I gave my mom an RV to help her fulfill her dream of a road trip, but then my mother-in-law, Rebecca, was furious when she found out.

She shouted, “I worked tirelessly to take care of you during your confinement and raised your son until he was three and I only get 2,800 dollars a month! While your old mother just mentioned wanting a road trip, you bought her an RV worth over 140,000 dollars! Why?! What if she’s lonely and wants to drive the RV out to have a secret meeting with an old man? Aren’t you afraid she’ll crash into a car and die?!”

I was usually a calm person, but hearing her rants, I was angry and slapped her.

“You may be that kind of person, but my mom isn’t! If you dare to talk nonsense again, I’ll rip your mouth off!”

——

On my mom’s 55th birthday, I gave her an RV, including the modifications, which cost over 140,000 dollars.

My dad passed away early and my mom raised me alone, enduring so much hardship. Since she was young, she dreamed of a road trip. Now that I was able to live by myself, I wanted to help her make this dream come true.

My mom, Elise, burst into tears when she saw the car. She happily took a photo and posted it on her WhatsApp’s status: [My daughter is so thoughtful! After working so hard for most of her life, she can finally enjoy life. I’m looking forward to my road trip!]

I immediately liked and commented: [Mom, have fun! Be safe!]

Unexpectedly, this joy didn’t last even the entire night.

***

I got home from overtime at around 10 o’clock. As soon as I walked in, the nanny, Nancy, came up to me with a look of anxiety.

She said, “Madam, you’re finally back! Your mother and your mother in-law had an argument! Your mother in-law was just carrying her luggage and saying she was going back to her hometown!”

I was confused hearing this. I asked, “What’s going on? Why are they arguing out of the blue?”

Before Nancy could elaborate, I saw Rebecca sitting on the sofa, looking aggrieved, with a suitcase at her feet.

When Rebecca saw me, tears welled up and she cried, “This is unbearable! I get up early and work late to take care of you and raise your son. Even if you don’t give me any credit, I’ve definitely worked hard, haven’t I? Meanwhile, what did Elise do? She comes here and scolds me! I’m so old, yet I still have to endure this kind of bullying…”

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…”

My mother was completely furious when she heard this and exclaimed, “Bullshit! My daughter earns her own money, so she can spend it however she wants! Who are you to tell her what she should do? You’re even cursing me to death! What are you up to? Why are you so keen on going back to your hometown? If you have the guts, leave now. If you don’t step out of this door today, I’ll drag you out myself!”

Rebecca, completely defeated by my mother’s scolding, sank back onto the sofa and started wailing again. “Oh, my life is so miserable! My son’s not home and my daughter-in-law and in-law team up to bully an old woman like me…”

My temples were throbbing. On one side was Rebecca, wailing pitifully and on the other was Elise, trembling with anger.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. I was the younger one, so I had to calm down the argument first.

I walked over to Rebecca and tried to persuade her gently, “Mom, please don’t cry. If I’ve done something wrong, please tell me and I’ll be more careful in the future. There’s no need to ruin the family harmony over such a small matter.”

I continued, “Sebastian hasn’t returned from his business trip yet. If you go back to your hometown without saying anything, I won’t be able to explain to him. Can you please forgive me and wait until Sebastian comes back and then we can talk about it?”

Rebecca’s crying quieted down a bit after I said that and it seemed like she was trying to use my offer to save her temper.

Unexpectedly, my mother was so angry that she couldn’t stand it. “Hannah, why are you on her side? Yes, you give her 2,800 dollars every month, but you also opened a 14,000-dollar interim payment for her. She spends it all every month! There are already nannies at home. What does she do besides square dancing and rummy? What’s there to be sorry about? A son-in-law who was only married into the family? I don’t know how a person who did something horrible can have the nerve to cry like this…”

I wanted to quickly interrupt my mother, but it was too late. Rebecca’s defenses completely shattered when she heard the words “son-in-law.” She suddenly jumped up from the sofa, beating her chest and stamping her feet in tears like a child.

“I’m going to die! My son, Sebastian, only an unfilial son! What kind of wife did you marry to put your mother through such humiliation? They just look down on our Bailey Family…”

Looking at the chaotic scene before me, the fatigue and irritation accumulated from working overtime instantly washed over me.

I rubbed my temples, my last bit of patience gone. I pulled out my phone and called the driver, Bentley. “Bentley, come home and take my mother-in-law back to her hometown.”

The crying stopped abruptly. Rebecca looked at me in disbelief. “Hannah? Are you kicking me out?”

I sighed, feeling somewhat helpless and replied, “Didn’t you say you were going back home? It’s late and it’s unsafe to take a taxi. I’ll have the driver take you.”

She froze in her tracks and stared at me for a long moment, making sure I wasn’t joking. Her expression shifted from shock to shame and indignation. She suddenly grabbed her suitcase and stormed out.

“Okay! I’m leaving! Let’s see what you’ll say when Sebastian gets back!”

***

Two days later, Sebastian returned from his business trip. As soon as he entered the house, before he’d even put down his luggage, his phone rang.

From a distance, I could hear Rebecca’s wailing, accusations on the other end. “Sebastian, wahhh, help me!”

Sebastian listened for a long time with furrowed brows, his expression growing increasingly grim. Finally, he reluctantly hung up.

Feeling a little guilty, my mom poked her head out of the kitchen and asked tentatively, “Sebastian, is your mom okay? What did she say?”

Sebastian sighed and replied, “Mom said we should treat everyone equally. Since we bought Mother-in-law a car worth over 140,000 dollars, we should buy her something decent. She doesn’t ask for much; a large apartment in my hometown for around 280,000 dollars will do. She said she’s worked hard all her life and deserves to enjoy life. If we don’t agree, she won’t come back.”

My mother immediately exploded and complained, “Is she crazy? A 280,000-dollar apartment? Why doesn’t she just let it go?! Forget about coming back; the family will survive without her.”

I quickly winked at my mom, urging her to be quiet. However, my mom, already furious, didn’t want to cooperate and added, “Sebastian, Hannah, you need to think this through carefully. No one’s money comes out of nowhere. If you’re spending 280,000 dollars on a house every time you have an argument, she might as well ask for a villa next time.”

I was so distraught and quickly found an excuse to get my mother out of the way. Then, I pulled Sebastian to sit down and said, “Honey, wasn’t the two-story house in our hometown just renovated? Why are you suddenly looking for a large flat?”

Sebastian was silent for a moment before speaking vaguely, “It’s for my brother. He’s dating a girlfriend. Her family is well off and she specifically wants a large flat in the city center with a river view, or she won’t get married…”

I instantly understood what was going on. It seemed Rebecca was finding ways to buy a house for my younger brother-in-law, Derick.

Two years ago, Rebecca said my younger brother-in-law needed a nice car for his business, otherwise he’d be looked down upon, so she took 84,000 dollars from me.

Last year, Rebecca said she was not feeling well and needed a comprehensive checkup and she asked me for another 28,000 dollars.

Every time I hesitated, she’d bring up the same excuse: “Hannah, a sister-in-law is like a mother. Isn’t it your duty to support Derick? When he’s successful and makes a fortune, I’ll definitely pay you back!”

In the end, the money went out without a single sound. Suppressing my anger, I discussed it with my husband, “My mom was a bit harsh, but it’s the truth. Our family doesn’t need these millions, but there has to be a limit to everything. Your mom keeps doing this over and over again. Isn’t this a bottomless pit?”

Sebastian nodded and replied, “I know. My mom went too far this time. I’ll go back and talk her down.”

In the end, although we didn’t buy the large apartment, we did transfer 140,000 dollars and Rebecca reluctantly returned. But after returning, she had a sullen face, as if I owed her millions.

I heard that she gave in and returned because during her two days back home, my brother-in-law and future sister-in-law thought she was in the way and gave her the cold shoulder every day.

But for some reason, after Rebecca returned, Sebastian’s face became even gloomier. He frowned all day and after getting off work, he’d rather smoke in the garage than go upstairs early to face his mother.

Rebecca also ignored Sebastian. But it was Sebastian who had wanted to bring her home to live happily ever after out of concern for his mother. Why had this mother and son become so estranged now?

But this was ultimately their own matter and I couldn’t interfere. I just wanted a little peace. Alas, the storm was coming. One day, I was in a meeting when Nancy called anxiously. “Hannah! It’s terrible! Your mother’s been beaten! She’s in the emergency room at the Akso Hospital! Come quickly!”

My mind went blank. I grabbed my bag and rushed out, driving as fast as I could to the hospital.

In the emergency room, my mother lay on the bed, the gauze on her forehead still oozing blood and the sterilization tray beside her was filled with blood-stained cotton balls.

I was trembling and crying. “Mom?”