Chapter 10

Edgar didn't come home that night. The next morning, after I'd taken Nate to the kindergarten, Edgar's mother, Pansy Birch, arrived from the countryside.

She pounded on the door, looking like she had come to interrogate me.

Immediately, she launched into an endless barrage of criticisms.

"What's wrong with you, Celia? Why did you suddenly decide to take on a job? Your priority right now should be to hurry up and give Edgar a second child. Look at you! What on earth do you think you're doing? You're only going to humiliate Edgar by working as a cleaner! The best thing you can do with your life is stay home and raise the kids!"

It was clear that both Edgar and Pansy were taking advantage of the fact that I didn't have a family who could stand up for me.

Giving birth to Nate had left me in poor health, but throughout these years, Pansy never bothered to come and visit us, not even when Nate fell sick. Yet, she was showing up now to stick her nose into our business.

In the past, Edga