- 04.
Ashley labored for ten agonizing hours. I’d
eaten two meals by the time the baby was
finally born.
From the delivery room came Ashley’s
bloodcurdling screams.
My months of encouraging her to overeat and
avoid exercise were paying off. This baby…
must be close to nine pounds!
A natural birth? Pure torture!
Outside, my aunt, uncle clashed with Ryan
and his mother.
One side wanted their daughter, the other
their grandson. The doctors warned them
repeatedly, finally calling security to restore
order.
“Are you trying to kill my daughter for this
baby?! She came to your family pure and
innocent. If anything happens to her, I’ll hold
you responsible!”
“Every woman goes through this! Haven’t you
given birth, Carol?”
Ryan’s mother sized up my aunt with a
condescending look. “Well, I guess not. You
only popped out worthless girls. You wouldn’t
understand the struggle of having a son. Ten
hours is nothing! I was in labor with Ryan for
three days!”
I bit my lip hard to stifle my laughter.
Three days of labor, enough milk to irrigate
an acre of land, back in the fields with a hoe
right after giving birth…
Classic.
In the end, Ashley couldn’t deliver vaginally. A
C–section was unavoidable.
Ryan only signed the consent form when the
doctor warned that the baby would suffocate
if they waited any longer.
Everyone was furious, but I was overjoyed, my
eyes gleaming with malicious excitement.
The pain of natural childbirth wasn’t enough?
Now she gets to experience the joy of a C-
section too?
Perfect!
Ashley, starting today, I’m collecting interest
on the debt you owe me
for last life’s
murder, and for this life’s “care.”
“Waaah! Waaah!”
A cry echoed from the delivery room. The
baby was finally born.
Looking at his tiny face, I smiled. Little
nephew, don’t disappoint Auntie. Grow up and
“honor” your parents.
And if you can’t, don’t worry, Auntie will teach
you how.
Ashley’s postpartum period was hell.
She and her mother–in–law fought constantly.
Ryan, annoyed, started staying out late.
Something felt off. Ryan wasn’t home the
<
nyan, annoyou, otarou staying out lato.
Something felt off. Ryan wasn’t home the
night Ashley went into labor, and now he was
barely around. Where was he staying? At
work?
Before I could dwell on it, Ashley called,
crying again.
I munched on my lunch as I listened. Honestly,
Ashley’s misery was my appetizer these days.
After weeks of juggling family drama and
work, I finally closed a major deal at my
company. I decided to visit Ashley as a
reward.
Before I even entered the house, I heard the
baby’s piercing cries.
Moments later, the two women were at it
again, blaming each other for the baby’s
incessant wailing.
I waited until their argument reached a
crescendo, then replaced my amused
<
T༦༠ཅ༦TIཡོ༦) TUIT དCUIདང་OM 110y ai1TuO༦༥
my
expression with one of concern, and knocked.
Ryan’s mother glared at me as she opened
the door, then immediately turned back to the
- TV.
Ashley pulled me into her bedroom.
In just a few days, she’d aged dramatically.
Her hair was falling out, the part a stark line
across her scalp. Her eyes were puffy, dark
circles prominent. Her skin was rough…
And her spirit? Broken. She seemed on the
verge of madness.
The baby started crying again. Numbly, Ashley
picked him up and, right in front of me, lifted
her shirt and started breastfeeding, tears
streaming down her face.
After feeding and soothing the baby to sleep,
she finally unleashed her torrent of
complaints.
“That old witch canceled my postpartum care
center! Said it was a waste of money
center! Said it was a waste of money…”
“She holds him when he’s quiet, then dumps.
him on me when he cries…”
“I wanted to formula–feed to avoid ruining my
figure, but she forced me to breastfeed, said I
was trying to kill her precious grandson…”
“She makes me drink these disgusting, bland,
oily soups every day…”
I fought back a smile. Those soups were
indeed disgusting.
I’d invented the recipes myself, then posted
them on a fake mommy blog, praising their
miraculous benefits for the baby’s bones,
skin, and intelligence. Then I shared it on my
social media, visible only to Ryan’s mother.
An exclusive, secret recipe! Just for her.
After soaking my shoulder with her tears,
Ashley looked at me with utter despair.
“Sarah… should I have kept him? Why didn’t
you stop me?”
<
you stop me?”
I wiped her tears, nodding with satisfaction.
There she was. The Ashley I knew – eternally
innocent, eternally blaming others.
So, I “advised” her gently, “What mother
would abandon her child? Besides, you and
Ryan tried for three months with no luck. Do
you know what people were saying? It’s for
the best, Ashley. It’s hard now, but you’ll be
happy later. And look at my little nephew, isn’t
he adorable?”
But Ashley suddenly snapped. “Why are you
saying the same things? Sarah! I’m a human
being! Baby, baby, all you care about is the
baby! Nobody cares about me!”
I pushed her away, my voice icy. “Are you
blaming me? You’re a married woman now.
Your family won’t help, your in–laws don’t
care. Who else is here for you besides me?
Who else understands? Think about that!”
Who else understands? Think about that!”
A carrot, then a stick.
Seeing the guilt creep into Ashley’s eyes, I
stood up and left in a huff.
This time, I’d be even better than Ryan.
I’d gaslight her, manipulate her emotions, and
drive her… straight to hell.
