She cried even harder, “I finally understand. I’m an outsider in this family! I might as well go back home, where at least no one will bully me!”
I was confused and was about to ask about the whole story when Elise emerged from the guest room. Her voice was trembling, clearly furious.
“I’m bullying you? Ask yourself! Who’s been gossiping and slandering my daughter behind her back?!”
She shoved her phone screen in my face. “Look for yourself! What nonsense did she say in the group chat!”
I took the phone and saw the chat history from Rebecca’s Sunset Square Dance group chat. She had screenshotted a recent WhatsApp status post from Elise and complained in the group.
[Hey guys, I’m so pissed! Just because my in-law said she wanted to go on a road trip, my daughter-in-law bought her an RV worth over 140,000 dollars without blinking an eye! I worked so hard to take care of her during her confinement and raised my grandson with great care until he was three years old and she only gives me 2,800 dollars a month! Why do I have to endure this unfairness?!]
Her friends chimed in when they read this.
Audrey: [Don’t be angry, dear friend. After all, your daughter-in-law isn’t your biological child.]
Shannon: [Yeah, 2,800 dollars isn’t a small amount. My daughter-in-law was in confinement and I was taking care of the child and I even had to pay for food, yet I didn’t even get anything!]
Rebecca immediately responded: [What do you know? My daughter-in-law runs a big company and makes over 140,000 dollars a month! Even our nanny makes 4,200 dollars a month! She only gives me 2,800 dollars. Isn’t that like giving money to a beggar?]
Rebecca continued her rants: [My in-law has been a widow for so many years. Who knows if she’s lonely and wants to drive the RV out to meet up with some random guy? Is she not afraid of not being good at driving such a big car? She might crash into the car and die!]
The subsequent obscenities were simply unbearable to watch. But Rebecca didn’t know that my mother was also in the group chat.
Rebecca saw my face turn pale and her eyes evasive, but she remained unyielding. “I wasn’t wrong... Elise is already old and she’s still taking road trips like young people. Who knows if she’s keeping a gigolo…”