“Mom’s getting ready to go shopping. Her friends are waiting.”
Lily tucked the sleeping Cheryl back into her crib and firmly closed the nursery door. Then she turned to her husband.
“I have a new card and I’m not going to give it to you.”
Alex stared at her as if she had suddenly started speaking a foreign language.
“What do you mean you won’t give it to me? Have you completely lost your mind?”
“We always did it this way. Mom always divided your salary for the family’s needs.”
“For the family,” Lily repeated quietly.
“Alex, let’s be honest. Your mom spends my money on herself.”
“New lotion, dinners with friends, clothes – all for her, not for us.”
“I wear worn-out clothes and I can’t even buy new shoes because I never have money.”
“Mommy is taking care of us,” Alex protested.
“He cooks, he cleans, and so do I,” Lily interrupted.
“I work full time, cook, clean, and take care of the child. But somehow my salary is treated as family income, while yours is simply yours.”
“You never count what you spend your money on.”
Alex’s face turned even redder.
“I’m a man. I take care of my family.”
“No, Alex.” Lily felt a strange sense of calm. “I take care of my family. My salary is higher than yours.”
“We pay rent, groceries, and clothes with my money.”
“And your money? I have no idea what you spend it on.”
“This is impudence.”
Alex burst into tears and jumped right next to her.
“You’ve forgotten where you are, Lily. Give me your business card right now.”
“NO”.
This simple answer seemed to shock them both. Lily hadn’t expected her to be so forceful with her husband. Something had changed within her over the past six months of fighting for a raise. She was no longer the silent, submissive woman who dutifully handed over her salary to her mother-in-law.
Alex wasn’t used to resistance. His face contorted with anger.
He grabbed Lily by the hair and pulled hard.
“Where’s the card?” he growled.
A sharp pain shot through her head, but Lily didn’t cry out. She quietly pulled away from his grasp, leaving a few strands of hair in his hand.
“Don’t you dare touch me,” she hissed through her teeth. “Never again.”
Her voice was so cold and decisive that Alex froze for a moment. Lily took advantage of his hesitation, quickly going to the bathroom and locking the door.
Her heart was pounding like crazy.
What did she do? What will happen now?
Outside the door, Alex began pounding the wall with his fists and shouting, “Come out now. You’re going to give me your card anyway. Mom’s waiting.”
Lily remained silent.
She grabbed her phone and opened her banking app. She transferred some of the money she’d just received to a new account she’d recently opened at another bank—just in case her instincts were right.
Slowly but surely, Alex’s screams faded. Lily heard the front door slam. He left. Probably to explain himself to his mother.
She had a moment to think.
Gloria paced around the apartment like a tigress in a cage.
“Can you imagine?” she stammered, searching for a stronger word. “That sneaky girl hid the raise from us. She has a new card.”
“This is scandalous.”
Alex sat on the couch with his hands on his head.
“She’s changed, Mom. She used to be so obedient, but now she says she doesn’t want to give me the card.”
“And you let her talk to you like that?” Gloria waved her hands. “That’s not how I raised you.”
“A man should be the head of the family.”
“I tried,” Alex replied grimly. “She locked herself in the bathroom.”
Gloria snorted.
“She’s barely out of diapers and already thinks she can order everyone around.”
“Besides, I’m the one who sits with Cheryl while she’s stuck at work. I iron, I cook, I clean, and now what? I can’t even buy new moisturizer.”
Alex looked at his mother wearily.
“Maybe she has a point,” he said uncertainly. “We never ask her what she needs.” Maybe we should spend that money differently.”
Gloria froze in mid-motion.
“What am I hearing? You took her side.”
Her voice trembled with indignation.
“After everything I’ve done for you, I’ve dedicated my entire life to you. When your father abandoned us, who took care of you? Who stayed with you when you were sick?”
“And now some stranger is trying to turn you against your mother.”
Alex sighed. He knew that song by heart. His mother always sang it when she wanted to get her way, and it usually worked.
“No, Mom. I’m not taking her side,” he said quietly. “I just thought…”
“Exactly. I just thought.” Gl
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