The Widow's Masterpiece

"If your husband cheats, do you leave him a way out?" At the banquet, the wives passed the question around the table. My answer drew a wave of bizarre, mocking stares. "Mrs.

Vance, did I hear that right? Even you say you wouldn't?" The table erupted in laughter. I smiled along. After all, everyone knew.

I was the ultimate doormat of a wife in our social circle. It was only later, looking back on this moment, that they realized it with pure terror. My definition of a way out.

And theirs. Were not the same. Chapter 1 I stood up and walked away. The sneers behind my back did not stop. "She actually said no? What a joke!" "Right?

An orphan from the wrong side of the tracks who didn't even finish college, marrying into the Vance family. Five years and her stomach is still flat.

And she thinks she can dictate terms to Mr. Vance?" "She is basically kicked to the curb already. Declan doesn't leave her an ounce of dignity in public. If old Mr.

Vance wasn't so obsessed with keeping up appearances, she would have been kicked to the curb for real years ago!" "She survived this long by playing the submissive wife.

There is a reason they call her a complete doormat!" They didn't care if I heard them. Even though this was a Vance family banquet.

Even though I was the eldest daughterinlaw of the Vance family. Even though their husbands' paychecks depended on my husband's mood. They still felt they were a cut above me.

Because everyone knew. My husband, Declan Vance, didn't love me. I blocked out the noise.

I maintained my role as the Vance family's daughterinlaw, smiling politely at every single guest. Today was the groundbreaking ceremony for Vance Pharmaceuticals' new factory.

Old clients and partners packed the venue. My fatherinlaw, Charles, had made his stance clear long ago. For the Vance family, keeping up appearances was everything.

Anyone who ruined the family's image would face the strict family disciplinary code.

Yes, even in the 21st century, the Vance family of Frostburg ran on its own ruthless internal system. A wave of enthusiastic greetings erupted near the entrance.

My husband, Declan, had arrived. Beside him was his assistant, Victoria. They wore matching white formalwear. Identical celebration boutonnieres were pinned to their lapels.

They walked in side by side, soaking in the attention. Like a bride and groom stepping down the aisle. "Mr. Vance." "Victoria." The crowd greeted them.

Their voices were eager and deferential. "Victoria, it's been so long!" The group of wives nearby stood up. They waved at her with sickeningly sweet smiles.

Victoria was in her element. She offered graceful nods. She stopped right in front of me. Her tone dripped with polite condescension. "Mrs. Vance, I am so sorry.

Declan was busy speaking with the city officials and we ran late. It's my fault for not reminding him. Thank you for holding things down." I shook my head quickly.

I forced a warm smile. "No, no, your work is more important. You both must be exhausted. Are you hungry? I can have someone bring you food." "We already ate.

Don't trouble yourself." Victoria waved me off elegantly. Then she paused. Her eyes gleamed. "Actually, there is one thing. I parked in a rush and blocked the exit.

I don't trust the valets with my car." "Could you do me a huge favor and go park it for me?" She stared at me with a radiant, gentle smile. The immediate area fell dead silent.

Eyes darted toward us, eager for a show. I stood at the center of those mocking gazes.

I nodded without a single ounce of temper. "Of course." Declan stood right next to her the entire time. His expression was a mask of cold indifference. He just watched.

He wasn't going to step in and say anything. After all. Chapter 2 They had known each other longer than we had. Their bond ran deeper.

Victoria was thirtytwo, two years older than Declan. They went to Columbia University together. As his assistant, she was brilliant and steady.

She held more decisionmaking power at Vance Pharmaceuticals than the vice presidents. As his mistress, she played it lowkey and polite.

In bed, she knew exactly how to keep Declan addicted. Someone like her. Compared to me—a high school dropout, a talentless, emptyheaded trophy wife.

She crushed me in every category. I returned from the parking lot and handed Victoria her keys. She was sitting on the sofa, smiling brightly, chatting with my motherinlaw.

Cynthia used to be a piano teacher. She prided herself on being cultured. She refused to touch any household chores, claiming they were beneath her.

Naturally, that meant I handled all the dirty work. She found me tacky, too. She never gave me that kind of warm smile. "Thanks for the trouble, Mrs. Vance," Victoria said.

She didn't even look at me. Her tone was casual, like she was dismissing a waitress. Declan sat nearby with his legs crossed. He frowned. "What took you so long?

The female guests are waiting." "Is leaving them hanging your idea of hospitality?" He had taken over his father's position a year ago.

He already carried the heavy, suffocating aura of someone at the top. I pressed my lips together. "I ran into some guests outside and chatted for a bit.

I figured since you were here—" Cynthia clicked her tongue. She cut me off. "Declan works hard enough handling the company.

You expect him to deal with this trivial nonsense too?" "You really know how to slack off.

Girls from the wrong side of the tracks never learn how to act in high society." She always gestured wildly when she was annoyed. The red wine in her glass sloshed over the rim.

Dark droplets splattered across her white leather heels. A maid rushed over with a towel. Cynthia glared at her ruined shoes, then glared at me. "You do it!" I bent down.

I crouched at my motherinlaw's feet. I wiped the leather, inch by inch. Declan didn't say a word. Victoria watched with a faint, amused smirk.

Just a few feet away, a sea of calculating eyes locked onto us. "Mrs. Vance is too soft. Her husband's mistress walks all over her in public, and his family crushes her at home.

Being a rich man's daughterinlaw is brutal." "Right? They tell her to wipe shoes and she just does it. They say she's a complete doormat. Guess the rumors are true." "Shh!

Keep your voice down. The last person who gossiped got run out of Frostburg by old Mr. Vance." That night. I was in the study organizing the guest registry.

A maid knocked and said my fatherinlaw, Charles, wanted me downstairs for a family meeting. I locked the documents in the safe.

When I got to the living room, everyone was already there. Charles sat right in the center of the main sofa. His thin lips were pressed into a hard line. He radiated authority.

On his left sat Declan and my brotherinlaw, Simon. Simon taught at a university. He was rarely around during the day and only came home at night. When he saw me, his eyes lit up.

He flashed me a bright smile. Cynthia sat on the right. Her eyes were bloodshot. She looked furious and aggrieved, like she had just finished crying.

Charles gave me a slight nod. "Cora, sit down," he said in a mild voice. I did as I was told. The air in the room was thick and heavy. Charles finally broke the silence.

His voice was a low rumble. "When I first came to Frostburg, I didn't even have a place to sleep." "How did I build this massive empire?" He paused. "By keeping up appearances and acting with extreme caution!

That is the Vance family tradition. That is the strict family disciplinary code I drill into each of your heads every single day!" He snapped his head toward Cynthia.

His voice lashed out like a whip: Chapter 3 "How could you treat Cora like that in public today?" Charles demanded. "You can pull rank as an elder all you want, but making a joke out of her?

How is she supposed to face anyone out there now?" Charles was the absolute head of the house. He rarely lost his temper. When he did, the whole family held their breath.

Cynthia's usual arrogant elegance vanished.

She shrank back. "I was just caught up in the moment," she muttered. "I didn't expect her to actually wipe them." "How was I supposed to know she'd crouch down so fast?" Charles slammed his hand on the table. "Nonsense!" "When I came to Frostburg with nothing, Cora's grandfather took me in.

He brought me into this business. Do you think any of you would be sitting here today without him?

Anyone who breaks the rules faces the strict family disciplinary code." "You are no exception." Cynthia flinched. She started to sob.

The Vance family built their fortune on traditional medicine. They kept an ancient set of grinding tools in the basement.

Whenever someone broke the rules, they were sent down there to grind herbs for hours. The muscle ache was so bad you couldn't even hold a bowl the next day.

Charles called it a lesson in keeping up appearances and remembering our roots.

Declan leaned back against the sofa. "Dad, Cora isn't even upset about it," he said. "Mom is getting older.

She can't handle a punishment like that." "Just let it go." Charles's face hardened. "No." Cynthia wiped her eyes. "I have a piano recital at the orphanage coming up," she whispered. "How can I play if my arms are ruined?

I am doing this for the company's charity image." Charles pressed his lips together. The room went silent. "Let it slide, Dad," Simon chimed in. I kept my mouth shut.

I stared at my tightly pressed knees. Just as I expected, Charles's tone shifted. He spoke slowly. "I cannot make an exception." He turned to look at me.

His expression was perfectly mild. "Cora, why don't you take the punishment for your motherinlaw?" "Dad!" Simon shot up from his seat. "How is that fair?

Why should she take the fall?" Charles let out a troubled sigh. "I swore an oath. The rules cannot be broken.

Declan has to golf with clients tomorrow." "Simon has his lab experiments.

You are the only one of the younger generation available to step in." He looked at me. "What do you think, Cora?" I slowly raised my head.

I offered him a warm, gentle smile. "Of course, Dad." Charles gave a satisfied nod. "You have always been a good, compliant girl.

I knew I wasn't wrong about you." Down in the basement, I ground the herbs in silence. Simon appeared in the doorway. His gaze was dark and heavy.

He held a steaming bowl of noodles. I flashed him a smile. "Simon. You aren't asleep yet?" He didn't answer.

He set the bowl on the table, kept his eyes averted, and grabbed the heavy stone handle from my hands. He started pushing it in a grim silence. I froze.

A tight layer of frustration settled over his handsome features. The heavy stone ground against the mortar. Finally, he forced the words out. "Are you actually a complete doormat?

How can one person have zero temper? All you had to do was say no!" "Who could actually force you?" "Simon, you need to leave.

Dad will be furious if he finds out." I forced a laugh and reached for the handle. He refused to let go. He kept pushing the stone block.

Panic flared in my chest. "You aren't helping me!

You're making this worse!" My voice cracked. "Do you not remember what happened last time?" "Dad caught you helping me, and he tacked on two more rounds of punishment!" A genuine sob bled into my words.

Simon stopped pushing. He spoke in a low voice. Chapter 4 "Cora, when Dad picked you for a daughterinlaw, it was only because I was too young. So he had Declan marry you.

Otherwise… otherwise…" Simon stared right at me. My face went hot. "What are you talking about?

Leave, before someone sees us." He let out a long sigh. "Cora, the butler said you haven't eaten all day. I made those noodles myself. Eat them." He spun around and walked out.

Three hours later. My whole body ached. I dragged myself back to my room. Declan was lying in my bed. Naked. We had slept in separate rooms for two years.

Declan had sexual dysfunction. He needed extreme stimulation to perform. Ever since an unspeakable incident two years ago, he hadn't touched me. Right now, his chest heaved.

He panted, his eyes narrowing at me. "Come here." I bit my lip. I walked to the edge of the bed. "I can't give you acupuncture today.

My hands can't hold the needles." I held up my violently shaking hands. If I had any use to him at all, it was my acupuncture.

His condition left him either completely impotent or stuck in a constant, painful erection. He relied on my needles to force his body back to normal.

As the granddaughter of a renowned TCM master, I picked up techniques far better than anyone outside. Declan's face darkened. Clearly, his condition was flaring up.

He lay there, in a state too grotesque to look at. It was the latter. "Of course you cause trouble today of all days!" he snapped. His bloodshot eyes locked onto me.

His voice dropped to a rough growl. "You do it." I didn't move. "The doctor said it's time to pay Isaac's medical bills." His tone turned icecold. "You have to bring this up now?" "I couldn't find a chance to tell you today," I said, keeping my voice soft. "But the doctor said if we don't pay today, they cut off his meds tomorrow.

You know he can't survive without them." Declan stared at me for a few seconds.

He scoffed, grabbed his phone, and dialed a number. "Transfer fifty grand to the hospital!" He tossed the phone aside. He glared at me. "Take your clothes off.

Get on." I let out a slow breath. My hands shook as I stripped off my clothes, piece by piece. His eyes grew redder. His chest heaved faster. I suddenly doubled over.

My stomach heaved. I threw up all over the bed. The vomit splattered right onto his legs. Declan was a massive germaphobe. He sprang up, cursing, and bolted for the bathroom.

When he came out, his face was murderously dark. "I must have eaten something bad," I mumbled. "I will clean it up right now." He ignored me.

He picked up his phone and dialed. "I am coming over tonight. Wait for me." He grabbed the pajamas he had thrown aside and put them on. He didn't speak. Neither did I.

The air was suffocating. Declan finished dressing and headed for the door. He stopped at the frame and turned around.

His expression twisted with dark mockery. "Let's see how long you can keep this act up, Cora." The next morning, I went to the hospital.

My brother, Isaac, lay motionless on the bed. His empty eyes stared straight at the ceiling. He used to be a prodigy.

On his way to an academic competition, a car crash killed our parents. Isaac barely survived. He was left in a vegetative state.

Chapter 5 Then, a new experimental drug from overseas hit the market. It was a miracle. It opened his eyes.

But the treatment was brutally expensive, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. But it was hope. Grandpa should have been enjoying his retirement.

Instead, he raised me and came out of retirement to practice medicine again. He flew across the country day and night, shouldering the crushing medical bills all by himself.

After the crash, the grief broke me. I dropped out of high school. I thought my life was over.

But Grandpa spoke to me with a voice weathered by life. "The world is vast and complicated, Cora. Life doesn't have just one definition.

You can learn just as much outside of a classroom." "I'm going to live to be a hundred.

I'll watch you grow up, I'll walk you down the aisle, and I'll be here when Isaac finally wakes up." Declan was actually the husband Grandpa carefully picked for me.

He said Charles Vance owed him a massive debt of gratitude. If I married into the Vance family, they would take good care of me.

Twentyfive years ago, on a snowy night, a middleaged, starving Charles collapsed at the door of Grandpa's clinic.

After Grandpa saved his life, Charles got on his knees and begged for a way to survive. Charles spent five years studying Traditional Chinese Medicine under my grandfather.

He played the part of a hardworking, humble, and loyal apprentice. Every single day, without fail, he insisted on washing his feet on his knees. Grandpa refused at first.

Charles cried. He said he had sworn an oath to repay his savior. If he didn't do this, lightning would strike him dead.

After finishing his apprenticeship, Charles moved back to the Midwest. He quickly built his fortune.

Yet, every holiday, he traveled back to Frostburg, insisting on washing Grandpa's feet on his knees. Eight years ago, he brought his wife and children back to Frostburg.

By then, Grandpa was the president of the city's renowned TCM master association. With Grandpa's ultimate endorsement, Charles founded Vance Pharmaceuticals.

Soon after, Charles arrived at our door with lavish gifts and arranged my marriage to Declan. But three years into my marriage. Grandpa died of a heart attack in his brewing room.

One day, I went to the study to ask Declan for Isaac's medical bills. I overheard him talking to Charles. "Her grandfather has been dead for ages.

Why are we still funding her and that vegetable?" "Declan, you forget. Keeping up appearances is everything.

My mentor did me a great favor." "But Victoria has suffered in silence for so long! When you forced me to marry Cora, Victoria had to hide overseas to give birth to Parker.

Parker is five now. It's time to legally claim the child and bring him into the family trust." "Of course Vance blood will be claimed. But we can't rush this.

My mentor treated many highranking politicians over the years.

How else do you think your uncle's family landed those cushy government jobs so easily?" "Dad, you can't always be this softhearted.

Back then, her grandfather refused to greenlight the new product.

If I hadn't taken away his pills the day he had his heart attack—" "—Vance Pharmaceuticals wouldn't exist today!" My lungs stopped working. A violent ringing pierced my ears.

My nails dug into the doorframe. Charles let out a long sigh. "Watching my mentor writhe on the floor that day… it broke my heart." Declan had caught a cold over the past few days.

I shuttled between the house and the company every day, delivering his freshly brewed medicine. Outside the company lobby, a little boy suddenly darted out. He slammed into me.

I stumbled back two steps and nearly fell. His head bumped against the heavy chain of my purse. He instantly burst into loud, wailing sobs. Victoria marched over. Her face was dark.

She snatched the boy up and hugged him tightly to her chest. "Mrs.

Vance, what exactly did my nephew do to offend you?" "Why are you taking your anger out on a child?" I stared at the little boy.

His eyes and brow were a spitting image of Declan. "Your nephew?" Victoria flashed a faint, almost imperceptible sneer. Chapter 6 "Yes, my nephew. He's a poor thing.

Please don't take it out on him, Mrs. Vance." "How is he a poor thing?" I asked. Victoria let out a sigh. "The poor boy can't acknowledge his real parents right now.

He can't even go back to his real home. Don't you think that's pitiful?" I nodded. "That is a shame." She looked at me.

A smile touched her lips. "But his father loves him very much. He even had a paternity test done early on to protect his rights." "He is planning for the long term." I reached out.

I gently patted the little boy's head. I kept my smile bright. "He certainly looks like a smart one." I carried the thermos of medicine up to the CEO's office.

My uncle's family of four was already inside. Unlike Charles, who went into business, my uncle's family took a different path.

Over the years, the couple and their two sons had all become highranking officials in state government agencies.

The branches of the Vance family propped each other up to expand their wealth and power.

Voices drifted through the heavy door. "Declan, our entire family's net worth is in your name now. Don't let us down." "Uncle, let's get one thing straight.

You asked me to hold this money because you didn't dare invest it under your own names. I didn't ask for it." Declan's voice was hoarse. His cold had dragged on for days.

I pushed the door open. Declan saw me. His brows instantly knitted together. "I told you to stop bringing that traditional medicine. I have a major project right now.

I don't have time for slow remedies. Did you buy the Cephalosporin antibiotics?" He coughed several times, his irritation spiking.

I set the thermos and the antibiotics on his desk. "The traditional medicine takes time, but it has fewer side effects." His phone rang. He walked over to the window to answer it.

I turned to greet my uncle and aunt. They gave me stiff nods. They didn't even look me in the eye.

My two cousins, however, didn't hold back their snide remarks. "Cora, is your brother still asleep?" "Spending money like water every single day.

And it's all Vance Pharmaceuticals' money. Is there really a point in keeping him alive?" "Honestly, in his state, we all think he'd be better off dead." I didn't say a word.

I picked up a glass and poured some warm water. I walked over to Declan. I handed him the pills first. He took them instinctively. He tossed them into his mouth.

I handed him the water. He tipped his head back and swallowed. "Declan," I said. "You just took Cephalosporin antibiotics.

Make sure you don't drink any alcohol tonight." He ignored me. He kept talking on the phone. I raised my voice.

I spoke loud enough to drown out his call. "Declan, you just took your medicine. Remember, absolutely no—" "Enough!" Declan whipped his head around.

He glared at me. "Can't you see I'm on a call? Get out!" I flinched. I quickly backed out of the room.

As I reached the doorway, my aunt's scoff echoed behind me. "The girl has zero situational awareness. No wonder she's so annoying." Later that day, I was driving home.

A speeding truck suddenly rearended my car. The impact knocked me out cold. When I woke up in the hospital, the doctor told me I had been unconscious for five days. My head spun.

I reached for my phone, planning to call Declan. The door swung open. The Vance family butler hurried inside. "Madam, you're finally awake! I've been checking on you constantly.

Thank god." I offered a weak, pale smile. "I must have worried everyone. I'm fine." The butler's face remained deadly serious. I looked at him. "What's wrong?

Is Cynthia upset with me again?" Chapter 7 He fell silent for a second. "Madam, Mr. Vance has passed away." I slowly widened my eyes. "What did you say?

Who passed away?" The butler's voice was grim. "The night of your accident, Mr. Vance suffered a sudden acute illness outside.

He was rushed to the hospital, but they couldn't save him. They pronounced him dead shortly after." "The house has been complete chaos these past few days.

Madam fainted from crying multiple times. The Master barely held things together to handle the funeral arrangements.

The cremation was just completed this morning." I sat there staring at him. My body went still, like a hollow shell stripped of its soul. The butler sighed. "My condolences, Madam.

You can't collapse now. The Master had me check on you every day to see if you were awake." "He said there's a lot of paperwork regarding the inheritance that needs your signature.

He wants you to come back and sign them immediately." I didn't say a word. I slowly sat up. The butler rushed forward to support me. "The car is waiting downstairs.

Please hold on a little longer. The Master is in a great hurry." I gently pulled my arm out of his grasp. The butler looked at me in confusion.

I leaned back slowly against the headboard. My voice was quiet. "If it's that urgent…" "Then he can come see me