She Quit Her Family and Found Herself novel Chapter 46

In the past, she used to believe her worth lay entirely in keeping the family happy.

But the recent upheaval had been a wake-up call. She gradually realized that her existence was valuable in and of itself. She didn't need to prove her worth to anyone else; she only needed to acknowledge it herself.

It was just a shame it took her nearly twenty-eight years to figure that out.

On Saturday morning, Hulda woke up, boiled a couple of eggs, and poured a cup of coffee for breakfast. Taking her plate to the study, she settled in to continue organizing the research notes.

She had just finished peeling an egg when her phone buzzed.

Seeing *Mother-in-Law* flashing on the screen, her brow furrowed slightly, but she answered it anyway.

The moment the line connected, Valery's harsh reprimand blasted through the speaker. "Miles tells me you haven't been home in a week?"

"Yes." Hulda admitted it freely, asking softly, "Is there a problem?"

Valery clearly hadn't expected her to confess so calmly—without a single word of excuse, no less—and then have the audacity to ask if there was a problem.

"Is there a problem?" For the first time, the usually poised and elegant socialite raised her voice over the phone. "Hulda, as the daughter-in-law of the Jewell family, you lack grace, and you're an embarrassment to be seen with in public. But because you helped raise a child for this family and generally kept your head down, we tolerated you. We never expected you to elevate our status, but at the very least, taking care of your husband and son is your basic duty as a housewife, is it not?!"

Listening to the berating, Hulda took a deep breath. Yes, the divorce was being expedited, but legally, Valery was still her mother-in-law, and the Jewells were still her in-laws.

If anyone should be making these complaints, it should be Herbert.

But it was obvious he hadn't told his family a single thing. Or rather, he couldn't be bothered to.

Their marriage was utterly insignificant to him. Just as she was completely invisible in his heart.

Valery scowled deeply. "She told me to ask your brother, and then she hung up on me! The absolute nerve!"

Cora was floored. Before this, Hulda had always been as meek as a mouse around her mother. She did whatever she was told and never once talked back.

"Does she really not want to be with Herbert anymore?"

"Miles is right over there. Watch what you say," Valery warned, glancing over at her grandson. Seeing the little boy fully engrossed in his book and oblivious to their conversation, she relaxed slightly.

Then, she let out a mocking sneer. "Impossible. She's just playing hard to get, waiting for him to go running after her to coax her back."

Cora rolled her eyes. "Then she's delusional. My brother would never stoop to that. Who does she think she is, pulling a runaway wife stunt?" Cora glanced toward the little boy. "Abandoning Miles for a whole week without a single call. She doesn't even deserve to be a mother. I used to feel a little guilty about that incident from years ago, but now..."

"Cora Jewell!" Valery snapped, her expression turning instantly lethal as she cut her daughter off. "Did I or did I not tell you to never bring that up again? Do you enjoy treating my words like hot air?"