Chapter 3

I sat there alone in the darkness, let out another sigh, then stood up and went back to my bedroom to pack.

Andrew was right. There was no point arguing under the same roof.

And taking care of a baby wasn't easy. Maybe after a few days on their own, they would realize how much I had done. Maybe they would even call and beg me to come back. Perhaps that would finally let Jessica understand what I'd been through.

As I packed my suitcase, I suddenly remembered the late-night snack I had prepared for Jessica in the kitchen—beef.

The beef was something Jessica had bought herself.

She didn't eat the beef I bought. She insisted on picking out this one pound of expensive beef herself, scrutinizing every piece until my eyes hurt. I had thought she just believed pricey meat was better.

Now that I thought about it, maybe it was another way to pick a fight, another way to give me extra work.

Even so, annoyed as I was, I still went to pick up the beef. I couldn't bring myself to waste it.

But just as I stood there holding the beef, unsure whether to eat it myself or leave it for Jessica, I heard her voice coming from the master bedroom.

She said, "I heard everything you said to your mom in the living room. What, are you turning into a mama's boy now? Are you taking her side?"

Andrew's voice was quieter. The door was only half closed, but I could hear him clearly.

The same Andrew who had just urged me to go out and relax was now telling a different story.

He explained, "No, no, that's not it. I was just trying to get her out of the house as soon as possible so she wouldn't upset you.

"And let's be honest, we're the real family. She's just my mom. She can't be with me for the rest of my life. Of course I'm on your side.

"Don't worry. She's soft, not tough. She's probably packing her bags and leaving right now. Once she's gone, she'll miss us and the baby. She'll definitely come back to see us. That's when we ask her for the money. We'll get it back for sure."

At that moment, the beef in my hands felt unbearably heavy. I lost my footing and dropped it onto the floor, the sound cutting straight through the conversation inside.

The master bedroom door flew open almost immediately.

They clearly knew I had overheard everything, but instead of looking guilty, they looked irritated, almost embarrassed in that angry way.

They spoke at the same time. "Why were you eavesdropping on us?"

Before I could even say a word, Jessica looked at the beef scattered all over the floor and completely lost it. "Who are you putting on a show for, smashing things like this? That beef was expensive. You owe me for it."

Andrew dropped the act too. "And hurry up and make another one.

"And as for the four hundred and ten thousand dollars, fine, don't pay it. You raised me for twenty years. Let's say thirty thousand a year, that's six hundred thousand. The rest can count as your reward for giving birth to me.

"So now we're even. From now on, you're not my mom, and I'm not your son. Get out of my house. You're not welcome here anymore.

"And don't say I'm being unfilial. I learned it from you. You didn't let me see my dad or my grandma back then. I'm just following your example."

My heart went completely cold.

When I divorced my abusive, alcoholic ex-husband, people warned me that sons never truly understand their mothers. They said I would have lived better if I hadn't held on to my son.

I didn't believe it.

I thought Andrew was the child I carried for ten months, the one I nearly died giving birth to. How could he not be on my side?

But now, I finally believed it.

I let out a long sigh. "Fine. I'll have a moving company come tomorrow. After that, we're completely done."

When they heard "moving company," both of them looked pleased at first.

Then Jessica rolled her eyes. "Honestly, too much money and nowhere to spend it. You barely have anything, and you still need movers?

"But that's fine. I'm a traditional woman. If Andrew says we're even, then we're even. Tomorrow I'll be watching you move. I won't let you take anything that belongs to me and Andrew."

With that, the two of them walked back into the bedroom, smug as ever.