How dare you throw a pregnant girl out of the house?
My husband’s family had spent their lives working in a factory in the town of Longbridge. From the company, they received two flats in a single building. After tying the knot, my husband, Oliver, and I moved into one while his mother, Margaret, and his younger teenage sister, Lucy, occupied the other. However, what seemed like a warm family environment quickly turned into a nightmare when I discovered a betrayal that nearly robbed me of my dream to become a mother.
Oliver and I weren’t in a rush to start a family. I had grown up in a large family as the eldest of three younger brothers, so I understood the weight of responsibility from an early age. Besides, we were both students living modestly, and my mother-in-law, Margaret, supported our decision to wait before having children. I believed she was an ally, unaware of the blow she was planning behind my back.
After graduation, Oliver landed a lucrative job. We renovated our flat, bought a car, and thoughts of children became more frequent. Margaret insisted that any baby should be planned and recommended a doctor, Helen. I underwent tests, only to be shocked by her revelation: I needed serious treatment, or I wouldn’t be able to carry a baby. I endured a course of procedures and took medication, but my tests showed no improvement. Helen prescribed more treatment, and I obediently followed her instructions, plagued by the fear that I might never become a mother.
During this time, Oliver’s sister, Lucy, found herself pregnant at just 19, and the father turned out to be my younger brother, Ethan. He refused to marry her, claiming he was too young to start a family. Outraged, Margaret packed Lucy’s belongings and sent her to live with us. “You must take care of her and cater to her every whim!” she declared. I found it terribly unfair. Why should I bear the consequences of my brother’s mistakes? Yet Oliver sided with his mother, blaming Ethan and, inadvertently, me. I swallowed my resentment, but inwardly I was boiling.
With Lucy’s arrival, our home turned chaotic. She was demanding, anxious, and critical of everything: the food, cleanliness, the shopping. I tried to accommodate her, but it never seemed enough. Margaret visited almost daily, supporting her daughter and chastising me. One day, after I refused for the third time to mop Lucy’s room, she delivered a devastating truth: “Mother did right to send you to Helen. She convinced you that you can’t have children!”
I froze, unable to believe my ears. Had my mother-in-law deliberately taken away my chance to be a mother? I rushed to confront her. Margaret, unrepentant, replied, “You’re far too impulsive. You’re not ready for children. Lucy is about to become a mother, and you and Oliver should help her with the baby. You can think about your own children later!”
Anger consumed me. Upon returning home, I demanded Lucy pack her bags and go back to her mother. Margaret burst in, shouting, “How dare you throw a pregnant girl out? You have no heart!”
We yelled at each other, oblivious to Oliver’s return. He was taken aback, usually siding with his mother and sister, but something shifted this time. He insisted on verifying his mother’s claims. She denied everything, but Oliver insisted I retrieve my test results and visit another clinic. The outcome shocked me: I was healthy, and there were no barriers to pregnancy. Everything Helen had said had been a lie.
Together, Oliver and I went to speak with the chief doctor at the clinic where Helen worked. He was shocked by her actions and begged us not to file a complaint, promising to look into it. Soon after, we learned that she had been dismissed for breaching medical ethics. The truth had triumphed, yet the pain from my mother-in-law’s betrayal lingered.
Two months later, Lucy gave birth to a son. Seeing the baby softened Ethan’s heart. He apologized to Lucy and begged her to reconcile. They are trying to establish a relationship, but I regard it with skepticism—the pain my brother caused was too deep.
Margaret never forgave me. Whenever we encounter each other, she shoots me contemptuous looks but remains silent—Oliver threatened to cut off her financial support if she dared insult me. I am now pregnant, and he stands firmly by my side. Margaret must endure her silent resentment, which poisons the atmosphere. Yet I feel stronger than ever. My family consists of Oliver, our future child, and me. No one will take away my right to be a mother.
In the end, this experience taught me the importance of standing up for myself and recognizing true allies in life. Family isn’t always about blood relations; it’s also about the bonds we forge with those who truly support us.