Chapter 2

Actually, I initially disagreed with having Barbara come take care of me during my pregnancy.

But I was an older pregnant woman, and my health wasn't great due to years of working hard in my career.

So the doctor specifically advised that I needed to be extra careful in my daily activities.

Brian also said that as my pregnancy progressed, it would be too dangerous for me to go out alone without someone to look after me. He worried about me when he was at work.

The problem was, I had married far from home, and my dad had recently undergone surgery.

My mom was already exhausted taking care of my dad and simply couldn't be in two places at once for me.

I had thought about hiring a nanny, but Brian said an outsider could never be as caring as family.

That's why I finally agreed to let him bring Barbara from their hometown to take care of me.

But as soon as Barbara entered our home, she saw my dog Meatball.

She frowned, clearly disgusted, and said sarcastically:

"Lily, why haven't you gotten rid of this dog yet?"

"You're pregnant now, you can't keep a dog. Dogs carry parasites and bacteria, it's bad for the baby in your belly."

I immediately felt a fire ignite inside me.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm myself:

"Mom, I've had Meatball for 7 years, since before I even met Brian. He's not just a dog, he's family to me."

"Besides, Meatball has had all his shots and medications. He won't affect the baby at all."

Just then, Meatball happened to walk past Barbara. She kicked him disgustedly:

"Oh my, how strange! You actually treat a dog like family? But a dog is just a dog, how can it be family?"

"The most important thing for you right now is to take care of yourself and give me a healthy grandson. Why keep a dog? It's full of germs!"

The more Barbara spoke, the angrier I became. I felt all the blood rush to my head.

My hands shook with rage as I raised my voice:

"Mom, do you understand science at all? Doctors say keeping a dog has no effect on the fetus."

"Go look outside - forget about pregnant women, even families with newborns keep dogs! So many people have dogs, has any child had problems because of it?"

Brian must have noticed I was truly angry, as he quickly ushered me into the bedroom with a mix of coaxing and deception.

He casually closed the bedroom door and tried to placate me with a fawning expression:

"Don't be angry! Don't be angry! My mom is just old and from a small town. She's not really insisting we get rid of Meatball."

"Don't take it personally. She just doesn't understand the science of keeping dogs. You should explain it to her slowly, not argue with her. No matter what, she's still my mom. We should talk things out nicely."

"Look at how you were acting earlier, like an angry rooster. It's not worth it, it's just a dog!"

Brian's attempt at mediation only made me angrier.

He wasn't being a peacemaker at all, he was clearly taking his mom's side and implying I was the one with the problem.

"What do you mean it's not worth it? What do you mean it's just a dog?"

"Brian, when we got married I made it clear that I would never give up Meatball, even when pregnant or having kids. You agreed to that."

"What's going on? Now that your mom's here, you're changing your tune?"

Brian had been fawningly trying to appease me earlier, but now he suddenly changed his attitude.

He yanked off his tie forcefully and threw it on the bed, his whole demeanor radiating impatience. It made me feel like I was looking at a stranger.

"Look, Lily, you're being a bit unreasonable here!"

"My mom left my dad at home alone to come take care of you. Don't you know how to be grateful?"

"Besides, she didn't really say much, just suggested getting rid of the dog. If we don't, we don't. Why are you being so stubborn about this?"

I looked at the man before me, wondering if his soul had been possessed. How could he change so quickly?

Just last night he had held me close and said: "Lily, when the baby is born, I'll definitely be a good father. If it's a girl, I'll protect you both. If it's a boy, we'll protect you together!"

In just one night, as soon as his mom arrived, he had changed completely?

This argument ended with Brian storming out and slamming the door.

Before leaving, he coldly tossed out one last comment:

"Fine, you're pregnant and your emotions are unstable. Think it over when you've calmed down. I'm going to see if my mom needs any help!"

No comfort, no explanation.

With one flippant sentence, he pushed all the blame onto my emotions.

As if I was the villain who started the whole dispute.

It made me doubt myself - was it really just pregnancy mood swings making me overly sensitive?

Maybe Barbara didn't really mean what she said about getting rid of Meatball?

She's older, after all. It's normal for her to nag about everything she sees.

Forget it, no matter what, she's Brian's mother and the grandmother of the child I'm carrying.

For Brian's sake, I'll be more tolerant and not take offense at everything she says.

After all, he's caught between his wife and his mother. It must be difficult for him too.