"How do I know if you're really carrying a girl? If you miscarry, good riddance. You're so much trouble even before she's born!"
I was speechless. How could a father say such things? I grabbed my bag and stormed out, fuming.
As I shut the door, Grace yelled, "Look at that, all because you pamper her too much. No respect at all."
"It's so late, and she's still running out. In the old days, she would've been drowned!"
My eyes filled with tears.
Before marriage, I was cherished by my parents. Why did my life become like this after marriage?
Walking around the neighborhood, surrounded by vibrant plants, my mood gradually calmed down. I realized it had been ages since I last took a walk.
John grew up in a rural area in a single-parent family, with Grace and Lily depending on him. Finances were tight. To ease his burden, I worked hard and never asked for gifts, let alone outings.
Suddenly, I felt sorry for myself. My stomach growled, and I decided to treat myself to a good meal.
After a five-minute walk, I found a decent restaurant and felt much calmer after eating. Good food really does heal my soul.
With the baby on the way, I needed to create a good environment for her. Running away and fighting wouldn't solve anything. I took out my phone to call John, hoping to talk things out somewhere without Grace and Lily's interference.
I realized I had been out for almost two hours. There wasn't a single call or message from John. I couldn't help but feel disappointed, but I had chosen this path and had to keep going.
I dialed John's number, but no one answered after several attempts. I started to worry. What if something happened?
As I hurried home, I was met with Grace's piercing voice. "Oh, so you finally decided to come back! What kind of woman is out at this hour? Aren't you embarrassed?"
I tried to explain calmly, "The doctor said it's good for pregnant women to walk more. It helps with the baby's development."
She placed her hands on her hips, glaring at me. "Don't give me that nonsense! Out late at night, all dressed up? What if someone attacked you? You'd bring shame to my son!"
Just then, John came out of the bathroom. Seeing he was fine, I breathed a sigh of relief and looked at him hopefully, wishing he'd stop Grace's outrageous accusations. His mother spreaded such vicious rumors about his wife.