From outside the room, Dale’s wailing grew even louder and shriller. “That wretched woman! How dare she make my brother treat me like this!”
Then came the pounding on my door.”
“Roxanne, open up! Let’s talk this out!” my mother–in–law shouted, slapping the door repeatedly.
The loud noise they made was giving me a splitting headache.
“Roxanne, come on,” Colin joined in. “Let’s just talk calmly.“>
Still, I ignored them and shoved in my earbuds, curling up on the bed. My stomach also started to ache. I couldn’t tell if it was from the stress or something worse.
Eventually, the hallway went quiet.
After everything that happened today, I made up my mind. Tomorrow, I’d go to the office and have HR retract Dale’s offer. Feeling physically exhausted, I drifted off into a deep sleep.
The next morning, I was jolted awake by the sound of a power drill whining right outside
Then came Dale’s voice.
my
door.
My stomach dropped. What now?
When I opened the door, I froze in place.
Dale had hired a locksmith, and right there at my front door, they were trying to change the lock on my home.}
“What do you think you’re doing?!” I yelled. “Changing the locks without the owner’s consent is illegal!“}
The locksmith paused immediately and looked at her, confused.}
“Wait… didn’t you say you were the homeowner?“>
Before she could answer, my mother–in–law jumped up from the couch, got in my face, and shoved me hard. “We are the owners! Stop making trouble!“}
As i wasn’t prepared for the force of the push, my back slammed into the wall, and a sharp pain shot through my belly like lightning. “Colin!” I cried out, clutching my stomach. My voice was trembling. “It hurts–the baby!”
Hearing my call, Colin came running from the kitchen. The moment he saw me doubled over, he snapped at his mom, “Mom! She’s carrying your grandchild! How could you push her?!“}
For a second, I felt a flicker of relief. Maybe this time, he was finally standing up for me.
But then he turned to me, his face full of irritation, and scolded, “Your belly’s already this big. Can’t you just stay calm for once?” Stay calm?
I was defending my own home, and he wanted me to just sit still and let them take over?
I looked at him and thought back to all the vows he made at our wedding Turned out, none of them meant anything when his mom and sister were involved.
While we were talking, the locksmith finished his job. Dale smugly tossed the new keys up and down in her hand like a prize.
“See this? From now on, this house is mine. Without my permission, you’re not setting foot inside again. You should just quit your job, pack your things, and go home with Mom. Someone there can take care of you, and you’ll be more comfortable. But if you don’t, I’ll tell my brother to drag you back himself. And when you stop showing up to work, your company will fire you anyway,” she sneered.”
My mother–in–law clicked her tongue and added with a look of disgust, “If you hadn’t been so stubborn, we wouldn’t have had to waste all this money on a locksmith.“”
I leaned against the wall, my hand on my belly as the pain pulsed again and again.§
I wondered if the baby could feel this despair, too.
Then I looked at the three of them, so smug, so sure of themselves, and suddenly, I smiled.§
Word by word, I said clearly, “Fine. I’ll go resign right now.”
Dale blinked in surprise. She clearly hadn’t expected me to give in so easily.
Meanwhile, Colin’s expression shifted. He looked unsure. “Roxanne, don’t do anything rash…”
“Rash?” I cut him off. “I’m a pregnant woman who just got shoved into a wall and nearly miscarried, and I’m the one being rash? Colin, you just stood there and let your mom and your sister treat your wife like dirt. What kind of man are you?“}}
But just then, Dale rolled her eyes and snapped, “Oh, drop the act! You’re just going to be a full–time housewife from now on. When my brother tells you to go east, let’s see if you dare go west!“}
