The pain surged through my knees again, dull and suffocating. I shut my eyes. The last sliver of hope inside me crumbled into nothing.
I didn’t know how long I knelt—my knees had gone numb, the pain replaced by a hollow ache that crept up my spine.
When I shifted slightly to ease the stiffness, Ivan’s mother struck my shoulder with a wooden rod.
Crack!
“You’re not here to rest! Show some respect while keeping vigil!”
The stick landed right on the bone, the jolt of pain making me gasp.
I bit down hard, forcing myself to stay still. To endure.
Eventually, the night dragged on and most of the relatives began to leave. The hall quieted.
I let my body slump a little, pretending to doze off, keeping my eyelids half-lowered while I quietly scanned my surroundings.
From the side room, I heard Ivan and his mother speaking in hushed voices.
They tried to keep it low—but I heard everything.
“Son, that woman has a stubborn temper. You need to hurry up and get her pregnant. Once the rice is cooked, there’s no turning back.”
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ve already planned everything. Right now, I’m in charge of all her company’s key projects.”