After I Cut Off Relations with My "Brother-Loving" Mother

When my husband, Leonel Mallord, and I just moved into our new house, my mom, Margery Holbrook, came to ask me to let my cousin, Jessica Holbrook, live in my old house. Margery even tried to persuade me, saying it was for my own good. She said earnestly, "Your Grandma helped pay for your college tuition, and this is the time for you to repay her kindness. Don't be ungrateful, Hilda Armisen. And don't embarrass me in the Holbrook family."

I sneered.

In my previous life, Margery forced me to let Jessica live in my house.

At that time, my uncle, Nathaniel Holbrook, forcibly took over my old house. I was six months pregnant, but I still went to reason with Nathaniel. However, I was beaten and had a miscarriage. I was even pushed into the river and died from excessive bleeding. Later, my husband lost his job due to being involved in this conflict with the Holbrook family and couldn't afford the mortgage for our new house. In the end, he became homeless.

***

It was a cold winter. I was rescued from the man-made lake by some kind-hearted people.

When I got in the ambulance, I felt that the baby in my belly had already lost his life.

I snuggled up in Leonel's warm embrace and felt that I might also die soon.

At that time, I swore in my heart, If time could go back and let me choose again, I would never agree to let Jessica live in my house.

I swear.

Unexpectedly, when I opened my eyes again, I actually returned to four months ago.

When I saw the delivery boxes in the corner of the new house as well as my husband who was busy unpacking the boxes, I felt extremely happy. I silently vowed to myself that I must not do anything stupid again this time.

I lowered my head and looked at my slightly bulging belly, thinking, Thank God. My baby is still alive.

I took a breath, put the noodles on a plate, and then carried the plate out.

"Hilda, now that you're pregnant, you need to get enough nutrition. So, I got two chickens from Nathaniel. He has dozens or even hundreds of them. He said you can eat chicken as much as you want. But Jessica doesn't want to raise chicken with him. She wants to work in the city. Since you've moved out of your old house, why not let her move in? It'll be good for both of you."

As soon as I put down the plate and sat down at the dining table, I heard Margery say so, which were the same words from her as in my previous life.

Margery carried the two live chickens in her hands, her eyes full of concern for me. It was as if she really cared about me, her pregnant daughter.

But I knew clearly in my heart that Margery was just trying to use my old house as her bargaining chip to let her get more respect from her family when she went back.

"No, Mom. Leonel and I bought this new house with a loan. Since I'm pregnant, I definitely can't do my job as well as before in my work. So, we plan to rent out the old house and use the rent to partially cover the loan. This way, we won't have that much pressure."

I smiled and naturally refused Margery's suggestion.