Mother-in-law Approves of Husband and Mistress Having Children

When I got back home, Molly immediately grabbed my hand, saying, "Valeria, I heard your family's house is being demolished. Is that true?"

I thought about it for a moment. It was true, so I nodded.

Seeing me nod, Molly's smile widened.

She pulled me over to sit on the couch, not even letting me put down the groceries.

With tears in her eyes, she looked at me and said, "Valeria, you know my second son. He wasn't good at school since he was a child, so now he can only do odd jobs. He's 30 and still not married. How could I not be worried as a mother?"

As she spoke, she dramatically pounded her chest, looking like a concerned mother fretting over her son.

I cautiously asked, "Molly, are you suggesting we give the demolition compensation to Dario?"

She immediately jumped up, waving her hands.

"How could that be! Your money can't just go to my son like that. I'm just asking if you, as the sister-in-law, could help him out a little with some money to buy a house."

I was confused. How was this "helping" any different from just giving the money away?

"But the house isn't in my name. It's under my mother's," I replied.

I wasn't a fool. Molly favored her younger son so much that giving him this money would be like throwing it into the wind, never to return.

After thinking it over, I grabbed her hand and said earnestly.

"How about this, Molly? I'll ask my mom to lend him the money, but how about he writes me an IOU?"

Molly's eyes widened in disbelief, as if she had just heard the most ridiculous thing.

"Valeria, that's not right! How could you ask your brother-in-law to write an IOU?"

Before I married Trent, I was the little princess in my family and naturally had a bit of a temper.

But in recent years, I toned it down after having a child, knowing that parents were their children's first teachers.

I crossed my legs and leaned back on the couch. "Molly, I said he could write the IOU, or I can't lend him anything. The house isn't even in my name, so where am I supposed to get the money from?"

I glanced at my phone and then looked up at her again.

"He's 30 years old and can achieve nothing. Doesn't he reflect on that? If he needs his mother to borrow money for his wedding, won't his future wife start paying off debts after they get married? You've spoiled him, haven't you?"

Furious, Molly pointed at me and scolded, "Who do you think you are? You were like a princess in your family before, but now you've married my son!"

She glanced at my belly, her words dripping with disdain.

"A woman who can't even give birth to a son means nothing!"

Hearing that, I couldn't hold back anymore. I slapped her hard across the face.

She clutched her cheek, staring at me in shock.

I rubbed my stinging hand and smiled at her.

"Don't try to provoke me. You knew my temper before we got married. I only hold back out of respect for your age, but don't push your luck."

Just as I finished speaking, Alanna returned with Trent.

I went over to pick up Alanna. "How was dance class? Was it easy to learn?"

Alanna nuzzled my face and kissed me. "Mommy, it was fun! The dance teacher is so pretty. I like her!"

I pinched her nose and carried the groceries into the kitchen.

Outside, I could hear Trent asking Molly what had happened to her face.

Molly didn't say much, brushing it off with some excuse.

Later that night, as we were going to bed, Trent pulled me up from the bed and confronted me.

"What happened to Mom's face? Don't tell me it's an allergy. Do you think I'd believe that?"