Part 2The Barren Wife's Revenge

Julian panicked, stammering explained:

"Listen to me, this is... this is my distant cousin."

"Family met disaster, come, come to seek refuge, don't think too much..."

He said while looking at his mom.

Mother-in-law answered for him,

"So what if it is! Our Mills family three generations single pass, can't break root here!"

"Shelby, if you sensible, should know this family no descendant."

"I go down no face see ancestors!"

She sized me up.

"Since you can't give birth yourself, should actively give way, don't occupy latrine not shit!"

I trembled all over, nails pinched a row of blood red crescents in palm.

Bypassed Julian, I rushed straight in.

Mother-in-law saw can't stop, sat on floor, patted thigh howled:

"No justice ah! This woman heart vicious, want harm my golden grandson ah!"

Julian turned back roared at me:

"Shelby have you troubled enough!"

I looked at them one patting thigh, one covering belly, one red eyes staring me,

Suddenly laughed.

I put suitcase aside, pulled mouth corner.

"Fine ah, isn't it afraid I clash fortune?"

"Then you say, what to do?"

Mother-in-law crying stopped abruptly,

Exchanged a look with Julian, eyes flashed a trace calculation.

She climbed up from ground, pointed at door:

"Go, wipe our home from inside out with Sage Water for me!"

"Especially main door threshold, place golden grandson stepped over entering."

"You have to kneel on floor wipe, wipe all bad luck clean!"

I lowered eyelids, whispered:

"Okay, I wipe."

I knelt at door, knees on cold marble, came a burst dull pain.

Sage water bitter and astringent, splashed on back of my hand,

Skin immediately rose a patch red rash, itchy and painful.

I lowered head, inch by inch wiped threshold.

Behind came Whitney's voice:

"Auntie, this Bird's Nest Soup so sweet, thank you Auntie."

That was what I specially drove to specialty store before business trip,

Queued half hour to buy for mother-in-law to supplement body.

Mother-in-law smiled eyes unseen:

"Ouch, my good granddaughter-in-law, eat more if you like! Million don't be polite!"

She paused, raised voice.

"Unlike some people ah, self is a hen don't lay eggs, still want people serve!"

Julian walked over holding empty bowl,

I subconsciously looked up, thought he wanted help me up.

Result he walked around me without looking sideways, gently said to Whitney:

"Baby, finish eat I serve you another bowl."

He heavily stepped over the threshold I just wiped clean, leaving a dazzling shoe print.

"Aiya, how you wipe floor? So dirty!"

Mother-in-law shouted, "Re-wipe! Use some strength!"

My knees already numb, supported door frame wanted stand up relieve.

"Kneel wipe!"

Mother-in-law kicked on back of my hand.

"Master said, must kneel wipe to show sincerity, to remove bad luck!"

I stumbled, knelt on ground again, palm rubbed rough ground, burning pain.

In living room, Julian was picking up apple, peeling for Whitney.

He never peeled fruit for me once, always said too troublesome.

That pair hands, clearly yesterday still sending me message:

"Wifey hard work, go home early, I miss you so much."

I looked up saw blank on wall,

That wedding photo said to hang for lifetime gone.

Replaced by, a picture of Guanyin Sending Children.

"Daze what! Hurry!"

Mother-in-law urged.

"Finish wiping floor, go clean up guest room again, my golden grandson will live there."

Guest room mother-in-law said is my home office.

Inside has all my client data, project contracts and work computer,

Half of company's core data all inside.

"That is place I work." My voice hoarse.

"What work not work, golden grandson about to be born."

"Nothing more important than my precious golden grandson!"

Mother-in-law rolled eyes.

"Those rubbish of yours, hurry throw out for me!"

Julian walked over, he looked at me, brows tight locked.

"Shelby, you just move first, put things in storage room temporarily."

"Whitney body heavy, child also need a sunny room."

I obediently nodded.

"Okay, I go clean now."

I walked into master bedroom, closed door,

Gaze swept that locked old iron box on top of bookcase.

I remembered, second year of marriage I wanted open look,

Julian grabbed it away, said inside is his youth.

His flushed face then, was guilty conscience.

I dug out spare key from deepest drawer,

Hand shaking almost couldn't aim keyhole,

"Click", box opened.

Only a stack of diagnosis reports.

Bold words like branding iron burned my eyes,

Date, was half year before we married.

I clutched report dead in hand, nails almost embedded into palm.

So that's it, so that's it!