Chapter 3

I silently reassured myself for over 10 minutes, gradually calming down. I wanted to scroll through some short videos to distract myself.

I had just picked up my phone when I saw Aunt Sophia had shared a video link in the family group chat:

[Pregnant woman miscarries at 4 months, family pet to blame]

[Should pregnant women really keep pets?]

As soon as I saw this headline, I was furious.

Did they install hidden cameras in my house? How do they know everything that happens here?

So I @'ed Aunt Sophia in the group: "Aunt Sophia, what do you mean by sharing this link?"

Aunt Sophia quickly replied:

"Oh, I didn't mean anything by it. I was just chatting with Barbara, and she mentioned you're still keeping a dog while pregnant. She wanted to get rid of it, but you weren't happy about that."

"I thought maybe you didn't know the dangers of keeping a dog, so I specifically found this video."

"You should watch it quickly. Pregnant women really shouldn't keep dogs. Get rid of it as soon as possible!"

My anger, which had just subsided, instantly flared up again.

Using the guise of concern to do things that upset me - isn't this textbook emotional manipulation? Do they really think I'm made of dough to be kneaded at will?

"Aunt Sophia, if you're really that bored, why don't you get a job? I think a matchmaking agency would be perfect. You could clean the office and find a wife for your son while you're at it."

"Your son isn't getting any younger. He's 36 or 37 now, and hasn't had a girlfriend since his divorce. If he waits much longer, I'm afraid he'll be a bachelor for life."

Aunt Sophia immediately sent me a 60-second voice message.

I didn't need to listen to know what she was saying.

"Lily, you're being quite ungrateful! I'm just trying to look out for you!"

"My son is single because his standards are high and he hasn't found anyone he likes. What do you know? Besides, men are in their prime at 40!"

You want to be passive-aggressive? I can play that game too!

In the past, out of respect for Brian's elders, I rarely spoke up in the group chat.

But now that they've repeatedly pushed my boundaries, they can't blame me for fighting back.

"Oh, still saying men are in their prime at 40? With a mother-in-law like you at home, who would dare to pick that flower from your family?"

Aunt Sophia, either rendered speechless by my retort or feeling she'd lost face being talked back to by a younger person, tersely replied:

"I'm not getting involved in your family drama anymore."

After that, she didn't say another word.

Not getting involved?

Good, that's exactly what I want!

Just as I was feeling extremely satisfied, Barbara suddenly pushed open the door.

I was a bit annoyed. No matter what, there should be some basic respect between us, right?

"Mom, don't you know how to knock? You can't just barge in without warning. This isn't your house."

But Barbara didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with her behavior. She haughtily said:

"Why should I knock in my son's house?"

Judging by Barbara's tone, she didn't come with good intentions.

Sure enough, before I could speak, Barbara started interrogating me:

"Lily, let me ask you something. Did you talk back to your Aunt Sophia? How can you be so ungrateful?"

Barbara stood in the doorway, sunlight shining on her.

It highlighted the wrinkles on her face, making her angry expression look particularly twisted and distorted.

My tone softened a bit:

"Yes, I did talk back. She messed up her own son's marriage, and now she's trying to meddle in our family affairs."

"Mom, you need to understand - we're family, Aunt Sophia is just your sister!"

Maybe Barbara saw some logic in what I said, or maybe she had figured it out herself.

Her aggressive demeanor diminished slightly, and she muttered quietly:

"Well, you still shouldn't talk to your Aunt Sophia like that. She is my older sister, after all."

My tone was gentle, but my attitude remained firm:

"Mom, she may be your sister, but that doesn't give her the right to interfere in Brian's and my life."

Barbara was an uneducated woman. Hearing me address her respectfully as "Mom" and maintain a submissive attitude, she lost her anger.

She meekly closed the door, saying: "Alright, alright. You just rest."