How dare you throw a pregnant girl out of the house?
My husband’s family had worked at a factory in the small town of Ashford for generations. They had received two flats in the same building from the company. After we got married, Serge and I moved into one of them, while his mother, Mary, and his younger sister, Lily, lived in the other. What seemed like a cozy family setup turned into a nightmare when I discovered a betrayal that nearly crushed my dream of becoming a mother.
Serge and I weren’t in a rush to have kids. I grew up in a large family—being the eldest sister to three younger brothers, I knew what it meant to bear responsibility from a young age. Besides, we were students living modestly, and my mother-in-law, Mary, supported our decision to wait. I saw her as an ally, completely unaware of the blow she was preparing behind my back.
After finishing our studies, Serge landed a well-paying job. We renovated our flat, bought a car, and thoughts about having children came up more often. Mary insisted that any child should be planned and recommended a doctor, Dr. Helen. I went for tests, and she hit me with the shocking news: I needed serious treatment, otherwise, carrying a baby wouldn’t be possible for me. I underwent a course of procedures and took so many pills, yet my results didn’t improve. Dr. Helen prescribed a new treatment, and I followed her orders, tormented by the fear that I might never become a mother.
During this time, Serge’s sister, Lily, found herself pregnant. She was just 19, and the father turned out to be my younger brother, Jake. He refused to marry her, claiming he was too young for a family. In a fit of rage, Mary packed Lily’s belongings and sent her to live with us. “You both must take care of her and cater to her every whim!” she declared. It felt so unfair. Why should I bear the consequences of my brother’s mistakes? But Serge sided with his mother, blaming Jake and, indirectly, me. I swallowed my resentment, but inside, I was simmering.
With Lily’s arrival, our home became chaos. She was moody, anxious, and found faults with everything—from the food to cleanliness to shopping. I tried to appease her, but it was impossible to satisfy her. Mary almost visited daily, encouraging Lily and critiquing me. One day, after I refused for the third time to mop Lily’s room, she revealed a terrible truth: “Mum was right to send you to Dr. Helen. She convinced you that you can’t have children!”
I froze, unable to believe my ears. Had my mother-in-law intentionally robbed me of my chance to be a mother? I dashed to her for answers. Mary didn’t deny it:
“You’re too impulsive; you’re not ready to have kids. Lily will soon be a mother, and you and Serge need to help her. You can think about your own children later!”
I was furious. When I returned home, I told Lily to pack her things and go back to her mum. Mary stormed in right behind her, shouting:
“How dare you throw a pregnant girl out? You have no heart!”
We were screaming at each other and didn’t even notice when Serge came home. He was stunned. Normally, he backed his mother and sister, but this time something shifted. He insisted on checking Mary’s claims. She denied everything, but Serge insisted I get my test results and head to another clinic. When we got there, I was in shock: I was healthy, and there were no obstacles to pregnancy. Everything Dr. Helen had said was a lie.
We went to the head of the clinic where Dr. Helen worked. He was horrified by her actions and begged us not to file a complaint, promising to look into it. Soon after, we found out she had been fired for ethical violations. The truth had prevailed, but the sting of betrayal from my mother-in-law lingered.
Two months later, Lily gave birth to a son. Jake, upon seeing the baby, melted and now he’s begging Lily for forgiveness and trying to convince her to live together. They’re attempting to patch things up, but I view this with skepticism—there’s too much pain that my brother has caused.
Mary still hasn’t forgiven me. When we cross paths, she glares at me, but she stays quiet—Serge threatened to cut off her financial support if she dared insult me. I’m pregnant, and he’s firmly on my side. Mary has no choice but to accept it, yet her silent resentment fills the air. I feel stronger than ever. My family consists of Serge, our future child, and me. No one can take away my right to be a mother.