The haves and have-nots
1073 Words
"How long are you going to put off having children?" Dorothy asked the couple sitting in front of her. The joyful atmosphere of the dinner instantly turned hushed, and the noisy clatter of plates and cutlery came to a halt. It was a question that should not have been asked in the middle of the couple's fifth-anniversary dinner.
Ivy's face turned gloomy. She didn't like the ridiculous question from her in-laws' lips.
"Mom," Sean reacted immediately. He knew his wife wasn't comfortable with the question.
"Sean, this is your fifth year of marriage. How long are you going to put it off?" Angry Dorothy.
"Mom, please allow us to postpone it for another two years. Because I just signed a contract as an underwear brand ambassador. They don't permit to get pregnant."
"Oh, so your career is more important than this? Have you forgotten who you were before this? If it weren't for us, you wouldn't be in this position," Dorothy snapped with a glare directed at her daughter-in-law.
"It's not that, Mom. But I-"
"I don't care! Cancel all the contracts you've settled with them. And I'll pay for all your losses!"
"Ma, it's not about the money, but-"
"Enough!" Sean squealed loudly. He was dizzy from the argument between his mom and wife.
Ivy looked down in soundlessness, there was anger in her heart, but she couldn't express it.
When Ivy thought it would be over, Dorothy continued pushing her into a corner.
"Ivy, you should know by now that Sean is our only hope. The Osbert family needs an inheritor."
"If you continue to delay having children, then I will have to ask my son to divorce you," Dorothy said threateningly. The woman wearing the red blazer got up from her seat and left the dining table in an emotional state.
"Mom..." Sean got up and immediately followed his mother.
"Don't do this to Ivy," he pleaded.
"I have been patient long enough. Tell your wife..." Dorothy glanced sarcastically at her daughter-in-law.
"I'll give her one week to decide if she wants to get pregnant or divorce you!"
***
After her mother-in-law left, Ivy ran straight to her room. She hated this situation, and she hated her mother-in-law. That woman always made her life miserable and uneasy. She constantly pressured her to have children.
"Ivy, are you there?" Sean knocked on her bathroom door.
Ivy was standing facing the mirror, staring at her reflection there while thinking if she was pregnant, what would happen to her career? The career she had been fighting for. She had just enjoyed the fruits of her long struggle.
"Yes, I'm here," she said quickly while wiping away tears. She was upset by the hurtful words from her in-laws' lips.
Ivy rushed out of the bathroom to find her husband staring at her.
"What's wrong?" Ivy looked shocked.
"Ivy, I think we should talk. We should discuss it again," Sean said, still in a low tone.
"I think everything is clear, Sean. There's nothing more to talk about," said Ivy, who quickly picked up the nightgown hanging by the bathroom door.
"I'm tired, Sean. Tomorrow morning I have to flee for a photo shoot. I want to sleep earlier," she said, deliberately avoiding a conversation that might spark a big war between her and Sean.
"Ivy!" Sean tugged on his wife's arm.
"Don't you think what my mom said is true?"
Ivy held her breath, an explosion in her chest that she was trying to contain, not to ruin everything. She was still trying to keep herself together.
"Let me go, Sean. I'm tired, and I want to rest..." Ivy struggled and tried to get away from her husband.
"Sean! Didn't I tell you-"
"Ivy, please, don't problematize this situation," Sean pleaded. He knew well that his mother would take her word for it.
"I don't want to get pregnant, Sean. I don't want to ruin my body to satisfy you and your family." Ivy said, which of course, left Sean dumbfounded.
"So you don't want to get pregnant? You don't want to have children with me?" Sean needed an explanation.
"It's not like that, Sean. I mean..."
"Enough, Ivy!!!"
Ivy didn't have time to continue, but Sean was outraged.
Tired of arguing and fighting, he left without saying anything more.
"Sean, where are you going?" Ivy, knowing her husband was mad, quickly caught up with Sean.
"Sean!"
Ivy yelled, but Sean ignored her. The man got into his car and left Ivy for the night alone.
***
"We've raised you, and now it's time for you to repay all the sacrifices we've made for you. So, you have to work harder and make a lot of money for us, do you understand?" Emma let go of Quinn- her adopted daughter.
Quinn nodded obediently, "yes, mom."
"Send us seventy percent of your salary. And don't forget to save up because I don't have the money to throw you a wedding party."
"Don't worry, mom. I'll save up for my wedding expenses later." Poor, innocent Quinn.
Quinn Avery Russel. The twenty-two-year-old girl had just been hired as a cleaning service worker at a large company in the city. Her foster mother's friend had found her this job and was willing to give her a temporary place to live.
Arriving in the city, Quinn was immediately picked up by Barbara.
"This is your room. I'm sorry, I don't have a fine room for you to stay in," Barbara said as she showed her a cramped room measuring two by two by three meters. A stuffy room with no windows and no door. There was no privacy for the occupants.
"Where's the door?" asked Quinn innocently.
"It's been broken for a long time. And I don't have enough money to replace it," Barbara explained.
The big woman with curly reddish hair grinned.
"You must start work tomorrow, so you'd better rest now. Because we'll be leaving early in the morning," she said.
"Okay, thank you, auntie."
"You're welcome. Oh yes, if you're hungry, I have leftovers from last night. If you want, you can warm it up." Barbara said and left Quinn there in the tiny room with no furniture. Only a dusty mattress was rolled up in the corner of the room.
The smell of dust was suffocating, and Quinn grunted. While staring at the surroundings, "This room is much worse than the warehouse at mom's house."
- Writer
