When my mom, fifty years old, remarried, I prepared a house and 30 thousand dollars in cash as a gift.

　　Not long after the wedding, I received a late-night message from her:

　　"Reina, are you asleep?"

　　I was working late on a project.

　　Since Mom usually went to bed early, I wondered if something was wrong.

　　Just as I was about to reply, she retracted the message.

　　Fearing she might be hiding something, I decided to take leave from work, bought a plane ticket, and flew back home.

　　As soon as I arrived, I spotted a familiar figure at the entrance of the neighborhood.

　　She was bent over, rummaging through a trash bin.

　　"Mom?"

　　I called out in surprise.

　　She looked up, momentarily stunned.

　　"Reina, what are you doing here?"

　　I dropped my suitcase and ran to her, pulling her into a tight hug.

　　"I missed you."

　　Mom looked thinner than before.

　　As she straightened up, I saw her trying to discreetly wipe away tears.

　　Looking down at the pile of drink bottles at her feet, I was puzzled.

　　"Mom, why were you collecting plastic bottles? If you needed money, you should have told me."

　　I sent her 1,000 dollars every month, and with her retirement pension, she should have had at least 2,000 dollars. How could someone who was always so neat end up collecting bottles?

　　Seeing my concern, Mom quickly reassured me.

　　"I wasn’t short on money, Reina. Don’t worry. I just needed something to do to keep myself occupied."

　　Seeing my expression soften, Mom finally let out a sigh of relief.

　　"You must have been hungry. Come on, Mom will make your favorite braised pork ribs."

　　I linked my arm with Mom’s and smiled, though my confusion only grew.

　　As we dragged my suitcase through the door, I noticed the house had changed.

　　The last time I was here, it had been immaculate. Now, it was in disarray.

　　Clothes and toys were scattered across the floor and the couch.

　　Mom began picking up the mess while gesturing for me to sit down.

　　I glanced at the haphazard doodles on the walls and frowned.

　　“Mom, why are there children’s drawings on the walls?”

　　Mom handed me a plate of freshly washed cherries and explained.

　　“That’s from Cody’s little son. Since it’s summer vacation, he’s been staying with us for a few days. Cody’s sister is here too…”

　　Cody Dalton was my stepfather.

　　She seemed uneasy, her anxious fingers betraying her concern.

　　Whenever Mom was upset or felt wronged, she would twist her fingers, a habit I had noticed since childhood.

　　She handed me the remote and a plate of fruit.

　　“Reina, just relax and eat the fruit while you watch some TV. I’ll whip up your favorite braised pork ribs.”

　　Watching her move around, I smiled and nodded, but a sense of unease lingered.

　　Something felt off, but I couldn’t quite pinpoint it.

　　After a long day of travel, I went to my room to freshen up.

　　When Mom first talked about remarrying, I’d used my savings to give her 30 thousand dollars and helped her move from a cramped two-bedroom house to a spacious three-bedroom place.

　　I wanted to make sure I’d have a comfortable spot to stay whenever I visited.

　　Thinking about this, I grabbed my suitcase and went to the master bedroom.

　　I had always loved the floor-to-ceiling windows and the natural light, so Mom had reserved this room for me.

　　But when I opened the door, I was shocked.

　　The clean, minimalist room I remembered had turned into a total mess.

　　The bed was now covered with an old, floral-patterned quilt, and the pillows were stained, giving off a foul odor.

　　The white princess bed I’d picked out was scratched and worn.

　　The nightstand was cluttered with snack wrappers, used socks, and undergarments.

　　The master bedroom had its bathroom, which I had equipped with a high-tech toilet. The last time I visited, it was pristine, but now it was stained and emitted a repugnant smell.

　　Seeing my once-favorite room in such a state made me furious.

　　But then I reminded myself that Mom was probably just trying to accommodate Cody’s son during the summer break.

　　I couldn’t let her feel bad about this.

　　However, Mom said the boy was only visiting for the summer, but judging by the condition of the bathroom, it didn’t seem like he had just arrived.

　　I closed the door to the master bedroom and turned to the second bedroom. It had good natural light as well, so I hoped Mom had moved my things here.

　　But when I opened the door, I was shocked again.

　　The furniture was in disrepair. The ceiling light was cracked, the doorknob was broken, and the closet door was hanging off its hinges.

　　The room was cluttered with piles of cardboard boxes and plastic bottles, resembling a small recycling depot rather than a bedroom.

　　Seeing me standing there in disbelief, Mom, who was busy preparing the ribs, quickly explained.

　　“Reina, Cody’s son and sister are only here temporarily. Once summer’s over, they’ll leave, and I’ll get your things back in here.”

　　“I just haven’t had a chance to clean up since you came home so suddenly…”

　　I managed a reassuring smile, trying to stay positive.

　　“It’s okay, Mom. I’m fine sleeping in the study.”

　　I grabbed my suitcase and headed toward the study, but Mom hesitated and tried to reach out to me. I had already pushed open the door to the study.

　　Among the three rooms, the study was the smallest, with just a tiny sofa bed and no wardrobe.

　　As soon as I opened the door, I noticed the crude crayon drawing on the bedside table.

　　It was a Mother’s Day gift I’d made for Mom back in preschool.

　　The rest of the room was familiar too. It was filled with Mom’s belongings.

　　I pointed at the single pillow on the bed, struggling to believe it.

　　“Mom, is this your room? You and Cody are sleeping in separate rooms?”

　　Mom started twisting her fingers nervously.

　　“Cody thinks the bed is too small for two people, so we’re in separate rooms. This room is fine for me. It’s enough for one person…”

　　“Enough about me. How’s work going for you lately?”

　　Watching Mom put on a brave face, I felt a pang of sadness.

　　No wonder she had retracted the message she sent in the early hours.

　　She must have been struggling, unable to sleep, and wanted to reach out but didn’t want to disturb me.

　　I couldn’t ask her directly what was wrong, because, with Mom’s reserved nature, she’d likely avoid revealing the full truth.

　　I’d have to figure things out on my own.

　　When I was young, my father passed away.

　　To spare me from the pain, my mom never remarried and raised me on her own.

　　After college, I made my first real money and wanted to bring her to live with me so she could finally relax. But then she told me she was getting remarried.

　　The man she married, Cody Dalton, was a few years younger than her.

　　Cody didn’t have much to his name, but he seemed decent and honest. I supported her decision wholeheartedly. She’d given up so much for me, and it was her turn to find happiness.

　　Knowing how much Mom had sacrificed and how much she longed for companionship,

　　I quickly stepped in when I learned Cody didn’t have a car or a home. I used my savings to buy Mom a bigger house, hoping that if Cody treated her well, they could make a comfortable life together there.

　　To ensure she’d be financially secure, I sent her 1,000 dollars each month on top of her pension, totaling 2,000 dollars a month.

　　With the wedding gift I’d given her, she should have had everything she needed for a good life.

　　So, it was a shock to find her picking up trash outside the neighborhood and living in the house's smallest, most cluttered room.

　　She’d never mentioned any of this to me.

　　I knew she didn’t want to trouble me, which was why she kept her struggles hidden.

　　Being far away, I hadn’t picked up on the signs sooner.

　　I felt a pang of regret for not noticing her distress earlier.

　　Whenever I called, she’d cut the conversation short, and her text replies were slow.

　　Eventually, I reached out to my aunt back home.

　　She hesitated before revealing the truth.

　　Mom had remarried to avoid being a burden to me, but she was deeply unhappy in her new life.

　　Cody’s ex-wife began showing up regularly, taking items from the house and eventually made excuses to let her younger son move in permanently.

　　Cody’s sister also moved in, continuously finding fault with my mom and treating her with hostility.

　　Mom kept all of this from my aunt, worried about adding to my stress or disrupting my life.

　　The most disturbing revelation was that Cody was still in touch with his ex-wife, though my aunt was too fearful to share this with Mom.

　　In our hometown, the stigma surrounding second marriages was already harsh. A second divorce would be devastating for Mom’s reputation.

　　“Reina, the ribs are ready,” Mom called, setting a plate of mouthwatering ribs on the table and gesturing for me to come over.

　　I snapped back to reality, quickly taking my seat. Just as I was about to dig in, I noticed something was missing.

　　“Mom, where’s the gold bracelet I gave you? Aren’t you wearing it anymore?”

　　Mom’s hand instinctively pulled away, and she pushed the water glass toward me.

　　“I found it a bit inconvenient to wear while working, so I put it away.”

　　I had bought her that bracelet as a wedding gift when she remarried, and she had been so fond of it that she wore it all the time, even while sleeping or showering. It was odd that she’d suddenly stopped wearing it.

　　Just as I was about to ask something, Mom’s phone rang.

　　She gave me a brief, uneasy glance before slipping into the study, carefully shutting the door behind her.

　　I quietly approached the study door and pressed my ear against it.

　　Despite the door being closed, the conversation on the other side was loud enough for me to hear every word.

　　“Mabel, are you deaf or something? How come you took so long to pick up?”

　　“Sarah, I was busy and didn’t hear the call…”

　　“More excuses! Don’t think you can slack off just because you’re pregnant. Luke and I are on our way home, so get dinner ready. If my nephew goes hungry, you’ll be in for it!”

　　“But Sarah…”

　　I was stunned. My mom was pregnant!

　　I couldn’t bring myself to listen to what Mom said next.

　　Normally, a pregnancy would be a cause for celebration, but I just couldn’t muster any happiness.

　　At her age, having a baby was risky enough, and it seemed like her second marriage was already fraught with issues.

　　When Mom ended the call and saw me standing at the door of the study, she looked genuinely startled.

　　“Reina, what are you doing here?”

　　I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I helped her to the sofa and tried to keep my emotions in check.

　　I asked firmly, “Mom, are you pregnant? Does Cody know?”

　　Mom gave a shy smile.

　　“Of course, Cody knows. He’s thrilled and says he’s sure I’m going to have a son.”

　　“Reina, why do you look so upset? Are you afraid the baby might be a burden? Don’t worry, I won’t let it be a problem.”

　　My poor mom, even at this moment, she was more concerned about everyone else and hadn’t really considered her own situation.

　　Taking a deep breath, I said softly, “Mom, I’m not upset, and I don’t see your baby as a burden. Whether it's a little brother or sister, I'll make sure they’re well cared for. But you’re older now, and I’m concerned about the risks of having a baby at your age. And, well…”

　　I left the rest unsaid. It was clear that, at a time when she should be cherished and well taken care of, she was instead facing these conditions at home. It made it hard to feel genuinely happy about the news.

　　Mom, who had endured so much for me, had become accustomed to accepting whatever came her way.

　　I didn’t want to confront her with these stark realities.

　　But I couldn’t just ignore it.

　　I took her hand gently and said, “Mom, you need to take it easy now that you’re pregnant. Let me make you some chicken soup to help you feel better.”

　　Mom waved her hand dismissively.

　　“I’m fine. You’ve just arrived and must be exhausted. You should rest. I’ll take care of everything.”

　　With that, she started to rise from her seat.

　　I gently pushed her back onto the couch, took off her apron, and put it on myself.

　　“Mom, I don’t think you’ve had a chance to try my cooking. Let me show you what I can do.”

　　Since Dad’s passing, Mom had endured so much.

　　Even though it was normal for her to handle housework now that she was remarried, seeing her pregnant and looking so frail made it hard for me to let her keep doing everything.

　　I set the chicken soup to simmer, tidied up the living room, and put all the dirty laundry in the washing machine.

　　Once everything was taken care of, I headed to the study to rest on the small bed Mom had been using.

　　If I guessed right, the stern voice on the phone must have belonged to Cody’s sister, Sarah Dalton. She should be arriving soon with her nephew, Luke Dalton.

　　I knew I needed to stay out of sight to truly understand the reality of Mom’s situation after her remarriage.

　　Before long, I heard the beep of the electronic lock and the sound of the door opening. An elderly woman stormed in, clearly Cody's sister.

　　"Mabel, are you trying to drive me insane? Why isn’t dinner ready? Didn’t I call you in advance? You’re home all day and still can’t manage this simple task? What good is Cody marrying you if you can’t even handle this?!”

　　A moment later, a chubby little boy’s voice chimed in from behind her.

　　“Auntie, I’m so hungry! Why isn’t dinner ready yet? Is it because my stepmother’s having a baby and is letting me starve?”

　　Sarah’s temper flared instantly.

　　“Mabel, don’t think that just because you’re pregnant with Cody’s child, you can slack off. Luke comes first, always. If you let this baby make you neglect him, you need to be sorry for this!”

　　Mom immediately headed into the kitchen.

　　“Sarah, Luke, please be patient. Dinner will be ready soon. I was out collecting bottles, and my belly started hurting, so it took a little longer…”

　　Before she could finish, a child’s piercing voice interrupted.

　　“Auntie, look! Stepmom is sneaking ribs when we’re not around!”

　　“And these cherries! She’s even sneaking expensive fruit!”

　　My heart skipped a beat. The ribs Mom had set aside for me were left on the coffee table, and it seemed Cody’s son had noticed them.

　　Then came the sound of a plate shattering, followed by Sarah’s angry shouts.

　　“Mabel, get over here!”

　　Mom poked her head out from the kitchen, holding a spatula, looking puzzled.

　　“What’s going on, Sarah?”

　　From the crack in the door, I saw Sarah pointing at the broken plate and the rib bones in the trash, demanding, “What’s all this? No wonder you were dodging my calls—you were sneaking food! At your age, you still have to steal from kids. Do you have no shame?”

　　Mom tried to deny it, “Sarah, it’s not what it looks like. I…”

　　Before she could finish, Sarah slapped her.

　　My blood boiled, and I couldn’t stay put. I rushed out of the study.

　I saw Cody's young son poking Mom's belly repeatedly with a stick.

　　"I hate the baby, and I hate my stepmom. She’s a thief, stealing my ribs and cherries."

　　The stick wasn’t thick, but the kid's force was considerable.

　　Mom's eyes welled up as she swayed with each jab, nearly toppling over.

　　Her pained expression reminded me of the time when kids at school mocked me for not having a father.

　　My anger boiled over.

　　Before anyone could react, I marched up and kicked the little brat, sending him crashing to the floor.

　　The room fell silent, save for the boy's shrill cries.

　　Mom, who was used to me being the quiet, obedient daughter, looked stunned.

　　I hurried to her side, gently placing my hand on her belly, my face etched with worry.

　　"Mom, is your belly alright?"

　　Mom stared at me, speechless, unable to find her words.

　　Sarah was the first to react.

　　She scrambled to her feet, her face twisted with fury, and stormed toward us.

　　“Mabel, you wicked woman! You bring a stranger into the house and hit Luke? Just wait till I deal with you!”

　　Before she could land a blow, I grabbed her wrist.

　　“You still owe me for that slap you just gave her.”

　　Seeing his chance, the boy tried to pull me away from Sarah, desperate to defend her. Sarah wasn’t backing down.

　　“What’s the problem with me hitting her? I’m Cody’s sister, so Mabel’s practically my daughter-in-law. It’s only fair that I put her in her place! And don’t think you’re off the hook. I’ll deal with you, too!”

　　She twisted, aiming another strike at me.

　　I responded with a sharp slap, sending her sprawling to the floor.

　　Seeing Sarah losing ground, the boy grabbed a chair from the floor and swung it toward me.

　　I quickly snatched a nearby vase, smashed it, and brandished the sharpest shard I could find, holding it against the boy’s neck.

　　At that moment, my mom rushed over, shoving the boy aside and grabbing my hand with the shard.

　　“Reina, don’t do this. Please, just calm down!”

　　Sarah stared at us in shock.

　　“Is this your daughter?”