While I was away, they went behind my back and paid the bride price.

That night, my mother made an elaborate feast and personally cooked the food. It was something she never did. She even drank with me and swore, "As long as you listen to me, I’ll have your father find you a good job. We’ll even pay for your wedding."

I was naive enough to believe her. I thought she had finally broken free of my aunt’s manipulation. I had no idea she had baited me herself and set the trap to keep me caged forever.

The next morning, I woke up with a splitting headache and there was a woman lying next to me. She threatened me, "Take responsibility, or I'll call the police."

Later, I found out she was called Tia.

***

Suddenly, a commotion broke out at the table.

"O … oops ... Sofia ..."

My daughter was coughing violently, her tiny face flushed red. She was at my aunt’s feet, choking.

My aunt chided, "This girl is so fragile, can't take a little prank. It’s just a little mustard! Why are you so dramatic?

I rushed forward and scooped my daughter into my arms. She was choking and sobbing. I frantically searched the table for water but there was nothing except alcohol.

"Aunt! She’s only a year old! How could you let a baby eat mustard?! You’re her great-aunt! Do you have no conscience to treat a child like this?" I shouted angrily.

A sharp slap landed across my face.

SMACK!

In a rage, my mother yelled, "How dare you speak to your aunt like that?"

I barely felt the sting because I was too worried and said without restrain, " She is just one year old! What if she chokes? If that’s not heartless, then what is?!"

"Enough! Your aunt only comes to the old house a few times a year and you and your daughter just had to ruin everything! How many times have I told you to respect your aunt? Stop embarrassing me!" my mother roared.

I was so worried that I became enraged. So, I yelled at her, "Mom! She’s your sister, not mine! It’s your responsibility to take care of her, not mine! Grandfather told you to look after her so what does that have to do with me? Haven’t they ruined my life enough?"

In my arms, my daughter’s cries weakened. My heart dropped. I could not think of anything else. All I wanted to do was to go to the kitchen and rinse the child's mouth.

My mom was furious and swung her arm to slap me while yelling, "Ungrateful son, I'll beat you to death! I won't let you walk all over me!"

Mateo went forward and pulled my mom in a false manner then coaxed her, "Aunt, let him go. You know my cousin is small-minded. Don't make yourself angry."

My mother's expression immediately changed when she saw Mateo come and pursue her. She said softly, "Good boy. Only you who are respectful. I won't get angry anymore. It's pointless."

When she turned to me, she glared viciously and retorted, "Nothing in you comparable with your cousin. You two are so different, how the hell did I ever give birth to a loser like you?"

Mateo helped my mom back to the table and sat down as if nothing had just happened.

My daughter who was lying on my arm suddenly bobbed her head up and down frantically. Something felt off. I glanced down and there it was, a small patch of blood staining my clothes.

I shouted to Tia, "Blood! Tia! Our daughter is coughing blood!"

My daughter's eyebrows were furrowed, her eyes were closed tightly and only a pair of small hands were gripping my clothes tightly, enduring the pain with great difficulty.

I turned around to face the crowd then threatened my aunt, "Auntie, if something happens to my girl today, I won't let you off the hook! Tia, let's go to the hospital!”

Tia, who was at the other end of the table, was stunned for a moment when she saw the blood stain on my clothes. Then she immediately took action and ran toward me. I picked up my daughter and ran outside.

"Get the car! We’re going to the hospital immediately!"

In panic, I rushed to the car. Just as I opened the door, my mother rushed forward and gripped the car window then said, "She has been drinking! She can’t drive! She’s been drinking!"

I was already so anxious that my teeth were chattering and I turned my head and yelled angrily at Tia, “Have you been drinking? How can you drink? What about the baby?”

At this time, Tia's face was exactly the kind of red that comes from drinking alcohol and it made me furious to see it.

"Why are you yelling at me? How was I supposed to know this would happen? If I knew, I wouldn’t have drunk anything!" she yelled back.

Back then, my mother never let me take any exams. The moment she noticed me preparing for one, she would do everything in her power to stop me and now, at over thirty years old, I didn’t even have a driver’s license.

However, we were in the middle of nowhere and of course, I couldn't get a taxi.

Who hadn’t been drinking? It was The Day of the Dead Festival, after all. Who did not drink but could drive?

It was Mateo!

Mateo had driven here in his brand-new car today, just to flaunt it in front of me. He wouldn’t have been able to resist showing off when I was at the house. This meant he definitely hadn’t been drinking.

I shoved my daughter into Tia’s arms and sprinted back into the dining room.

Mateo was currently cradling his girlfriend while pampering her like a spoiled child. When he saw me storm in, he barely spared me a glance before quickly looking away.

I knew he wouldn’t agree easily to help me, so I begged, "Mateo, can you please drive me to the hospital?"

He frowned. "Huh? Can’t you go yourself? I still have to take my girlfriend home later. Her family is very strict so I can’t be late."

He knew I didn’t have a driver’s license.

I clenched my hands together in front of me. Pride meant nothing, not if it could save my daughter.

"I don’t have a license… You haven’t been drinking. Please, I’m begging you .... please, help me just this once. Help me, okay?"

However, before Mateo could respond, my aunt stepped between us, blocking my way.

"Santiago," she said, patting my shoulder like she was comforting me. "It’s not that Mateo doesn’t want to help you."

You know how important his girlfriend’s family is. If something happens because he’s late, who’s responsible? We have to think ahead and avoid trouble whenever we can, right?" she asked.

My daughter’s worsening condition made me feel like I was going insane. I tried begging to Mateo one last time, "Mateo, please. I’ll find someone else to send your girlfriend home. Your niece, she’s been coughing up blood. Just this once ... please, have a little heart!"

Mateo just stood there and leaned lazily against the edge of the table.

"That won’t work for me. Why should I care if she’s not mine?"

Next to him his girlfriend, Camilla, handed him a glass of wine. Mateo took it and downed it in one gulp. He did it right in front of me. It was a deliberate act of mockery.

My heart shattered. They were cut from the same cloth, this family of mine. I knew my cousin and aunt never had any kindness toward me, so I could only turn to my mom as my last hope.

My mom was a nurse in the county hospital when she was young and she must have the contact information of the county hospital in her hand.

"Mom, call the hospital! You must have their number! Get them to send an ambulance!"

She stared at the blood on my shirt, frozen for half a minute. Then, at last, she pulled out her phone.

For the first time that night, I felt a sliver of relief. At least my daughter would be saved.

However, a hand snatched the phone away in a flash from my mother's hand. It was my aunt and at that moment, a chill ran down my spine.

My aunt locked the screen, waved dismissively and scolded my mother, "Sister, it’s not that I'm forbidding you but calling nine-one-one on The Day of the Dead Festival? What kind of nonsense is that?"

Her eyes darted at me and they were glaring at me. My body trembled uncontrollably and my teeth were clattering because of nervousness.

"Besides," she continued, "do you know what today is? Do you know what kind of destiny Mateo has? If an ambulance comes to the house, bringing in all that hospital bad luck, what if it ruins his future?"

Everyone froze. My aunt successfully made them feel terrified with her superstitious words. They did not dare to do anything.

My aunt smirked triumphantly. The same way she always did after convincing my mother to do something ‘for my own good’.

She had already ruined my life, but I would not let her ruin my daughter’s. Absolutely not!

While she was still gloating, I lunged forward and ripped the phone from her hands. I immediately dialed the county hospital.

Behind me, my aunt screamed in rage, pounded my back with her fists and cursed me over and over again. I just ignored her.