back to sleep, only to wake up alone in bed.

Stepping into the kitchen, I found Toby flipping pancakes, his smile warm and reassuring.

For a moment, I felt a flicker of gratitude. At least I didn't have to worry about being stuck in the kitchen all day.

2.

"No way, did she really sleep with you guys last night?" my best friend gasped the next day.

"Keep your voice down!" I hissed, glancing around nervously.

But I nodded, my frustration bubbling to the surface.

Her reaction was immediate.

"This is a problem. A big one! How could she sleep with her son who is already an adult?"

"But Toby treats me well," I insisted, though doubt gnawed at me.

"Zoe, don't be naive. What if Kate isn't as innocent as she seems?"

"Well, you make a good point."

I brushed it off, but the image of Toby holding Kate in bed lingered in my mind.

When I got home, Kate had already prepared a lavish meal.

Seeing the table full of dishes and her warm smile, I felt a pang of guilt for doubting her.

Toby wasn't back yet, and Kate had been busy making all my favorite dishes. Meanwhile, I'd been secretly questioning her intentions, which filled me with guilt.

"Kate, you really don't have to do so much."

"Oh, Zoe, it's nothing. Toby's used to it, and you have to work. I'm just filling my time," she replied with a smile.

As we ate, Toby returned.

Kate immediately put down her bowl and went to greet him at the door. He handed her his coat as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The scene looked eerily like a couple's dynamic.

I shook my head, trying to dismiss the thought.

Toby ruffled my hair and sat beside me, while Kate seemed unfazed.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

I decided to buy a surveillance camera online later. At least that would put my mind at ease.

After dinner, Toby and Kate went to wash the dishes.

He told me to take a nap since I had work in the afternoon.

His words warmed my heart, and I quickly forgot about Kate's odd behavior, happily drifting off to sleep.

Halfway through my nap, a message notification woke me up.

I got up to use the bathroom and noticed neither Toby nor Kate was in the living room.

Just as I was about to call out, strange sounds came from Kate's room. I approached the door, which was tightly shut, and leaned closer to listen.

The sounds were unmistakable-moans and gasps of pleasure.

"Ah... yes... harder... "

My whole body trembled. Kate had been widowed for years, and Toby was supposedly at work.

I rushed back to my room, grabbed my phone, and texted Toby.

"Did you go to work? I woke up and didn't see you."

I anxiously waited for his reply, hoping it was all a misunderstanding.

"I went to work first. I told Mom to wake you up. What's wrong?"

Receiving this message, I let out a sigh of relief.

Ease washed over me.

"Why? Did you miss me already?"

I couldn't help but smile wryly at his response.

I replied as if nothing had happened, though I couldn't shake the unease.

"You better make it up to me tonight," I texted.

"Don't worry, honey. I've got it all planned. See you tonight."

"See you then."

After chatting with him, I thought about the sounds from Kate's room.

It was her private matter, I told myself. I shouldn't pry.

I couldn't quite understand it, but to avoid awkwardness, I quietly left.

But as I passed her room on my way out, the sounds grew louder.

I quickened my pace, determined to avoid the awkwardness. Whatever was going on, I didn't want to know.

"Ah... harder... ah... "

Once outside, the heat on my face finally subsided a bit.

I even forgot about the surveillance camera until the technician called in the afternoon.

3.

"Sorry, I forgot,"

I apologized to the technician at my door and quickly let him in.

"No worries, just remember to schedule an installation when someone's home next time," he said with a friendly smile.

I hadn't expected the house to be empty. Kate must have gone out, and it wasn't until the technician called that I remembered the appointment.

Though my suspicions had lessened, installing a camera couldn't hurt.

With both Kate and Toby out, I decided not to mention it to them.

The technician was efficient, placing the cameras in inconspicuous spots where they'd be nearly impossible to notice. After a thorough check to ensure everything was in place, he left.

I tested the cameras, and the footage on my phone was crystal clear.

When I got home, I expected Kate and Toby to arrive later, but to my surprise, they were already at the dining table, eating dinner.

As I entered the house and was about to join them, Toby spoke first.

"Honey, why don't you take a shower and change into your pajamas? I'll reheat the food for you."

"Alright, darling, I'll go shower first."

His thoughtfulness instantly lifted my spirits.

I eagerly went to freshen up, slipping into a particularly alluring nightgown and throwing on a robe before heading back to eat.

Toby and Kate had already finished their meal.

I sat next to Toby, subtly revealing a glimpse of my outfit that only he could see. I noticed his breath catch for a moment.

My stomach growled with hunger, and I dug into the food. Kate kept serving me more, her gentle demeanor a stark contrast to how uninhibited she'd been earlier in the day.

The thought made my face flush.

Afraid they'd notice, I quickly lowered my head and took a few bites.

To my embarrassment, I noticed Toby's reaction, which made me blush even more.

"Mom, why don't you head to your room and rest? We'll be going to bed soon too," Toby said.

"Alright, I'll go to sleep now," Kate replied, quietly excusing herself.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Honestly, I'd been worried she might try to sleep between us again.

After dinner, Toby eagerly swept me off my feet and carried me to our room.

After sex, he even carried me to the bathroom to clean up.

I couldn't help but feel grateful for having married such a wonderful husband. With that thought, I drifted off to sleep.

In the middle of the night, I woke up groggily to find Toby wasn't in bed. Assuming he was in the bathroom, I fell back asleep.

The next morning, as I went to the living room to prepare breakfast, I saw Toby tying an apron on Kate, wrapping it around her from the front. I couldn't hold back and spoke up.

"Honey, what are we having for breakfast?"

"Almost ready, Zoe. Why don't you sit down first?"

Seeing that neither Toby nor Kate reacted, I chalked it up to Toby's usual habits.

But I didn't expect that for a whole week, Toby would insist I take a nap every afternoon.

Each time I woke up, he was nowhere to be found, and I could hear those sounds of pleasure coming from Kate's room, growing louder each day. At night, Toby would just say he was too tired and go to sleep.

Yet, when I occasionally woke up in the middle of the night, he was nowhere to be seen.

I checked the surveillance footage, only to find that the view was mostly blocked by a potted plant next to the TV stand, making it impossible to see anything clearly.

Kate's behavior was becoming increasingly strange.

Once, while Toby and I were being intimate, she suddenly barged into the room, claiming she needed to urgently speak with him. What kind of emergency doesn't require knocking?

Another time, I kissed Toby at the dining table, only to turn around and find Kate glaring at me with a dark expression. But when I looked again, her expression was gone.

There were many such incidents, but with the surveillance malfunctioning, I felt helpless.

Just as I was at a loss, my company announced a week-long business trip.

I thought it was the perfect opportunity to move the plant and see what was really going on while I was away.

At lunch, I mentioned the trip.

"A week-long business trip, honey?" Toby asked.

"Toby, don't stop Zoe. It might be a good opportunity for her. Let her go; it's a good thing," Kate chimed in.

"Yes, darling, it's a good thing," I added.

Kate seemed delighted, while Toby appeared a bit downcast.

I decided to tell him about Kate's odd behavior, but he insisted I was overthinking it, saying she was a gentle and open-minded person since he was a kid.

I didn't mention the sounds from Kate's room to Toby. At noon, he still insisted I take a nap.

When I woke up, he had already packed my things for the trip.

The sounds from Kate's room were as usual, making my face flush. I moved the plant aside and headed to the office.

The business trip was so hectic that I barely had time to check the surveillance footage, and I eventually forgot about it.

Unexpectedly, I fainted at work one day and woke up in the hospital. My colleague congratulated me, saying the doctor confirmed I was pregnant.

I immediately called Toby, who was overjoyed.

His excitement was palpable even over the phone, and Kate was equally thrilled.

She even suggested going back to her hometown for a year to learn how to care for a grandchild from those with experience.

I was naturally pleased, as I still felt a bit uneasy.

Thus, Toby and I lived happily for a year until the baby was born.

4.

When the baby was born, Kate rushed to the hospital, urging me to stay a few more days to recover, assuring me she would take care of the baby.

Toby agreed, so I consented.

However, upon returning home, I noticed Kate's behavior had become even more bizarre.

She was extremely attentive to the baby, almost to an obsessive degree, often reluctant to let me handle the child. Yet, her words left me with no room to argue.

I also felt she had changed somehow, though I couldn't pinpoint how.

After returning to work, Toby and Kate mostly took care of the baby.

One day, while on leave, I found a booklet about the baby that Kate had left behind.

Out of curiosity, I picked it up to read, only to discover a shocking revelation.

It clearly stated that the baby had AB blood type, while I was O type and Toby was A type. It was impossible for us to have an AB blood type child.

No, this could not be truth!

Once I calmed down, I considered the possibility of a hospital mix-up, but then a chilling thought crossed my mind.

I remembered the most unlikely reason.

I had been pregnant for ten months, and Kate had stayed in the countryside for ten months, only returning to take the baby.

Coupled with her previous strange behavior, I began to tremble.

Could this child be Kate and Toby's? Then where was my child?

I forced myself to stay calm and opened the surveillance footage from the time I was on the business trip a year ago, eagerly watching it.

The scenes on the screen pierced my eyes.

Revolting!

How could they be so shameless!

Toby and Kate were having sex on the living room floor, completely oblivious to everything else. I remembered the surveillance had audio and turned it on.

"Toby... harder... harder... "

"Kate, do you love me? Are you enjoying?"

"Yes... love you... yes... I am coming!"

Watching the two of them on the screen, hearing those words, I felt nothing but revulsion. How could they be so shameless?

I gritted my teeth and watched all the footage, discovering that Toby had insisted on my afternoon naps to sneak into Kate's room.

These two were utterly disgusting!

Why were they so excited to hear I was pregnant? Because Kate was pregnant too.

But what mattered the most was my child.

If this child was theirs, then where was mine?