Chapter 2: His Mother Expected Him to Choose His Family... She Never Expected His Answer
The next morning, no one spoke during breakfast.
The tension was thick enough to taste.
Emily quietly poured herself a glass of milk.
Daniel noticed her wincing as she sat down.
He placed a hand on hers.
"How long has your back been hurting?"
She smiled weakly.
"It's nothing."
His mother interrupted.
"Pregnancy isn't an illness."
Daniel looked directly at her.
"No."
"But being treated like a servant is."
His father's newspaper lowered slightly.
For the first time, the older man spoke.
"Son..."
Daniel turned.
"I know you've always wanted everyone under one roof. I respected that."
His father nodded.
"But this isn't a family anymore."
"It's a household where one person keeps sacrificing while everyone else keeps taking."
No one argued.
Because everyone knew he was right.
That evening Daniel called a realtor.
Three days later he signed the papers on a small house across town.
It wasn't luxurious.
It wasn't large.
But it was peaceful.
When his mother found out, she exploded.
"So you're abandoning us?"
May you like
Daniel calmly folded the last cardboard box.
"I'm leaving because I refuse to abandon my wife."
