Every month, I sent money to my stepfather through Lewis, hoping to keep him calm and prevent any trouble.
But just three months in, my stepmother showed up at the factory, causing a scene.
She grabbed my hair and slapped me hard across the face.
"Emma, so you've grown some wings, huh?" she shouted.
"Not even sending money home anymore!"
Dazed from the blows, I quickly tried to explain that my stepfather had taken all the money.
He must have hidden it from her while squandering it on gambling and drinking.
But she wouldn't listen, throwing a fit like a madwoman as she continued to pull my hair and hit me.
Lewis, watching from the sidelines, shrank back, clearly afraid to get involved.
Then one of my male coworkers couldn't take it anymore; he pushed her away in anger, which only made her scream louder.
"No wonder you're broke! You must be out with some man!" she yelled.
Men, men—she only thought about men!
Did she really believe I was like her, unable to survive without one?
I wished I could silence her once and for all to stop her from barking like a dog.