After agreeing to go camping in the mountains with my husband and son, I had a dream.

In the dream, they drugged me and left me alone in the wilderness to get back at his stepsister.

That night, a mudslide hit the campsite, and I died there.

When I woke up, I actually found a bottle of white pills in my husband's pocket.

I quietly slipped the bottle back and softly said to him:

"Let's invite your stepsister on this camping trip."

Justin froze, then snapped impatiently: "Why drag her along? It's our family trip!"

"Mary, how many times must I say it? Dorothy and I are just siblings."

"When will you stop being so paranoid?"

Our son Stephen clapped and chanted: "Mommy's paranoid! Paranoid!"

I lowered my eyelids, face calm, only my knuckles turning white.

"Honey, you misunderstand."

My voice stayed gentle: "I wrongly accused you two before. This trip is my chance to apologize and mend things."

"I don't want you caught in the middle."

A week ago, I'd found black lace panties wedged in Justin's passenger seat.

When I confronted him, he'd shrugged it off.

"Dorothy got her period yesterday, stained her pants. No restroom around, so she changed in my car."

"Must've slipped into the gap during the change."

What a laughable excuse.

He'd raised three fingers solemnly.

"I swear I looked away and saw nothing."

"Check the dashcam if you don't believe me."

I'd checked immediately—footage wiped clean.

He knew I couldn't prove a thing.

We'd fought bitterly. I'd even slapped Dorothy twice.

His retaliation? Cutting off my cards and allowance to force an apology.

My mistake was trusting Justin after childbirth—quitting my job to be his homemaker, living off his income.

That dependence gave him power to hurt me so easily.

I knew he was cheating.

Divorce crossed my mind, but without savings or work, it solved nothing.

Last night's dream steeled my resolve.

I kept my head down, playing the meek wife.

Justin approved of my compliance, unsuspecting.

"Fine, I'll invite her."

"Dorothy's young. Look after her on the trip."

My smile never wavered. "Of course."

"I'll make sure she has an unforgettable journey."

On the day of departure, Justin held his son's hand and walked ahead, while I struggled to follow behind, carrying numerous bags.

When we arrived at the parking lot, Dorothy was already there.

As soon as they met, Dorothy hooked her arm around Justin's wrist: "Justin, you guys are so slow, you made me wait forever."

After saying that, she raised an eyebrow at me.

Justin awkwardly pulled his hand back.

Stephen threw himself into Dorothy's arms and complained: "It's all Mom's fault, she's too slow, like a turtle."

Dorothy looked at me, her eyes reflecting my disheveled state, a sneer flashing at her lips.

She tugged Justin's hand and sat in the back seat, taking the child along.

"Mary, Justin and I need to discuss something, so I'll trouble you to drive today."

I didn't fuss, just took the car keys and sat in the driver's seat.

Through the rearview mirror, I watched the three of them enjoying themselves, my heart full of bitterness.

It seemed like they were the happy family, and I was just their driver.

Once on the highway, where I couldn't see, Dorothy rested her hand on Justin's and gently stroked it.

Justin looked at her helplessly.

They exchanged a knowing glance.

Dorothy suddenly patted Stephen's head: "Stephen, your mom must be bored driving. Keep her company and chat, okay?"

Stephen obediently climbed to the front middle seat, forcing small talk with me.

Blocking the rearview mirror's view in the process.

I remembered last night's dream again.

In that dream, I was driving too.

Justin and Dorothy, hidden by Stephen, kissed wildly.

When I accidentally saw, I raged publicly, called them shameless, and nearly crashed.

That dream felt so real—I can still recall the terror of the wheel slipping.

But now, I pretended to notice nothing.

Just gripped the steering wheel tightly, focusing on driving.

The campsite sat halfway up the mountain.

Arriving, Dorothy immediately dragged Justin out to play.

With Stephen in tow, they dashed across the grass like a blissful family trio.

Only I remained at the campsite, pitching tents, hauling gear, prepping dinner.

Sweat soaked through my clothes from exhaustion.

As dusk neared, Dorothy came bouncing back, putting on an innocent-girl act.

"Mary, I made Justin keep me company. You're not mad, right?"

I waved her off.

"Of course not. Justin always says he sees you as a little sister. Big brothers should spoil their sisters."

She bristled, eyes flashing resentment.

Said sarcastically: "Mary, you're so thoughtful."

I cooked dinner myself—all Justin and Stephen's favorite dishes.

Dorothy tried to nitpick, but her afternoon romp left her starving.

She ended up devouring the most food at the table.

The three of them wolfed down every dish like locusts.

Only I, worn out from the afternoon, nibbled some fruit.

Justin didn't notice—or maybe he's used to me sacrificing myself to arrange his world.

Provoked by my "little sister" remark, Dorothy rubbed her foot against Justin's calf under the table.

Lost in their stolen thrill, their faces flushed deeper.

After dinner, Justin showed a rare moment of consideration by bringing me a glass of water.

"Honey, you've worked hard today."

In last night's dream, this very glass had been laced with sleeping pills.

Shortly after drinking it, I'd become drowsy and pass out.

Justin would then drive off with Stephen, abandoning me alone in these remote mountains.

All to supposedly teach Dorothy a lesson.

That night, torrential rains triggered a mudslide in the mountains.

By the time Justin and Stephen realized something was wrong and raced back frantically,

I'd long been engulfed in mud.

I stared fixedly at Justin until his smile froze and sweat beaded at his temples.

"Wh-why are you looking at me like that?"

Stephen suddenly walked over, took the cup, and stood on tiptoe trying to pour water into my mouth.

"Mom, what's wrong with you? Dad rarely shows concern, and you're not appreciating it."

"I know! You must be overwhelmed, right?"

"Let me move you even more—I'll feed you myself."

"Come on, open wide..."

I drained the cup in his hands.

My heart sank to rock bottom.

If I'd been doubtful about last night's dream before,

now I knew with absolute certainty—it was real.

The water carried a faint bitterness, with undissolved white powder at the bottom.

Stephen, who'd despised me since meeting Dorothy, was now unusually feeding me water to help his father's scheme.

The chill in my heart deepened.

Just like in the dream, my death would be orchestrated by my husband and son together.

I fought to ignore the stabbing pain in my chest, pretending not to notice anything.

The moment I finished drinking, Stephen instantly reverted to his disgusted expression.

With their plan settled, he didn't even bother pretending, scowling as he ordered me to make his bed.

When I asked him to wait, he jabbed a finger at my face: "So annoying! Why should I wait?"

"You bitch, do you want to die!"

"I don't care! Make my bed right now or I'll tell Dad to dump you!"

Hounded relentlessly, I went to the deepest part of the tent to arrange his bedding.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Justin and Dorothy cling together the instant I left.

Scrambling outside to avoid detection, they stumbled toward the tent exit.

Soon, ragged gasping sounds drifted intermittently through the tent seams.

Minutes later, I finished making the bed but found no one outside.

"Honey?"

Justin made an impatient "tch" at the interrupted intimacy.

Dorothy buttoned his shirt while whispering: "Bear with it. I'll get rid of her."

Returning to the tent, Dorothy hunched over clutching her stomach.

"Sorry sis, I felt unwell earlier and asked my senior to check on me."

"What's bothering you?" I asked with concern. "Should I call a doctor?"

She waved urgently: "No need! Just an old problem."

"Sis, could I ask you a favor?"

She fidgeted before continuing: "Could you... drive to town and buy me birth control pills?"

Justin froze completely, clearly not expecting Dorothy to be this bold.

I also stared in disbelief: "You want me to buy what?"

Dorothy smiled knowingly: "Don't get the wrong idea. My period's here, and the doctor said those pills help with cramps."

Justin looked shocked: "Seriously?"

She playfully punched his chest with a shy fist: "Bro, what do you know about women's troubles?"

Turning to me, she pleaded: "Sis-in-law, you'll help me, right?"

I frowned: "But didn't you just have your period last week?"

"And you left your underwear in my husband's car."

Justin's face instantly paled.

Dorothy stammered: "Oh...right, my cycle's irregular. Sometimes it lasts half a month."

What a pathetic excuse.

I pressed my lips together, hesitating.

"It's getting dark, driving isn't safe. Maybe tough it out till morning?"

Dorothy immediately clutched her stomach, doubling over in fake agony.

"No, the pain's unbearable. I need them tonight."

"Then let Justin go?" I tucked my hair behind an ear. "I'm not the best driver."

Just then, Stephen burst out and clung to Justin's leg.

"Dad! I can't sleep without my bedtime story!"

Justin gave me an apologetic look: "Honey, you see..."

Dorothy shot me a triumphant glance: "Sorry, sis-in-law. Looks like you'll have to make the trip."

I locked eyes with Justin, enunciating each word:

"Hubby. Are you absolutely sure it has to be me?"

Stephen whined impatiently: "Mom, stop nagging!"

"Dad's right—you're useless here! Grocery runs are your job!"

Hearing my own flesh-and-blood call me useless, my vision momentarily blurred.

Justin still wavered slightly—

Until Dorothy hooked her pinky around his belt, instantly distracting him.

He scowled: "Didn't you promise to apologize? Fetching medicine is your chance to make up for it."

"If you can't handle this, don't bother coming back!"

"Fine. Understood."

My chest heaved, but I didn't argue.

Head bowed, I grabbed my purse and keys, slipping silently out of the tent.

Before starting the car, I glanced back at two shadows eagerly merging inside and whispered:

"Goodbye, hubby."