The moment my father-in-law’s body was wheeled into the crematorium, my mother-in-law began dry heaving uncontrollably. As soon as my father-in-law was taken into the crematorium, my mother-in-law started gagging and retching. My husband and mother-in-law insisted on keeping this “posthumous child.” Out of concern, I gently mentioned that, at her age, her health might not allow it. In return, they ruthlessly beat me up. Who would’ve thought that, a few months later, my husband would end up with a little Black brother?! “Ugh… ugh…” My husband, Daniel, quickly rushed to steady her. A flicker of panic crossed her face before she suddenly straightened up, blushing slightly. “I… I’m pregnant,” she announced shyly. What?! I blinked, shaking my head as if I’d misheard her. Smiling sweetly, she repeated, “Daniel, you’re about to become a big brother! The baby is already three months along.” I glanced at the roaring flames of the furnace and then back at my mother-in-law, who was nearly sixty. My mind went blank. It took me a long moment to recover my voice, and when I did, I asked hesitantly, “Mom, are you planning to keep the baby?” Before I could even finish my sentence, Daniel’s hand came down hard across my face. “How dare you speak to Mom like that?” he roared. “That’s my little brother she’s carrying, and you dare to have such cruel thoughts?!” Clutching my burning cheek, I licked the blood pooling in my mouth from my loosened teeth. Tears streamed down my face as the pain radiated through me. “But Mom is already fifty-eight,” I tried to explain through sobs. “I’m just worried about her health.” Suddenly, my mother-in-law ran toward the furnace, wailing dramatically, “Honey, wait for me! Don’t leave me behind!” “Come back and take me with you! I don’t want to stay here and be a burden to anyone anymore!” Daniel grabbed her around the waist, holding her back. “Mom, as long as I’m here, this family will always belong to the Du name. I’ll handle everything. Don’t listen to this dog barking!” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. So, in Daniel’s eyes, I was nothing more than a dog. Relatives attending the funeral gathered around, their voices rising in condemnation. “How could you be so heartless? Mom always treated you like her own daughter!” “Exactly! A woman has the right to choose to give birth, no matter her age!” “That’s your little brother in there! As the eldest daughter-in-law, you should act like a mother figure to him. How could you think something so vile?” “Late-life pregnancies are a miracle! It’s a blessing from above, and it should be cherished.” Daniel’s uncle slapped his thigh, declaring, “This child must be born. It’s the last piece of my brother’s legacy!” My mother-in-law, her face glowing with pride, sat in the center of the crowd, basking in their congratulations. Ding. My phone buzzed. It was a text from the bank, reminding me about our overdue mortgage payment. I stared at the pitiful balance in my account and laughed bitterly. For three years, Daniel and I hadn’t dared to have kids because we were saving every penny to pay off the house. “Let’s wait until the timing is right,” he’d always say. Now, this man—who couldn’t even afford a child of his own—wanted to raise a baby for his mother? He must’ve lost his mind. Fury surged through me, and I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Sure, go ahead and have the baby!” I shouted. “Do you think having it is the end of the story?” “Doctor visits, hospital stays, diapers, formula—none of that is free!” “Fine, have the baby! But who’s going to pay for all of it?!” The room fell silent, the previous noise replaced by an eerie quiet. My mother-in-law burst into shrill sobs. “I can’t live like this anymore! I’m old and unwanted everywhere I go!” “What did I do wrong? This is the last gift my husband left me. How could I possibly abandon it?” Daniel stormed toward me, his face twisted with rage. He kicked me hard in the stomach, sending me sprawling to the floor. Grabbing a fistful of my hair, he slapped me repeatedly across the face. “You’ve got some nerve, don’t you?” “This is my dad’s posthumous child—his final gift to us.” “I can’t believe I married such a vicious woman!” His bloodshot eyes bulged, veins popping on his forehead. He looked like a demon thirsting for blood. For the first time, I truly saw him for who he was. I struggled, but my strength was no match for his. The relatives stood by, watching silently. No one stepped in to stop him. In fact, they chimed in, their words cutting deeper than Daniel’s blows. “If I had a wife like her, I’d have beaten her 800 times by now.” “Disgraceful! A bad wife ruins three generations!” Blood blurred my vision, and through the crimson haze, their faces twisted into grotesque, ghastly masks. It wasn’t until a crematorium staff member intervened, shouting, “What are you doing?! Hitting someone is illegal! If you don’t stop, I’m calling the police!” Daniel finally let go, leaving me crumpled on the ground. The crowd surrounded my mother-in-law like loyal subjects, escorting her out with their heads held high. Not a single one of them looked back at me. I felt like a deflated balloon, all the strength and spirit drained from my body.
I thought Daniel was just acting out because he couldn’t handle the shock of losing his father so suddenly. So, instead of calling the police, I went to the hospital alone to get my injuries treated. But as soon as I walked through the hospital doors, I saw Daniel helping his mother walk inside. He frowned at me in irritation, barking, “What are you standing there for? Go pay the bill already!” Before I could respond, he shoved a thick stack of payment slips into my hands. I glanced at the total—and my vision went black for a second. Ten thousand dollars?! For reference, Daniel and I together only make $8,000 a month. “So many tests?” I asked, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice. Daniel glared at me, his temper flaring. “What? Do you know any pregnant woman who skips prenatal care?” “Mom’s older, which makes it even more important. We can’t afford to take any risks without a full examination.” Oh, so now Daniel suddenly cares about her age? Newsflash: women over 35 are considered high-risk pregnancies. Mother-in-law is pushing 60, and she still wants to have a baby? If people heard about this, they’d laugh until their jaws fell off. Seeing that I hadn’t moved, my mother-in-law chimed in with a passive-aggressive tone, “Oh, son, it’s fine. If Claire doesn’t want to pay, I’ll just skip the tests.” “Sure, I’m old, and my health isn’t great, but for your father’s sake, I’ll grit my teeth and push through.” Daniel’s rage exploded. “Are you out of your mind? Do you know the difference between a pregnancy checkup and your stupid money?!” “Is Mom’s health less important than your measly dollars?!” My chest tightened like it was being crushed in a vice. I couldn’t breathe. This is the man I’ve loved for years? The same man who slapped me just for voicing concern? The same man now threatening me over this? Fine. If they refuse to listen to reason, I’ll respect their fate. I forced a smile and said sweetly, “Honey, what are you saying?” “Of course, nothing’s more important than Mom’s health. We absolutely have to do the tests—the more expensive, the better.” “Let’s make sure she gets a full, head-to-toe, thorough examination.” My sudden agreement seemed to please Daniel immensely. He sneered, “Finally, you’re making sense. And while you’re at it, ask the doctor if there are any additional tests we can add.” I nodded enthusiastically. “Will do!” Mother-in-law’s doctor, however, frowned as he spoke to me. “The patient’s age is far too advanced, and she has several pre-existing conditions. She’s not fit for pregnancy.” “You should seriously consider your options as a family. If this continues, there could be significant risks to her life.” I laughed quietly to myself. Significant risks? Perfect. Let’s see how far this reckless stupidity will take them. Putting on a concerned face, I said, “Doctor, this is my father-in-law’s posthumous child. My mother-in-law and husband are adamant about keeping it. As a daughter-in-law, I can’t really say much.” “But if there are any other tests she needs, please add them. We want to do everything possible.” The doctor tapped his pen against the desk. “In my professional opinion, your mother-in-law’s body won’t even last until full term.” “Later on, you’ll be looking at astronomical medical bills. I urge you to reconsider.” With the newly added tests, I practically skipped back to Daniel and my mother-in-law, waving the stack of bills like a trophy. Beaming, I praised my mother-in-law, “Mom, you’re amazing! The doctor said you’re a medical miracle—a real hero!” Mother-in-law’s face lit up with pride, her mouth curling into a self-satisfied smile. “We older folks may be up there in years, but our bodies are strong as ever,” she boasted. “Not like you young people—always complaining about this pain or that ache. It’s pathetic!” I smiled but didn’t respond to her nonsense. Fine, let them bask in their arrogance for now. The storm is already brewing, and it’s coming straight for them.
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