n Bens

ed a barren, hysterical woman anyway.

d as if being torn apart, and my cheeks burned, n

she? How

hat do you think of your son's actions? His cheating? Him building another f

nk, Allison?" she sneered. "I think you should take a good look in the mirror. You failed to

said angrily, "I gave up my career to do IVF, Bobbie! Fo

he vase on top rattle. "Don't you dare raise your voice at me, little girl! I gave you

n, tell her! Tell her she ca

there silently, Katerina

and impatience. "Allison, stop causing a scene. You're e

l. She is about to bring a new life int

y vision blurred, and my

our mother call me a barren woman? Let her call

face. "Allison, calm down. When y

d me over the years, picking at my clothes, my

traditional," or "She means well." His silen

s conditional, transactional. It

ut of profound, agonizing realization. "Calm down? Calvin, I see it all now. You put that ring on my finger to harvest da

bbie. "Fine, I will go 'calm down.' I'll go to a hotel. But this i

iage ever given me? What is my value to you? Other than po

ase suddenly felt heavy, but there

floated over, sweet but entirely fake.

's voice was shrill and triumphant right aft

tepped inside. The heavy metal doors cl

ng my eyes fixed on the descending numbers on the elevator panel.

utside, the city lights blurred together with the rain. I walked pas

opened the messaging app and typed with steady fingers: "Calvin, I a

ought a wave of relief. As the cab pulled away from the curb, carr

though unknown, stretched out ahea