Chapter 4

Two days later, Piers texted me. His mother was turning sixty, and there'd be a birthday dinner at a restaurant in town over the weekend. I had to be there, and I had to bring a two-thousand-dollar cash gift.

I stared at the screen for a few seconds, then typed one word back: Fine.

Then I picked up my phone and called the private detective.

……

Saturday was Deborah's sixtieth birthday.

I dressed up on purpose, grabbed my bag, and headed to the restaurant in town.

The moment I walked into the banquet hall, I saw the Fox relatives packed into more than a dozen tables, loud and lively.

Deborah sat surrounded by a crowd of older women, grinning ear to ear.

When she saw me come in, the smile froze on her face for a second before she put on that fake warmth. "Oh, Lorraine, you made it? Sit, sit, we've been waiting for you."

Piers sat beside the head table. When he saw me, a smug look crossed his face, as if to say, I knew you wouldn't dare stay away.

Lauren was there too, in a loose dress, seated next to Deborah, her belly rounded out, playing the sweet, sensible daughter-in-law.

I didn't say a word. I found a seat off to the side and sat down.

Once the dinner started, glasses clinked, and the room roared with chatter.

After a few rounds of drinks, Deborah stood up, glass in hand.

"Today's my sixtieth birthday, and all my family and friends have come out to celebrate with me. This old lady is happy!"

"Since everyone's here, I've got two things to announce."

"First, Piers's brother, Paul Fox, is getting married soon, and the bride's family wants a home in a good downtown school district."

She looked at me, her face full of that false smile. "Lorraine, don't you have a school-district apartment downtown? A hundred and twenty square meters. Perfect for a wedding home."

"We're all family. The way I see it, sign it over to Paul. Call it a little something from the woman married into this family."

The words were barely out before the relatives chimed in. "That's right! Lorraine's got it made. What's one apartment to her?"

"Exactly. When your husband's younger brother marries, of course his brother's wife should hand over an apartment!"

"We're all family. The elder brother's wife stands in for a mother. You can't just let Paul stay a bachelor!"

My face stayed calm. I didn't respond.

Seeing I wasn't arguing, Deborah grew even smugger and went on. "Second thing. My foster daughter, Lauren, is pregnant, so from now on she'll be resting at home to keep the baby safe."

"Lorraine, you'll need to work a little harder from now on. Wait on Lauren carefully through her pregnancy, and once the baby's born, you get properly ready to have one yourself. Give it a real try."

That set the whole room buzzing louder, aunts and old women all talking over each other. "The mother-in-law's really thought of everything! A woman earning a lot of money isn't much of a skill. Taking care of the family is her real duty!"

"Exactly. Wait on Lauren well, give the family a big fat boy. That's the greatest achievement there is!"

"Lorraine, your mother-in-law's only looking out for you. Just say yes, don't upset an elder."

Piers sat beside me and lowered his voice into a threat. "Nod and agree. Don't make me lose face in front of the relatives."

"Being good to your elders is your duty as a wife…"

I turned my head and looked at him. There was a certain smile on his face, like he had me pegged, like he was sure I'd give in the way I always had, for the sake of the big picture.

One of the aunts kept pressing. "Lorraine, say something. Don't just sit there stewing."

"You married into the Fox family, so you're one of us now. Everything you own naturally belongs to the Foxes. It's such a small thing. You wouldn't say no, would you?"

Paul, the younger brother, had a cigarette between his lips and drawled lazily, "My brother brought you home to wait on this family. What's the problem with you handing over an apartment? Once I've got a son, I might even put in a good word for you."

Fay Fox, the younger sister, joined in. "That's right, Lorraine. A woman comes back to her family in the end, no matter what."

"No matter how much money you make, what's the point if you can't have a child?"

The whole table went back and forth, one voice after another, like a swarm of buzzing flies.

They all assumed I'd cave.

The old me might have.

For the sake of so-called family harmony, to spare Piers embarrassment, I'd backed down again and again, wronged myself again and again.

Not anymore.

I stood up slowly, and every eye in the room turned to me.

Deborah smiled, satisfied. "There we go. Sensible girl…"

Before she could finish, I slammed my bowl and chopsticks down on the table.

The whole room went dead silent in an instant.

Everyone froze, staring at me blankly.

Deborah reacted first, pointing at me and shrieking, "Lorraine, have you lost your mind? Smashing dishes on a day like this? You're doing this to spite me on purpose, aren't you?"

Piers shot to his feet too, his face livid. "Lorraine, are you done yet? What's gotten into you?"