“But I feel that whatever there is between the two of you is not as simple as an employment relationship. I’m your mother, Anna. I’ve raised you since you were a baby. Don’t you think I know how you tick?”
Mom chose to ignore my explanations. Besides, I could see that she had more to say as she bored into my eyes.
Confronted by her incessant questioning, I averted her gaze guiltily. I did not have a good answer for her. After all, I could not very well say that Michael and I were friends with benefits, could I?
Mom and Dad had a more traditional mindset. Thus, if I really said that out loud, I would probably never see the light of day again.
“Mom, Michael’s really not my boyfriend…”
I might not know what else to say, but I most definitely could not let Mom and Dad assume that Michael was my boyfriend. Otherwise, they would just keep asking Michael for money, devoid of any shame or guilt.
“If Michael’s not your boyfriend, then… is it true? Is it true what they say, that you’re his mistress?”
The conversation suddenly took an ugly turn. I froze when she called me a mistress. I looked at Mom with a pained expression, and my heart ached.
Mom actually called me a mistress. I was well aware that my relationship with Michael was not something that could be discussed openly. If other people had called me that, I probably would not have minded. However, out of all people, it had to be my mother who used that word.
I’m your daughter, Mom. How can you call me that? It’s such a demeaning term! Have you ever considered my feelings?
“Mom, how can you say that?”
My eyes turned misty as I stared at her, feeling upset.
“Anna, we are decent people. How could you let yourself be someone else’s mistress? Do you have any idea the shame you’ve brought to your father and me? What are we supposed to do the next time we meet our relatives?”
Mom did not give me a straight answer. But instead, she had basically decided that I was Michael’s mistress.
“I’m not! I’m not anybody’s mistress!”
Mom always jumped to her own conclusions. She never listened to me, and even if I did elaborate, she would not believe me anyway.
It was then that Dad, who had been eating silently while Mom and I were bickering, announced his stance on the matter. “I don’t care what you are. From now on, I want you to cut ties with Michael. Don’t ever see him again.”
He spoke harshly. My dad was never much of a talker, but whenever he opened his mouth, his words were intimidating.
“Dad, he’s my boss. I work there. How can we not meet? What’s up with you guys today? Why are you telling me this all of a sudden?”
I was very confused. In the past, Mom and Dad had never asked me about my relationship with Michael. Today, out of the blue, they called me to come home and then proceeded to ask about whatever was between us. It was all too weird.
“Then quit your job! Go work at another company! There’s bound to be one that will take you!”
Dad’s stern voice sounded again, but he did not answer my question.
“Why? Why must I quit my job? For your information, Joyful Success offers the highest salary in the entire design industry, and it’s a company with the most promising future for me. How can I give that up so easily?”
Without having to think, I rejected Dad’s demand. Getting the opportunity to work in Joyful Success was not an easy feat, and I would not let it go to waste!
“High salary, you say? Then how long will it take for you to earn one million?”
It was Steven who spoke this time. He looked at me with contempt.
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