Standing Her Ground

Lucy didn’t utter a single word in response. She continued eating, her eyes calmly darting around the table. Everyone stared at her with a mixture of confusion and shock. She understood their reaction perfectly — she had always been docile, submissive, and accommodating. Never once had she been nonchalant or defiant.

But on her way home from Ashley’s, she had made a silent promise to herself— she would no longer take shit from anyone. If her son could lock her in a suffocating bathroom all night, and if Marcus could block her bank card simply because she didn’t make breakfast, then she might as well start living on her own terms.

A bitter truth slowly settled over her — over the years, she had been quietly downgraded to the position of a maid in her own home without even realizing it.

Her gaze fell on the plate in front of Jaycee. Was that ice cream?

“JC, why are you eating ice cream?” she asked, nearly shouting as she sprang up from her chair and moved toward him.

“So what? Clara let me have it,” Jaycee replied arrogantly, clutching the bowl tighter.

“Clara, didn’t you know Jaycee has a severe dairy allergy?” Lucy questioned, taking the ice cream away from him.

“I didn’t know. I’ve given it to him so many times and nothing happened,” Clara said defensively.

“What?”

“Stop with the drama, Lucy,” Marcus interjected. “He only suffered from that when he was a baby. He’s outgrown it now.”

“No. I don’t think it’s safe until we confirm with the doctor,” Lucy insisted, dumping the ice cream into the trash bin.

“You wicked, ugly stepmother!” Jaycee screamed, bursting into tears and running out of the room.

Lucy stood frozen, her heart slowly breaking inside her chest. She had only been trying to protect him.

Ten years ago, shortly after she married Marcus to help care for newborn Jaycee, the baby developed severe digestive problems. Every time he was fed regular formula, he would vomit, suffer from diarrhea, cry inconsolably, and even pass stools streaked with blood. After multiple hospital visits, he was diagnosed with a severe cow’s milk protein allergy and extreme digestive sensitivity.

The pediatrician recommended exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Since Lucy was not Jaycee’s biological mother, they faced a difficult situation. When the doctor mentioned that induced lactation was possible, Marcus persuaded Lucy to try it, insisting it would only be temporary.

Out of deep compassion, she agreed. After weeks of hormone therapy, pumping, and relentless effort, she successfully induced lactation. Jaycee thrived on her milk. Because of his severe allergy and inability to tolerate regular formula, she became his sole source of nourishment and exclusively breastfed him for the first six months.

As he grew older, Lucy remained extremely vigilant about his dairy allergy. She obsessively read every label, checked every snack, and never allowed him ice cream or dairy products without proper medical confirmation.

“Clara, I think you’re being too cautious,” Clara said, scolding her. “I browsed about the allergy and found out it usually goes away as the child gets older.”

“The doctor hasn’t confirmed that yet,” Lucy tried to explain.

Everyone stood up and left the table, abandoning her like an outcast. Lucy slumped onto the floor, her mind in chaos. Had she really been too strict with Jaycee all these years? Was that why he no longer loved her?

After some time, she pulled herself together and cleared the table. A small, determined smile formed on her lips. She knew exactly how to win Jaycee back. She would prepare his favorite porridge — the special one he loved so much.

Despite her lingering fever, she got to work in the kitchen and made a piping hot bowl of porridge, just the way Jaycee liked it.