Chapter 3.1

To Tina, it was like the past week never happened. Her heart went crazy, but that was about it. She moved on with her work, only contacting Jeff when necessary.

After getting home at the end of the day, she heard a voice she dreaded… granny Martha's voice. Her dad, Mr. Lawrence was very filial and soft-hearted. Knowing how difficult it was to deal with her granny, all of her uncles and aunts threw the responsibility on the first child and went on with their lives.

"How is she not home yet? It's not like she has a man keeping her out there. Interior design? What even is that? Her mates her doctors, lawyers, big bankers or marrying rich. Interior design, what rubbish."

Done berating her granddaughter, she looked down on Mrs. Lawrence.

"If only you had a son, he would have been the pride of this family. However, look out how dull your lives are. You were better off not even having children at all. Where is the other one?"

Mr. Lawrence felt bad as his mother talked down to his wife, but he didn't want to get into a conflict with his mother. She was old already and her health wasn't great. He could only let her talk and apologize to his wife later.

"Mother-in-law, you are learned, and I cannot believe such disgusting things are coming out of your mouth."

Tina, who was about to go in, and Mr. Lawrence were shocked at Mrs. Lawrence's rebuttal. She was always so calm and went along with whatever Martha said.

"We are both women. Biology teaches us that I can only donate X for the rest of my life. However, your son is the only one capable of donating a Y. If you want to blame anyone for being useless, blame your son. Why did he selfishly hold on to his Y and give an X which made our daughters? Please, let us use our senses here. You did not go to college for 4 years to be speaking like an uneducated person."

Even Martha was shocked. What did this woman eat to be brave enough to speak to her this way? Did she just say her son was the useless one? Unbelievable.

"You…!" was the only thing Martha could utter.

"You what? What about it? You better humble yourself. None of your children want you because of your trouble, so do not come into my household to dictate how I should run it. Your son might be spineless, but I have had enough of you."

Tina rushed in as she feared that her granny would do something to her mother. She was a woman with a fierce temper.

"Granny, mother! Calm down both of you."

Martha held on to her heart like she was going to faint. Mrs. Lawrence held on to her daughter as she mocked Martha's fake display.

"I did not kill my mother so my words cannot kill you. Hold on to the theatrics when you're alone with your son. It will not work on me."

Mrs. Lawrence took her daughter upstairs without even sparing a look for her husband.

"Mom are you alright?" Tina looked at her mom worriedly. She was always calm, but whenever she was angered, all hell would be let loose.

Mrs. Lawrence shook her head, signaling to her daughter not to worry. She would have let Martha go, but her button was pushed when Martha spoke badly about her daughters. Her daughters were her pride and joy. So, what if they weren't dating, she had worked enough to support her daughters for the rest of their lives.

"Someone had to teach her one of these days. She spilled hot coffee on Tanya, your third cousin, and blamed the girl for serving her hot coffee, so your uncle drove her here. If I didn't do that, God knows what she'd do to you and Lina."

Tina gasped. She knew her granny didn't favor females but harming them was just too much. She was a woman also, how could she treat her kin like that?

"Mom don't worry. Just be calm. Ignore her if you can so she doesn't harm you." Tina could only console her mother.

After calming Martha done, Mr. Lawrence made his way to his family later that night. He saw his wife and his two daughters looking at him with disappointment in their eyes. He knew that he had failed them way too many times. But what could he do? Martha was his mother after all.

"I'm so sorry to you girls and your mother. You know dad loves you a lot and I never once wished that you were boys. Be a little more understanding of granny. Don't take it to heart."

Mrs. Lawrence wasn't about to listen to another sorry speech.

"My house, my rules. When we got married, I was hesitant, but you promised me you'd take care of your mother and not let me be slighted. I've been slighted for 30 years now. I cannot take it anymore. You won't wake up until she harms our daughters."

Mr. Lawrence could only bow his head lower. What his wife said was the truth. If he didn't keep is mother under control, his family might fall apart.