Sebastian listened for a long time with furrowed brows, his expression growing increasingly grim. Finally, he reluctantly hung up.
Feeling a little guilty, my mom poked her head out of the kitchen and asked tentatively, “Sebastian, is your mom okay? What did she say?”
Sebastian sighed and replied, “Mom said we should treat everyone equally. Since we bought Mother-in-law a car worth over 140,000 dollars, we should buy her something decent. She doesn’t ask for much; a large apartment in my hometown for around 280,000 dollars will do. She said she’s worked hard all her life and deserves to enjoy life. If we don’t agree, she won’t come back.”
My mother immediately exploded and complained, “Is she crazy? A 280,000-dollar apartment? Why doesn’t she just let it go?! Forget about coming back; the family will survive without her.”
I quickly winked at my mom, urging her to be quiet. However, my mom, already furious, didn’t want to cooperate and added, “Sebastian, Hannah, you need to think this through carefully. No one’s money comes out of nowhere. If you’re spending 280,000 dollars on a house every time you have an argument, she might as well ask for a villa next time.”
I was so distraught and quickly found an excuse to get my mother out of the way. Then, I pulled Sebastian to sit down and said, “Honey, wasn’t the two-story house in our hometown just renovated? Why are you suddenly looking for a large flat?”
Sebastian was silent for a moment before speaking vaguely, “It’s for my brother. He’s dating a girlfriend. Her family is well off and she specifically wants a large flat in the city center with a river view, or she won’t get married…”
I instantly understood what was going on. It seemed Rebecca was finding ways to buy a house for my younger brother-in-law, Derick.
Two years ago, Rebecca said my younger brother-in-law needed a nice car for his business, otherwise he’d be looked down upon, so she took 84,000 dollars from me.
Last year, Rebecca said she was not feeling well and needed a comprehensive checkup and she asked me for another 28,000 dollars.
Every time I hesitated, she’d bring up the same excuse: “Hannah, a sister-in-law is like a mother. Isn’t it your duty to support Derick? When he’s successful and makes a fortune, I’ll definitely pay you back!”
In the end, the money went out without a single sound. Suppressing my anger, I discussed it with my husband, “My mom was a bit harsh, but it’s the truth. Our family doesn’t need these millions, but there has to be a limit to everything. Your mom keeps doing this over and over again. Isn’t this a bottomless pit?”
Sebastian nodded and replied, “I know. My mom went too far this time. I’ll go back and talk her down.”
In the end, although we didn’t buy the large apartment, we did transfer 140,000 dollars and Rebecca reluctantly returned. But after returning, she had a sullen face, as if I owed her millions.
I heard that she gave in and returned because during her two days back home, my brother-in-law and future sister-in-law thought she was in the way and gave her the cold shoulder every day.
But for some reason, after Rebecca returned, Sebastian’s face became even gloomier. He frowned all day and after getting off work, he’d rather smoke in the garage than go upstairs early to face his mother.
Rebecca also ignored Sebastian. But it was Sebastian who had wanted to bring her home to live happily ever after out of concern for his mother. Why had this mother and son become so estranged now?
But this was ultimately their own matter and I couldn’t interfere. I just wanted a little peace. Alas, the storm was coming. One day, I was in a meeting when Nancy called anxiously. “Hannah! It’s terrible! Your mother’s been beaten! She’s in the emergency room at the Akso Hospital! Come quickly!”
My mind went blank. I grabbed my bag and rushed out, driving as fast as I could to the hospital.
In the emergency room, my mother lay on the bed, the gauze on her forehead still oozing blood and the sterilization tray beside her was filled with blood-stained cotton balls.
I was trembling and crying. “Mom?”
