I tightened my grip as she writhed and called out for her mother, using every ounce of her manipulative energy to twist the situation once again.
My mother-in-law and husband froze at the sight of Nicole and me in a heated struggle, the tension between us palpable.
I turned toward them, my voice breaking under the weight of suppressed anger. "Look! There's a thief in this house. Today, I’m going to..."
Slap!
Before I could finish, my husband struck me across the face, silencing me. The sharp sting reverberated through my cheek, leaving one side of my face burning and my ears ringing.
I stared at him in shock, unable to process what had just happened.
He didn’t offer an apology, nor did he show remorse. Instead, he rushed to Nicole’s side, pulling her toward my mother-in-law while glaring at me with venom in his eyes.
"That’s my sister," he barked. "I’ve never laid a finger on her since she was a child. Who do you think you are?"
I stood there, frozen, my disbelief mixing with the pain coursing through my face.