After giving birth, just as I was wheeled out of the delivery room, my husband, Aziel, approached me with something to discuss.

"You chose to have the child, so you'll be raising her on your own. Don't expect anyone else to step in—my mother won't be involved."

I nodded, "Okay, I understand."

So, after my recovery at the private maternity center, I packed up and headed to my parents' house with Emiliana, my daughter.

My parents were overjoyed to welcome her with open arms.

"From now on, she'll take our last name and be a part of our family! Our legacy will go on!"

==============================

Once the surgery was over, Nurse Angelique wheeled me out, smiling and reassuring me that both Emiliana and I were healthy.

However, Aziel wasn't happy. He looked serious as he spoke.

"Penelope, we need to talk. You decided to bring the child into this world, so you'll be taking care of her yourself. You can't depend on others—my mother doesn't owe you anything."

I replied calmly, "Is there anything else?"

Aziel seemed slightly surprised by my calmness. He went on.

"And you need to change your spending habits. As long as you have clothes to wear, that's enough, and you should stop buying cosmetics. You're a mother now, and it's important to be economical. We need to live within our budget."

My parents were delighted to see Emiliana, welcoming her with open arms.

"From now on, she'll be registered with our family name! Our legacy will continue!"

I wasn't surprised to hear him say that. From the very beginning, I knew what kind of family they were.

After my prenatal visit, my mother-in-law, Estelle, took the ultrasound results and started asking around. When she found out it was a girl, her expression immediately soured.

"Daughters are just a financial burden. The first child should be a boy."

Estelle demanded I terminate the pregnancy, but when I refused, she attempted to circumvent my decision by contacting the doctor. She tried to bribe Dr. Neil Duncan to perform a secret abortion, but he sent her away, indignant.

"Are we living in the Middle Ages? You really need to move past these outdated views."

"This is illegal! We are responsible for the safety and well-being of both the mother and the child!"