Chapter 23 Not What I Meant

“All the sacrifices I’ve made, just to see you waste them away,” Laura doubled down on her guilt-tripping, watching Andrea squirm in her seat. She let out a few more heavy sighs after each sip of her wine. Becca smirked beside her as she enjoyed the unfolding scene.

Andrea cowered on instinct. While she live with her mother, her speeches about sacrifice and repayment were always followed by a few slaps or hits from a belt. She firmly hugged her lower abdomen.

“Don’t act like a victim here, Andy,” her mother continued. The tremor in Laura’s voice let her know that she was getting irritated. “When it’s me, your mother, who’s about to suffer because you got lazy.” She pretentiously dabbed a tissue in her eye to wipe a tear.

“I don’t know what to tell you, Mom,” Andrea replied in a hushed tone. “I can’t predict what will happen in the coming months.” Depending on Sebastian’s response, it would either be a blissful retirement, or a forceful and humiliating leave from the industry.

“And I j