My Mother-in-Law Slapped Me While I Was Pregnant at Christmas—But She Never Expected What Happened Next!

Mara made it to the driveway before her knees began to shake.

Cold air cut through her thin red dress. She sat inside her car without starting it, pressing her palms to the steering wheel, trying to slow her breathing. She could still feel Daniel's face beneath her hand. She hated that part. She hated that Evelyn would use it, and she hated even more that it had happened.

Her phone buzzed. A video from an unknown account filled the screen. It began with Mara dumping soup. It ended with her striking Daniel. Evelyn's slap was gone. So was the accusation about Mara's mother.

Caption: PREGNANT WIFE ATTACKS ELDERLY MOTHER-IN-LAW AT CHRISTMAS DINNER.

Already there were hundreds of comments.

"That poor old lady."

"Keep that baby away from her."

"This is what rich guys get for marrying crazy."

Mara dropped the phone onto the passenger seat. The front door opened. Claire came down the steps carrying Mara's coat and purse. Her face was pale.

"I didn't post it," Claire said before Mara could speak.

"Then who did?"

"I don't know. But Grant was talking to Mom's publicist before you even left the room."

Grant Mercer was the family attorney. When he smiled, people usually lost something.

Claire wrapped the coat around Mara's shoulders. "Are you okay?"

"No." Mara's voice came out flat. "And I shouldn't have touched her. Or Daniel. But she's been calling my mom a criminal for seventeen years."

"I know."

Mara looked up. "What do you know?"

Claire opened her mouth, then glanced toward the second-floor windows. A shadow moved behind the curtains.

"Go to the hospital and get checked. You look like you're in pain. I'll call you."

"Claire—"

"Please. Don't trust anything they send you tonight."

Mara drove away with the glowing Christmas tree shrinking in her rearview mirror. Two miles later, a cramp tightened low in her stomach. She pulled into the hospital parking lot just as her phone rang again.