After being brainwashed by Robert and his mother day after day, I started to believe I was at fault, that I had failed the family by not continuing their bloodline.
A week later, my mother-in-law heard of a remedy from somewhere.
She wanted me to abort the baby, set up a shrine for her at home, and take a special potion that would ensure the next child was a boy.
Under their constant pressure, I went to the hospital.
The emotional torment had taken its toll, and instead of gaining weight, I had lost a few pounds, my cheeks were sunken, and there were dark circles under my eyes.
Sitting in the hospital hallway, I rubbed my already showing belly and stared blankly at the wall.
Suddenly, I felt the baby move.
I pictured myself playing with her.
The baby's strong will to live awakened my maternal instincts.
At the door of the operating room, I knelt in front of my mother-in-law, sobbing, begging her to spare the baby.
Due to the doctor and public opinion, she reluctantly agreed.
When we got home, she threw her bag aside, her face red with anger, and sat on the couch, berating me in front of Robert and her three daughters.
"You ungrateful thing! You dared to embarrass me in front of everyone. If you're so determined to have this worthless girl, you'd better go earn money for her! Don't expect me to take care of you."
As she said, she stopped cooking for me and didn't let Robert give me any money.
But thankfully, I had some savings from before the marriage, which allowed me to cover the baby's expenses.
My sister-in-law accidentally found out and told my mother-in-law.
She rushed to me, her face twisted in disgust, pointing at my nose, and yelled, "I underestimated you, you sly woman. How dare you hide money from me? I'll beat you to death!"
Before she finished, she slapped me hard across the face.
She then barged into my room with Robert and began searching for the money, muttering, "Where's the money? Once you marry into this family, you're one of us. What's yours is mine."
Before long, she found the 200,000 dollars bank card I had saved before the marriage.
She stood in front of me, demanding the PIN just as Robert came home.
I looked at him, pleading for help.