Nora Bridges came back from the supermarket with several heavy bags of vegetables and fruit. She hadn’t even caught her breath before diving straight into the housework again.

Lillian Bridges’s dirty laundry needed to be washed and spun dry as soon as possible. A quick glance at the clock told her that Davy Bridges would be home soon, and dinner had to be on the table right away. Otherwise, she knew exactly what kind of beating awaited her.

She had just put the clothes into the washing machine when Lillian walked out of her room, munching on an apple. The moment she saw what Nora was doing, she shrieked, her voice sharp enough to pierce eardrums. “Hey, what the hell are you doing? Do you even have a brain? This is wool! You can’t just throw it in a washing machine!”

Nora stammered, her voice small and shaky. “I… I was going to switch it to the wool-care setting…”

“No! Hand wash it! If you ruin it, I’ll have my brother beat you to death!”

Lillian’s brows shot up, her finger jabbing so close to Nora’s face she could feel the wind from it.

Nora bit her lip hard, swallowed the words rising in her throat, and silently walked over to pull the clothes back out.

But Lillian wasn’t done. She followed her, her tone even nastier. “And by the way, we already blew past the electricity limit this month. Go outside and wash it with the hose. Use cold water!”

“It’s snowing out…” Nora’s voice was barely above a whisper.

“So what if it’s snowing? You think you’re some kind of princess? You cheat on my brother and bring the Bridges Clan some random kid to raise, and now you’re acting delicate about washing some clothes?”

Nora instantly shut her mouth. That accusation—the one stain she could never wash off—was the very thing that kept her head bowed in this house, letting them trample her again and again.

But even if she had to live it all over, she would still choose to give birth to Kevin Bridges.

No matter how much shame people tried to throw at her name because of him, she would never regret it.

Seeing Nora obediently carrying the clothes outside, Lillian let out a triumphant, disdainful snort. “Useless.”

Halfway through scrubbing the clothes in the freezing air, Davy came home, swaying and reeking of alcohol like always.

Nora put the clothes down, shook numbness out of her fingers, and was about to help him inside when Queenie Chambers came down the stairs. Spotting her drunken son stumbling around, she immediately turned her fury on Nora, pointing aggressively at her nose.

“Useless waste! Even a chicken can lay an egg, but you’ve been here for years and can’t even manage that! Davy’s drunk out of his mind—why are you just standing there? Don’t you know you should be boiling sober-up soup?!”

Nora’s hands were bright red and swollen from the cold, skin split and bleeding. Snow clung to her hair and clothes, her lips cracked and scabbed. She had long grown numb to Queenie’s loud, cutting insults.

She stiffly turned toward the kitchen, but before she could take a step, Kevin Bridges’s bedroom door opened. The little boy walked out in thin pajamas, rubbing his sleepy eyes, looking nervously at her.

“Mama…”

Nora forced a smile, hurried over, and scooped him into her arms. “Did we wake you up, sweetheart? Still sleepy? Hungry?”

Kevin shook his head obediently, wrapping his arms around her neck. In a tiny, trembling voice, he said, “Grandma’s scary… Kevin’s scared…”

"It's okay, Kevin. Go back to your room and look at your picture books for a bit, alright? Mommy will be there soon, I promise."

Kevin nodded, eyes full of reluctance, but he still obeyed like the well‑behaved kid he was.

Nora Bridges leaned down, kissed his soft cheek, and gently set him on his feet.

The moment Davy Bridges staggered into the house and spotted Kevin beside Nora, his expression twisted. He’d clearly had too much to drink, and after being mocked outside about wearing a “green hat,” seeing Kevin right now was like throwing oil on a fire.

"I ought to kick you to death!"

Davy lurched forward, completely losing control, and swung a vicious kick at Kevin. The little boy, already weak from days of fever, didn’t even have the strength to cry out. The blow sent him flying, and Kevin went limp instantly, passing out without a sound.