John passed away at the age of 30, the grass on his grave was just green. Everyone in the village felt sorry for Julia – the young widow whose husband d:ied in an accident after only two years of marriage.
But no one predicted that, just five months after her husband di:ed, her belly was clearly bulging.
The rumors spread like wildfire. Some said she had remarried, others said “she was still young, couldn’t bear the loss of her husband and hadn’t married anyone yet”. Her mother-in-law – Mrs. Maria – went crazy when she heard that. She rushed over, grabbed her Mariaghter-in-law’s hair, slapped her repeatedly, and yelled:
– A woman like you doesn’t deserve to live in this house! You’re a slut, your husband just passed away and you’re already having an affa:ir! My house doesn’t have this filthy thing. Get lost!
Sister Harley knelt down, tears streaming down her face:
– Mom, I didn’t do anything wrong, the baby is really John’s child…
My child is d3ad, and you dare to say it’s my grandchild. I’m not stupid. Don’t try to argue anymore…
That’s right, Mom, I didn’t say anything wrong… I beg you…
But the more she listened, the angrier she got, and she chased her Mariaghter-in-law away that very night. From then on, Huong carried the fetus back to her parents’ house, lived quietly, and didn’t dare to go back to her husband’s house.
On the first anniversary of Nam’s passing, Julia carried her newborn son – the boy who seemed exactly like his father at home and asked to light a stick of incense for his father.
But as soon as she reached the yard, Mrs. Maria blocked the door and shouted:
– Go away! This house has no place for you and your child!
Julia was in tears, bowed her head and begged:
– Mom, let me and my son light a stick of incense for him and that’s it, I’ll leave right away…
– I said go away! I don’t want to see her face, this is not my nephew. Go away…
A shout echoed in the dark space. Julia choked up and hugged her child and turned to leave. When the mother and child had just reached the gate, suddenly there was the sound of a motorbike braking suddenly, the brother-in-law ran in, his face pale:
– Mom! I just met the doctor at the provincial hospital… They said that before John di:ed, he sent a sperm sample for preservation! It was Huong who did the procedure to preserve it, saying she wanted to give birth to a child for him…
Everyone was suprised.
Mrs. Maria collapsed, only had time to say “Oh my God” twice before fainting on the spot. Everyone hurriedly brought her into the house, massaged her for a while and she woke up.
Only then did everyone remember Julia and her child and rushed out to find them. But that day Julia did not return to her parents’ house. Julia’s parents cried in tears:
He packed up all of our belongings and left. The girl said that seeing her grandchild who looked exactly like her father, her grandmother would not chase her away this time. When she did not come home, I thought they had accepted her and her mother. Oh my child, oh my child….
The whole paternal and maternal family were in a panic looking for Huong and her mother, but for a whole month there was no news. Mrs. Maria was so heartbroken and regretful that she fell ill. Because of her, she had lost both her Mariaghter-in-law and her eldest grandson…
