He tried to persuade me, saying, "She's Doran's birth mother after all. She suffered a great deal during childbirth, so she has always been very weak. You don't have to punish her like this, do you?"
I was unmoved and said, "If you didn't come today, I would be the one to be punished."
Armand sighed helplessly, "Mildred, when did you become so heartless?
"Forget it. You can't give birth, so you naturally don't understand the pain of having childbirth, and you don't care about the child as much as his real mother does."
Hearing Armand say so, I looked at him in shock and disbelief.
I couldn't believe that he would actually say something like that.
"Do you think I really did those things at the banquet?" I asked.
Armand took out a silver needle from my robe and threw it on the table.
With disappointment in his eyes, he said to me, "You should calm down. I'll give you a moment."
Then, ignoring my call, he got up and left.
He also took Estelle with him.
That night, Armand sent someone to inform me that he would sleep in the study.
In the evening, I looked at the pinhole with blood on my chest.
I felt helpless.
After that day, I stopped taking fertility decoctions.
Recently, I had been absent-minded a lot. Sometimes, I would wonder, Am I really wrong?
A lady, who was on good terms with me, advised me.
"Your husband is so handsome and capable. What's there for you to be dissatisfied with?
"He doesn't have any concubines, and he respects you. He even lets you be his only child's legitimate mother.
"You don't know how jealous I am towards you. You know, my husband has taken six concubines already.
"What do you think we women want the most? It's our men's love and our status. You already have both, so you should be content."
I asked myself in my heart, Should I be content?
I was a bit confused.
One morning, I took the initiative to present my respects to Cheryl.
Just as I walked to the door, I saw a joyful scene inside.
Doran had an innocent smile on his face as he asked Armand, "Dad, why can't Mom sit next to me?"
Armand replied in a gentle tone, "Doran, there is also a hierarchy in a family. Your mom can't sit with us."
But Doran pouted, "Dad, just let Mom sit. She's been standing all the time. She must be very tired."
Armand was somewhat moved.
Cheryl laughed loudly, "Good, good, good. Doran is filial. We surely can get another pair of tableware for your mom. Estelle, just sit down."