“Then, isn’t your family going to help to raise him?”
“All of them are busy with their own stuff.”
Tiffany’s eyes reddened with tears and she quickly got up, using “I’m going to make tea,” as an excuse before making her way into the kitchen.
Avril kept silent at that.
She glanced at the child who was sound asleep, then at the house that the former bought with the money she borrowed from Levant and she managed to put the puzzles together.
If she had someone she could rely on, she wouldn’t have chosen to raise the kid herself and borrow money to buy a house, right?
It seems like she’s living quite a miserable life.
A few moments later, Tiffany came out with a cup of tea in hand and she placed it in front of Avril. “Please have some tea.”
“Thank you.”
Avril sympathized with the unlucky woman all of a sudden.
A knock on the door sounded the moment she lifted the cup and Tiffany went to open the door.
Avril took a sip on the tea but couldn’t make up what it was. All she knew was that it was bitter and it couldn’t be compared to the ones she normally drank.
She put down the cup and heard a sharp voice coming from the outside.
“Do you know what everyone is saying about you not getting married? Even your Dad and I are embarrassed by it!”
“I only ended up like this because I got married to someone so casually during my early years. I will never get married so easily from now on. I’ve already moved out. So stop forcing me to get married, okay?”
“Moved out? You’re still my daughter even if you’ve moved out. Your business is my business! You must meet the blind date Aunt Willow arranged for you.”
“He’s older than me by nine years, Mom. I don’t think we’re suited.”
“You’re still complaining because he’s older? You are such a brat! You complain when they’re older yet you also complain when they’re younger. Just what kind of man are you looking for?”
“This is my life, Mom. Can’t you just let me decide?”
“Let you decide? Is there someone that you like or have you started going out with someone?”
“Mom! How can you say that? It’s been only less than two years since I got divorced. I have to work and earn money besides taking care of my son. How do I make time to go out with someone?”
“Well, if there isn’t anyone, then you’ll go for the blind date! Just hurry up and get married to someone!”
The woman left angrily after she was done talking. Tiffany clenched her fists tightly and her eyes welled up with tears.
I have nothing left after the divorce and it’s not easy to raise a child alone. How I wish my family would help out a little. Well, even if they couldn’t, I just hope that they would say some comforting words. At least I’d feel better. But all I got were complaints and criticism.
She felt that her mother was just like a machine that collects rumors and gossip. One day she’d hear some things from someone and another day she’d listen to some stupid suggestions from someone else. Mom would only bring home all these rumors and gossip and criticize me after that, saying that I’m an embarrassment and forced me to get married soon.
Tiffany also felt that she might have gamophobia. She would tremble with fear with just the thought of her previous marriage. She would rather raise her child and suffer alone than go through getting married again.
But her mother had never thought about what she had gone through, and rarely consoled her too. The former was a prideful woman and only cared about what her neighbors would say when her daughter wasn’t getting married; hence Tiffany was an embarrassment to her. That was why she kept forcing her daughter to get married as soon as possible.
Tiffany wiped away her tears and turned back to the living room. Her son had woken up by then and she quickly went to coax him. Avril stayed with them for a while more. She said while patted the child’s head, “He’s cute.”
“Thanks.”
“Was that your mom earlier?”
“Yeah,” Tiffany replied with a nod.
“Why did she treat you like that? Are you her biological daughter?”
“Yes.” She nodded again.
She was her mother’s biological daughter, but her mother never liked her since she was young. One time, when she was six, her mother chased her out of the house all because she argued with her brother. Tiffany was terribly scared as she watched the doors shut tight and she started wailing right away. In the end, her grandmother was the one who let her in.
She knew that she would have to earn money and survive on her own by the age of sixteen.
“You should decide when you want to get married. It’s your freedom. Your mom can give you her opinions, but she doesn’t have the right to force you.”
