Rose sat at the dining table, staring down at the bowl of sticky, black herbal soup in front of her. Her mother-in-law, Margaret, stood beside her, urging her with a forced smile.
"Come on, Rose, drink it while it’s still warm. It’s good for your body, helps you get pregnant," Margaret insisted, her voice sweet but her intentions undeniable.
Rose’s gaze drifted toward Eric, her husband, standing stiffly by the window, pretending to fold clothes on the balcony. He avoided her eyes, as if guilt itself had wrapped its invisible chains around him. Rose’s heart sank.
A year later, Eric stood at her doorstep, drenched in rain, clutching a piece of paper—a vasectomy certificate.
“I’ve changed,” he said, his voice thick with desperation. "I only want you and our daughter."
Their little girl, Lily, ran into the room, holding up a piece of paper excitedly.
"Daddy! Mommy and Uncle Jack got married today!" she announced proudly, waving the freshly issued marriage certificate in the air.
Chapter 2 Promises and Illusions
In the cramped bathroom, Margaret angrily splashed cold water over Eric’s head, muttering under her breath. "Ungrateful girl, such a viper," she hissed. "She’ll regret it when I sue her for assault."
Eric stayed silent, his soaked clothes clinging to him. The herbal soup had long lost its heat, and yet the bitterness lingered—not just in the air but in their hearts.
Rose cradled Lily in her arms, her daughter’s tiny hands clinging to her shirt.
"Mommy… Where’s Grandma?" Lily mumbled sleepily.
"We’re going to Aunt Jessica’s for a few days, sweetheart," Rose whispered, pressing a kiss to her daughter’s soft curls.
Lily’s eyes lit up. "Really? Aunt Jess has cats!"
Rose quickly packed a suitcase, tossing in a few clothes, her laptop, Lily’s favorite teddy bear, and a folder of documents.
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“You can leave if you want, but you won’t take my granddaughter!” Margaret burst into the room, her eyes wild with anger. She shoved Rose hard from behind, causing her to stumble over the suitcase and scrape her knee on the edge.
Eric rushed to help Rose, gently lifting her to her feet.
"Wait here. I’ll get the first aid kit," he said softly, ignoring his mother’s glare.
Margaret clutched Lily tighter. "Tell me, sweetheart. Do you want to stay with Grandma or Mommy?" she asked with a cunning smile.
Lily looked up, torn, her tiny face crumpling with confusion.
"Enough of this," Eric intervened, taking Lily into his arms. "Daddy will help you brush your teeth, okay?"
He glanced back at Rose. "Mom, please help Rose with the medicine."
Rose bit her lip, the bitter taste of disappointment spreading through her chest. In that moment, she realized: mother and son, they were a perfect team—always pretending everything was fine.
CHAPTER 3 PROMISES AND ILLUSIONS
Rose first met Eric at a university volunteer club. He was the president, charismatic and full of ideals, while she was just another volunteer, spending her weekends with children at a local special needs school.
At the time, Eric was kind but distant. Their interactions were polite but brief, just enough to leave a faint impression on each other.
Years later, after finishing her master’s degree and joining a publishing house, a colleague introduced Rose to Eric on a blind date. Their surprise at meeting again turned quickly into mutual joy. They had much in common and clicked almost instantly.
For Rose, who had grown up with divorced parents and spent her teenage years shuffling between homes, Eric’s stability was a beacon. He owned a house, purchased without a mortgage, and promised to add her name to the deed after their marriage—a promise that held enormous weight for Rose, who had longed for a place to truly call home.
Eric’s mother, Margaret, welcomed her warmly, declaring that she had always wished for a daughter and insisting that Rose treat her like a second mother. For the first time in a long while, Rose felt that maybe she had found the family she’d always yearned for.
Without another word, she picked up the bowl, her lips curving into a dangerous smile, and poured the entire concoction over Eric’s head.
"Divorce," she whispered coldly, her voice final.
CHAPTER 4 THE WEIGHT OF EXPECTATIONS
Their marriage was idyllic at first. After just six months, they discovered Rose was pregnant. Yet the pregnancy was anything but smooth.
At two months, Rose was put on bed rest due to early complications. She quit her job to focus on the pregnancy, spending long, quiet days at home. By the time her condition stabilized, the relentless nausea had set in, dragging on for months.
Margaret moved in to help, cooking elaborate meals and doting on Rose. The bond between them grew stronger with each passing day. They shared late-night conversations that stretched into the early hours, and Rose even started sleeping in the same bed as Margaret when Eric was away on business trips.
When Lily was born, the joy was overwhelming. Despite everyone’s silent hopes for a boy, there wasn’t a hint of disappointment from either Eric or Margaret. Rose believed she was truly lucky.