6. Everyone Fool Her

AMBER. My steps were clearly audible in the long hallway of the mansion, the sound of my high heels stomping loudly on the marble floor, yet seemingly unable to attract anyone's attention. Vincent's family was gathered in the living room, laughing and chatting merrily. They were talking about things I'd never considered before: business, old friends, and traveling. All things that seemed to be part of their different world-a world that I was just a traveler in. I took a deep breath and stepped into the kitchen, which seemed to be my real room in the house. That morning, Vincent's mother gave a no-nonsense order. "Amber, please prepare lunch," she said, her voice expressionless, as if I was not her daughter-in-law, but a maid who never had the right to argue. I just nodded, trying to hold back the sting that was beginning to invade my chest. In the kitchen, I was busy preparing their dishes. Meat, vegetables, rice, everything had to be ready on time. They would eat happily, while I would just stand by, waiting for them to finish and putting away the dirty dishes that I had to wash. I was used to this routine, but still, every time I did it, the pain resurfaced. It was as if I only existed to fulfill their needs, not to be appreciated as a wife. Vincent-my husband-never cared. He sat at the dining table, chatting with his father and some of their business friends, never looking back at me. Sometimes, I wished for a flicker of attention from his eyes, just an acknowledgment that I was a part of his life. But no. He was too busy with his own world, and I was just in the background, doing everything they wanted without ever being considered. When lunch was ready, I carried the plates into the dining room with a heavy heart. Everyone was silent for a moment, paying attention to the dishes I brought. However, as soon as I placed the plates on the table, they resumed their conversations, without giving me a smile or a word of thanks. Even Vincent's mother, who had always been cold, only gave me a glance, without a word. I felt like a passing wind that was never appreciated. I returned to the kitchen, cleaning the cookware with an empty heart. Every movement I made felt futile, every drop of sweat felt meaningless. I knew this was the price to pay for being part of this family, but the longer it went on, the more tired I became. I wanted to be appreciated. I want to be considered as something more than just a servant in this house. But in reality, I'm only here to serve, and Vincent, my husband, has never once realized how much I've sacrificed just to be able to be a part of his world. *** I stood in the large living room, my heart pounding as if it was about to explode. Vincent's family was gathered around the coffee table, chatting casually, as if nothing important had happened. They were laughing, talking intimately, yet I felt like a stranger trapped among them. I rubbed my slightly sweaty palms, trying to calm myself. "I can't go on like this, Vincent," I said in a low voice, trying to remain calm despite the frustration burning in my chest. "Your family... they treat me like I don't matter. Like I'm not part of this family. Whenever I speak, they don't listen. They just give me orders, make me feel like I'm their servant." Vincent looked at me with a gaze I couldn't read, but I could feel the tension between us. He was always like that-cold and guarded. I knew he could never see what I was going through, or maybe he didn't want to. I sighed, continuing, "I just want a little attention, a little understanding. I'm not a doll that can be treated like that." Vincent was silent, his face unreadable. "My family is strict, Amber. You have to understand that. They don't accept new people easily," he replied, his voice as flat as ever, as if this was a normal thing. "This is not a problem that can be solved quickly. You have to be patient." He continued his words. I felt a pain touch my chest. "Be patient? How long do I have to be patient, Vincent?" my voice began to rise, but I tried hard to control myself. "I've been here a long time, and more and more I feel like I'm not here. I try to be a good wife, but they... they keep treating me like I'm nothing. Even your mother never thought of me as a daughter-in-law!" Vincent walked closer, his eyes never leaving my face. "My mother and family are not easy to deal with, Amber. They won't accept someone new into the family right away," he said again, as if explaining something that was already very obvious to him. I felt as if he wasn't listening. "I know that, Vincent!" I replied in frustration. "But it's not about being accepted or not. It's about how they see me. Whenever I try to speak up or ask for a little respect, I'm just seen as a bully. They only give orders, they don't see me as a wife, as part of this family." I paused for a moment, trying to calm my heavy breathing. "And you? You just stayed silent. You did nothing to protect me, or to defend me. Why, because I'm nothing in your eyes?" My final voice was full of feelings that had been building up for a long time, and I waited for his answer with a pounding heart. Vincent bowed his head, his eyes staring at the floor for a moment, as if trying to think of the right words. When he raised his face, there was a different expression. "I'm not the kind of person who shows feelings easily," he said quietly. "I know they're hard. I know they don't accept easily. But I can't just change their ways either. Everything here happened long before either of us existed, Amber." "So, I have to wait until things change?" I asked in a disappointed tone, feeling like there was a huge wall between us that was getting higher. "I have to continue living with this kind of treatment because you feel like you can't do anything about it?" Vincent was silent, and I could feel the tension separating us growing. It felt like there was an empty, unfilled space between us, and I didn't know how to fill it anymore. He didn't give me the answer I wanted. He couldn't promise anything. All he could say were the same words- "Be patient." I felt disappointed. Disappointed in him, disappointed in his family, and disappointed in myself for expecting too much. "I'm tired, Vincent," I said, my voice softer this time. "I'm tired of waiting and being patient. I just want to be treated well. Not only by you, but also by your family." Vincent looked at me with a blank stare. I knew he wanted to say something, but finally he just sighed. "I don't know what to say, Amber. I just... I don't know how to deal with everything." I nodded slowly, feeling her words hurt more than she realized. I didn't just need answers from him-I needed more than that. I needed someone who truly cared, someone who wouldn't let me feel unappreciated in this house. But, as it seems, I can only continue to wait. Waiting for something that I don't know when it will come.