Chapter 2
Hearing my best friend’s words, my heart turned
cold.
I stopped getting involved with her family’s
matters.
Rida’s son, Myles, was actually an illegitimate
child.
No one knew who the father was, and the
neighbors privately gossiped about her, calling her life messy and shameful for getting
pregnant.
But Rida didn’t care at all.
We were both pregnant at the same time, and
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+ 5 Points
everyone thought we were great friends. During my pregnancy, I shared everything with her, and my husband, Brad, was very supportive.
When she was pregnant, Rida always held her belly with a look of happiness. Later, when she
treated Myles poorly, everyone just blamed the missing father.
Still, I couldn’t bear to see Myles so pitiful.
“Myles, come have some cookies. I baked them myself.” I looked at Myles, waving for him to
come over.
Myles hesitated, too shy to approach.
Rida rolled her eyes. “What cookies? Raising him is like raising a dog–just feed him some
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leftover scraps, and he won’t starve!”
I ignored Rida’s sarcastic comments. Myles’s stomach was clearly growling, and he kept eyeing the cookies, drooling.
My son, Cory, also kindly called out to Myles,
“Come try some! My mom’s cookies are the
best!”
Cory handed Myles several cookies, and Myles, afraid Rida would snatch them away, stuffed
them all into his mouth at once.
Rida wasn’t pleased. “How shameful! All you do is eat. Didn’t your family give you any food?
After you’re done, go away. Have you finished d washing the clothes at home?”
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“Sorry, Mom, I’ll go back now…” Myles choked on the cookies, mumbling his response to Rida.
No matter what Myles did, he was always quick to answer Rida’s questions. It was her rule–she treated him like a dog, constantly training him.
“It’s winter! How can you make a child this
young wash clothes? He’s only six!” Both Cory
and I were shocked.
“I’m just training his survival skills. Someone
has to do these chores. It’s just the two of
us at home. If he doesn’t do it, should I do it
instead?” Rida shot back.
Rida picked up a cookie, gently coaxing Cory, showering him with obvious favoritism. It was so blatant, it was as if she was writing “Cory is
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my real son” on her face!
I chose to remain silent.
+ 5 Points
Over the years, I’d tried to talk to Rida about her
favoritism several times.
I told her, no matter what, Myles was the child she gave birth to, so why treat him so badly? Always hitting and scolding him.
Rida scolded me for minding my own business and accused Myles of tattling on her in front of Cory. Every time, she’d beat Myles so badly he couldn’t even get out of bed.
After that, I stopped getting involved and only helped Myles when he really needed it.
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For example, when Rida hadn’t fed Myles for three days, I had Cory secretly invite Myles over
to our house for food.
In winter, when Rida kicked Myles out of the house for not changing her shoes on time, I had
Cory take him in for two days.
Eventually, Myles started seeing my house as a refuge, and Cory became his best friend.
When they got older and finished their free mandatory education, Rida didn’t allow Myles to go to school anymore.
“You’re so dumb, you’ll never learn anything. Just stop going to school. You’re better off working and making money to send Cory
abroad.”
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This time, not only did Cory and I disagree, but even my husband, Brad, voiced his objection.
“Myles is still so young. How can you make him work such a tough job?”
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