6
It had taken me over a year to get that ticket.
For that year, I worked as a cleaner and personal assistant for a circle of wealthy socialites. I learned their habits, their preferences,
and debased myself completely, offering services far beyond my pay.
I’d taken a taxi to one woman’s house at three in the morning just to satisfy her strange fetish of riding someone like an animal.
Another one liked her feet licked. I got a fungal infection in my mouth from it that took half a year to cure.
Whenever I felt I couldn’t take it anymore, I would think of my son and tell myself that once I raised him to be successful, everythi
ng would be alright.
Two weeks before his birthday, I threatened those women. I told them if they didn’t help me get that ticket, I would publicize the services” I had provided. Their husbands were all prominent figures who couldn’t afford the scandal, so they gritted their teeth and
called the strings.
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pulled the strings.
They made me kneel on a block of ice until it melted before they gave me the ticket. My knees were so frozen and raw that I coul-
dn’t stand for three days.
But at the time, I was happy to do it.
A ticket that precious…. how could I give it to that ungrateful wolf a second time? I was just toying with them.
Right now, I smiled and nodded. “Of course. Your dad is so capable, the backbone of this family. I’m sure he can get a ticket in a
single day. Right, Patrick?”
Feeling the mockery in my gaze, Patrick clenched and unclenched his fists before finally dragging me into the stairwell.
Once he was sure Daniel couldn’t hear, his voice softened.
“Eliza, I know someone else must have put you up to this. You’re his mother. You could never be this cruel to him. Listen to me, this
opportunity is incredibly important for our son. No matter how angry you are, you can’t take it out on him like this.”
He pulled out a coupon and handed it to me. “Here. You’re always saying you’re tired, right? I have a coupon for a foot massage
parlor. You can have it. It’s 20% off.”
I stared at it for a second, then burst out laughing.
“Patrick, you’re so generous. Such a precious gift! Am I even worthy? I don’t think so. After slaving away for you for twenty years,
how could I possibly accept the grace of a 20% off foot massage coupon?”
A flash of anger crossed his eyes, but he quickly masked it with a gentle expression.
“Once our son goes abroad, I’ll take you on a vacation. We won’t get divorced. We’ll finally have our honeymoon. You were always
complaining about that, right? This time, we’ll do it. We’ll go to Hawaii, just like you always wanted!”
His tone was like he was cooing at a toddler, his eyes filled with the certainty of victory.
It was all my fault. My spineless humility in the past had made him think he could manipulate me so easily. He’d say a man’s place is at work and a woman’s is at home, and I’d take on every single chore. I woke up before the chickens and went to bed after the
dogs. Every night, I still had to give him a massage.
I thought he was my family, my home. It took me a lifetime to realize I was just his free maid and a breeding machine. He wouldn’t ever go with me to buy clothes on the weekend. Once, I got caught in the rain while grocery shopping and asked him to pick me up;
he told me to just run home. If I was a minute late coming home, he’d yell that I wasn’t fit to be a mother.
Snapping back to the present, I stared at him coldly, saying nothing.
He sensed my disdain, and a flicker of nervousness entered his eyes.
“What the hell? I’ve already backed down, what more do you want? Don’t be so greedy, Eliza!”
The door creaked open.
My mother–in–law rushed in, pushed Patrick aside, and dropped to her knees in front of me.
Tears streamed down her face as she clutched my clothes, her voice a choked sob.
“Eliza, all these years, I’ve always thought of you as my own daughter. It’s just my personality–my words are harsh but my heart is
soft–so it was hard for you to see my true feelings. In my heart, you’re more my child than Patrick is. That’s why I spoiled Danny. He’s your flesh and blood, after all. My love for him was an extension of my love for you.”
“You were always so strict with him, so I thought I should balance it out, be a little nicer to him That’s why we clashed so often. But
really, I just wanted what was best for you, for this family Mom knows you’ve been wronged. I’m on my knees apologizing Please
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really, I just wanted what was best for you, for this family. Mom knows you’ve been wronged. I’m on my knees apologizing. Please, calm down and get the ticket back for Danny.”
Patrick stared in disbelief, then quickly tried to pull his mother up. “Mom, get up! What is she, that she deserves you kneeling to her?”
“Get away from me, you ungrateful son!”
In front of me, she raised her hand and slapped Patrick across the face.
The performance was so good, I almost applauded. So flexible, so willing to stoop. As expected of an educated person, she was a master of psychological warfare. She knew I was soft–hearted, that no matter how angry I was, a few kind words would always win me over. Once, when I was upset, she bought me a jar of candy, and the next day she was ordering me around as a free nanny for her other son’s baby.
I said calmly, “How many times have you and Dad told me my parenting methods were wrong? When I made him do his homework, you’d secretly tear it up. When I told him not to eat so much junk food, you’d hide boxes of snacks for him. When I told him to play fewer video games, you’d secretly buy him a phone so he could play all night.”
“Later, his eyes got so infected from lack of sleep that you blamed me, saying I was an unfit mother who didn’t know how to care for her child. The funny part is, he believed you. He hated me so much he deliberately smeared dirt in my eyes so they would get infected too.”
“I raised a cat once. When I was sick, it brought me its food. I raised a son, and all he does is ask me why I’m not dead yet.”
I had never said these things to their faces before.
They looked at each other, both realizing this wasn’t just a temper tantrum. Panic was visible in their eyes.
My mother–in–law was at a loss for words. Her lips moved, but only one sentence came out: “But… he’s still your flesh and blood!”
I laughed coldly. “Rotten flesh. Not cutting it off is suicide.”
Patrick resorted to his old threat. “You remember what you said today. After this, I really, really won’t let you see him again!”
He stared at me, his eyes tense, waiting for me to change my mind.
I burst out laughing. “That’s wonderful. I hope you keep your word. Please, don’t ever come begging me with him in tow.”
His eyes widened. “Eliza, don’t think I can’t actually get the ticket! I just couldn’t be bothered!”
I shrugged, done with the conversation, opened the door, and walked out.
Daniel’s head snapped toward me, an arrogant expression on his face as if he expected me to apologize.
It was only when I walked right past him that he started cursing me in a fit of rage.
I wasn’t angry or upset. I didn’t look back. I went home, closed the door, put on a face mask, and watched a TV show, as relaxed as could be.
Three nights later, a furious argument erupted next door.
The noise was so loud you could hear the details from the ground floor.
The reason was simple: Patrick had spent three days not only failing to get the ticket but also losing three thousand dollars in the process. Apparently, the final list for the US program had been confirmed.
Daniel had missed his chance.
