“I’ve been tolerating your family for a long time. From the first time we met, they hadn’t left a good impression on me. First, Georgie splashed orange juice on my two–thousand- dollar dress. Then, Selene tried to spread rumors about me cheating in your family chat group. The last time I went to your house for dinner, she cried and gave me a hard time!
“And now, you’re even expecting me to give in when it comes to our marital home? You’re not looking for a daughter–in–law, you’re looking for someone who can take all your nonsense!”
“Celia!” Charles called out, trying to stop me. “How can you talk to my parents like that?!” “Why can’t she?!” Dad reacted, shouting at him. “If my daughter crossed the line talking to your parents that way, then surely it’s not too much for me to yell at you?”
A’big, burly man like Dad was so enraged that his face turned red. He pointed at Charles and continued cursing him out.
When Mom finally came back to her senses, she angrily pulled me back and questioned, ” Why didn’t you tell us about all this? What’s wrong with you?!
+
“Sorry, but our precious daughter can’t afford to marry into your family. We don’t know what kind of treasure Selene is to you. It’s fine if you cherish her, but why should my daughter have to? This wedding is off.”
Those words were light as a breeze, but they gave me the solid support I needed. All the weeks of inner turmoil and back–and–forth finally bore an answer. I felt as though I was
about to cry,
Charles‘ parents immediately panicked when they heard this. “How can this be? We’ve already agreed! Now, you’re saying you won’t go through with it. What will the relatives think?”
“What will they think? Besides, when did we ever agree?”
“But… you’re going back on your word-”
“Mrs. Lisbon!” I could not hold back anymore and interrupted her. “Selene’s child is about to come into the world. Will I be expected to help out with her two kids when she can’t manage them on her own? And when I don’t help, will I be blamed?”
This question immediately stumped the three of them. They probably never even considered these problems, thinking that a happy end awaited us with Selene in the picture. Life did not work like that, however. It did not give us neat, tidy endings.
I would have to hear the children’s screams and cries when I came back from work every day, and I would have to use my salary to pay for the two little tyrants‘ education. Just thinking about it felt impossible.
Charles‘ father tried to continue arguing, “When we have the time, we’ll help out. We won’t trouble you for long.”
“Them living with us is trouble itself,” I said, cutting through the polite facade.
My bluntness made their expressions turn even darker, but I could not be bothered to pay them any more attention.
I had never seen a family fight like this, nor did I ever want to witness it again in the future. The rivalry between mothers–in–law and daughters–in–law was something I had no interest in.
Mom, equally firm, grabbed my hand and said, “Celia has been the only child in our family for 26 years. She’s been pampered and protected by me and her father. If we want her to get married, it’s because we want her to have someone to care for her, not to add to her stress! She can decide on her marriage herself!”
Just like that day, she pulled me out of the place. My parents were once again shielding me as we left the house.
As we walked away, I turned around and glanced at Charles. He was hunched over in the
2/3
Chapter 4
corner, looking down. He was too afraid to say
I could not help but feel a sense of unfamiliarit got to know them. This relationship was not w
corner, looking down. He was too afraid to say
I could not help but feel a sense of unfamiliarit got to know them. This relationship was not w
J
corner, looking down. He was too afraid to say another word to his parents.
I could not help but feel a sense of unfamiliarity. Some men just get worse the longer you got to know them. This relationship was not worth continuing.
Chapter 8
