My Mother-in-law's Assistance

I couldn't help but smile as I pulled out the proof of parental disownment I had bought for 20 thousand dollars, brandishing it for everyone to see.

"Look closely, everyone! He's the one who signed this document to sever our ties! He was the one who cheated and left his wife and kids! Now he's harassing me for money, demanding a whopping 100 thousand dollars! I'm just a lowly staff member. He's trying to squeeze the life out of me!"

Pretending to be sad, I forced out a couple of tears.

Sure enough, people tended to lean towards the seemingly weaker side.

Watching me, they seemed to believe I was genuine, and soon, the crowd turned their accusations towards Greyson. Some even pulled out their phones, ready to document his misdeeds.

Realizing the tide had turned against him, Greyson panicked and lashed out.

"Victoria! I raised you! I may not have done it with great flair, but I've put in my share of effort. You owe me!"

He pointed an accusatory finger at me, his voice dripping with indignation.

Hearing his old, tired arguments only fueled my determination.

I tossed the document at him. "Greyson, open your eyes! You signed this proof of disownment with your own hand, which means I, Victoria, have no obligation to give you another dime from this moment forward."

"But I'm still your father!" Greyson shouted.

"Yes, you are by blood! But let's be real. You contributed nothing more than sperm to my upbringing. Mom raised me entirely on her own! All you've ever done is keep your hand out for money. What else can you possibly offer?"

"You'll regret this!" Greyson fumed, his face red with anger.

The crowd, now emboldened, began to jeer at him. Greyson, realizing he was losing this battle, spat on the ground in frustration and hastily made his exit, muttering under his breath.

Even though I was married now, with a loving husband by my side, the pain of my upbringing still lingered in my heart.

I often wondered why my parents disliked me so much yet still chose to have me.

It wasn't until I overheard my mother, who had always doted on me, boasting proudly to others, that I understood.

"Having a daughter is never a loss. Just feed her some scraps, and she'll be grateful. Once she learns to help out, I'll earn back what I spent on her. And when she gets married, there'll be nice money, too.

"Girls are so soft-hearted. A little kindness goes a long way. They'll be thankful, and I won't have to worry about retirement. Besides, if I ever lose my husband's love, at least I'll have my little girl to hold onto."

From that moment on, the loudest phrases ringing in my ears were. "Victoria, having you was a tough road! I nearly met the Grim Reaper! You must appreciate me, alright?

"As you grow up, remember to cherish your mother and father. Always be grateful."

Listening to these words as I grew up, I slowly convinced myself I owed them a great debt.

Whenever they gave me money, I would scrimp and save every penny.

They praised me for being sensible and frugal.

I took on all the chores, washing dishes, cooking, doing laundry, cleaning the house. Every time I returned home, I would scramble to find work to do, as if that would somehow atone for what I believed I owed them.

But now, I realized they had wrapped their words in a warm embrace, subtly planting seeds of guilt in my heart.

Their ultimate goal was for me to serve them for a lifetime, to give without end.

Even my name, Victoria Perry, was a deception.

Miranda claimed it was a blessing: a name that represented strength and good fortune.

Yet, I discovered from Greyson, during one of his drunken rants, that it was merely a name he chose after losing a bet.

To him, I was nothing more than a daughter to exploit, a pawn in his twisted game.