Just as I reached the door, I received a message on my phone. I stood at the corner to reply before going in, but I heard my mother-in-law's voice through the partially opened door, "Everyone, hold your tempers and put on a good act later. This divorce cannot happen!"
Brenda continued, "Since she hasn't been home, doing the cooking and cleaning has given me back pain. Ten years without doing chores and now it's killing me. Plus, her parents' shop, if they divorce and her parents die, she'll have sole ownership and Bryan won't get a penny!"
They were putting on this show of reluctance to lose me, but really, they didn't want to lose a free laborer and access to my parents' assets.
I sneered, "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. I have no money and you can't expect to take advantage of my parents either. You all know how much I've sacrificed for this family and how you've treated me. I'm determined to get this divorce."
Seeing my firm stance, they dropped the pretense. My son stood up first, hands on his hips and shouted at me, "You heartless woman, you're not fit to be my mom!"