3: 3
That evening, Nat's sister and his mother showed up at my door.
Annette walked in and swept her eyes around the place, her gaze crawling over every corner of the living room like a searchlight.
Nat and I were both office professionals, and over the years we'd gradually replaced the make-do furniture and appliances from our wedding with nicer things.
Annette's eyes lit up, and her tone went sour.
"Gladdie, looks like life's been getting cushy for you and Nat these past few years."
Her eyes fixed on my wrist and caught that I wasn't wearing the wedding one.
"Gladdie, where's that big gold bracelet?"
It was too heavy, so I'd stopped wearing it long ago and kept it in the safe in the living room. This small one was the one Nat bought me for our anniversary.
I ignored the question.
"Is there something you two need?"
Annette said nothing, and my mother-in-law put on a pained face.
"Gladys, your sister-in-law's marrying off her son, and money's tight, you can see that. You and Nat are doing well. One gold bracelet is nothing to you. Just help your big sister out."
"The two families do the betrothal ceremony the day after tomorrow. Give the gold bracelet to your sister so she can get it cleaned up."
I honestly hadn't thought they could be this shameless.
Hadn't I made my refusal clear enough in the group chat?
And now they came knocking at my door, bold as anything, to ask again?
"Mom, this thing you're asking, is it a loan or are you just taking it?"
My mother-in-law glanced at Annette and gave a little smile.
"We're family, don't put it so coldly. Your own nephew is getting married. As his aunt by marriage, you lend a hand, and she'll remember it kindly."
"So it's taking, then?"
My mother-in-law's face froze. Annette said with a smile, "Gladdie, it's not like you don't have a bracelet to wear. The bride's side isn't asking for betrothal money, just an eighty-eight-gram gold bracelet. Your nephew finally found a girl he likes. You can't just watch the wedding fall apart, can you?"
I looked at her and gave her two words.
"No."
Annette's face changed in an instant.
"Gladys, do you really have to be like this? The bride's family already knows about this bracelet. Are you set on humiliating me in front of the in-laws?"
"I already sent them the photos. If you won't hand it over now, are you trying to force your nephew to call off the engagement?"
Ridiculous.
She'd already sent the photos to the bride's side.
This wasn't about being short on cash.
She'd planned to pass my bracelet off as the betrothal gift all along.
I looked at her straight on. "Does the bride's family know the bracelet is mine?"
Annette's eyes darted away.
"We're all family, why draw lines like that..."
"So they don't know, then?"
Annette got flustered. "Don't go running your mouth out there."
I smiled.
"You dare ask for it, I'll dare say it."
Annette went pale and glared hard at me.
"Gladys, you really want to burn this bridge?"
"You're the one who was shameless enough to take my gold first."
She ground her teeth, furious, grabbed my mother-in-law, and left.
Not long after, Annette posted two pictures in the group chat.
One was a photo from my wedding, wearing the new bracelet.
The other showed it worn and dirty.
I recognized it. Annette had taken it over New Year's while I was cooking at my mother-in-law's place.
The caption read: "Lent her the new bracelet and look how filthy she wears it. The ceremony's the day after tomorrow, I want it back to clean it, and she won't even give it to me."
The relatives jumped in right away to take her side.
"Gladys, the betrothal ceremony is a big deal. Give it to your sister quick, don't let this wreck the whole wedding."
"Right, you've worn it for years now, that's about enough. Don't hold up your sister's important business."
The second aunt was more blunt: "If you love it that much, buy your sister a new one. Don't make things hard for her, she's having a rough time."
I looked at those messages and replied straight out: "Whoever thinks she's having a rough time can buy it for her."
Annette finally couldn't hold back.
"Gladys, do you have to push it this far?"
"You're the ones who pushed it this far."
My mother-in-law posted: "Gladys, so you don't care about the whole family's face anymore?"
"If I cared about face, I wouldn't take my things to prop up yours."
With that, I left the chat.
