Mother-in-law Loves Picking Mushrooms

Helen Beck, my mother-in-law, was obsessed with picking mushrooms, but she never let me have even a bite.

A mere five days after my miscarriage, she forced me to go out under the blazing sun to run errands.

The moment I stepped out, she invited the pregnant mistress of my husband, Josh Aster, over for a meal.

I thought to myself. “Go ahead, eat as much as you want. Who could possibly out-eat you two?”

At 6:00 am, Helen stormed into my room. She threw the door open with a bang and yelled, “You’re still in bed? Didn’t I call you yesterday and tell you I’d be coming over to make chicken broth for my son?

“My son works so hard at his job to provide for you. Do you think that’s easy? And here you are, sleeping in like a lazy freeloader!”

Honestly, I only managed to catch these few lines out of her tirade.

At this point, it had only been five days since my miscarriage. The miscarriage did not happen because there was something wrong with the baby. No, it happened because Josh got drunk and beat me so badly that I lost the child.

This was not the first time something like this had happened.

The first time it happened, I ran back to my parents’ house. He came crawling on his knees and begged for forgiveness. He promised it would never happen again.

I forgave him. What I got in return was even worse violence.

This time, of course, I forgave him again. Just like Helen always said, “If you can’t even hold on to a pregnancy, what good are you?”

I got up and walked to the kitchen. I spotted the mushrooms on the table.

Helen smacked me on the back and grumbled, “What are you staring at? Hurry up and wash them!”

I hesitated and asked, “Helen, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you bring these mushrooms home before. Are you sure they’re not poisonous?”

Predictably, Helen brushed me off with her usual disdain. “Look at you. You’re so clueless. These are rare termite mushrooms, perfect for making chicken broth. They’re incredibly nutritious! I went out before dawn to stake my claim, or someone else would’ve grabbed them already!

“Now, hurry up! Quit dragging your feet. Oh, and by the way, Dani is coming over later. Let her borrow your computer. Don’t you dare act stingy with family again like last time.”

The thought of Dani Aster, Josh’s sister, immediately made my blood boil with resentment.

Six months ago, I was still working at the office. I had just finished drafting a proposal, but before I could save it, Dani went and deleted it.

She had the nerve to act all pitiful and said she had not done it on purpose. I was so furious that I slapped her.

Without that proposal, my career was essentially over.

Josh did not even hesitate. He slapped me twice, knocked me to the floor, and then kicked me in the stomach.

“How dare you hit my sister? Who do you think you are to lay a hand on her?”

Helen was right there, egging him on. “Hit her! Teach her a lesson for daring to touch my precious daughter!”

It was not until blood started running down my legs that Josh finally stopped.

That was the day I lost my first child.

After losing my job, I ran back to my parents’ house. I vowed to get a divorce. However, my mom said that finding a second husband would be tough and embarrassing.

Josh came to my parents’ place again. He pretended to apologize sincerely. He got on his knees, hit himself like a madman, and begged me to come back.

I eventually agreed, only to face even worse beatings.

Josh hid my phone. For an entire month, I had no contact with the outside world.

Then he started staying out late, night after night. Whenever he did come home, he would collapse on the couch and stare at his phone with a ridiculous, lovesick grin on his face.

Helen also began bringing more mushrooms over. Sometimes, she would even carefully ladle a bowl into a thermos before she left.

I started to suspect that she was taking it to someone.

Who exactly? I did not bother looking into it. What broke me completely was the call from the insurance company. They informed me that Josh had taken out a personal accident insurance policy for me.

He was listed as the beneficiary.