“Your monthly salary is only 4, 000. I’m giving you 40, 000, which is ten months of your salary,” Finnegan said, his face red with anger. He was not a good talker and could only respond weakly.
“But your mother has millions in her savings account!” Mariam rolled her eyes at him. “With so much money, you only give me 40, 000. It’s disgusting. You don’t treat me well at all.”
Finnegan’s chubby face was filled with anger, but he couldn’t find the words to respond.
Others, unaware of their family situation, tried to mediate.
“Mariam, stop arguing. Let’s talk this out.”
“Yes, what’s there for a couple to argue about?”
“Finnegan is the only heir. No matter how much your mother-in-law has, it will all be yours and Finnegan’s eventually.”
Mariam ignored their advice. “I don’t care. I’m carrying your child. You must give me money. It’s only right for you to give me money. I want everyone to see how stingy you and your mother are.”
Alina’s face turned pale with anger. “Mariam, ever since you married into our family four or five months ago, haven’t I always prepared meals for you, washed your clothes, and cleaned the house?”
Before she could finish, Mariam interrupted, “What are you talking about? You did all that voluntarily. I told you not to do it. If you insist on doing it, how can you blame me?”
“My mom even brings lunch to your school every day!” Finnegan finally managed to say.
“Did I ask her to? I told her not to, but she insisted,” Mariam said ungratefully. “Besides, I’m her daughter-in-law. It’s her duty to treat me well. And even then, I think it’s not enough!”
Alina trembled with anger. “You…” She dragged her lame leg and wanted to scold Mariam but held back.
She opened her mouth for a while before saying, “You haven’t even registered your marriage with my son. It’s been six months since the wedding, and I’ve urged you several times to register. Remember what you said?”
“What did I say? I said the more you urge me, the less I’ll do it,” Mariam rolled her eyes. “You don’t treat me well. Why should I register? So stingy.”
“Why haven’t you registered yet?”
“Isn’t registering the marriage a given?”
“Yes!”
Everyone looked at Mariam in disbelief. Queena couldn’t stand it anymore and asked, “Mariam, why don’t you register? Registering the marriage provides legal protection for both of you. Especially for you as a woman, isn’t it better to have legal protection? You’ve had the wedding, but legally you’re not recognized as Finnegan’s wife!”
Mariam gently stroked her swollen belly and said, “In our village, many people don’t register their marriages. It doesn’t matter whether we have a certificate or not. Besides, if he treats me badly after the baby is born, I’ll register the child under my name.”
It was clear she was just after money.
“You…” Queena frowned, feeling very uncomfortable with Mariam’s crude remarks. Wasn’t she a college graduate? A primary school teacher?
How could someone with such poor manners be a teacher?
“We gave you a dowry of one million. How can you say you have no money?” Finnegan grew angrier and seemed even fatter with rage. “Where did all your money go?”
“The dowry is mine. Once it’s given to me, it’s my money. Why do you care where it goes?” Mariam snorted coldly. “I’m pregnant now. Are you giving me the money or not? I need to buy maternity clothes. Give me at least 300, 000 to 500, 000.”
“The other day you wanted an electric car, and we bought one for you immediately. What more do you want?” Alina was on the verge of tears from anger. “Money, money, money-every day it’s about money.”
Alina’s family wasn’t particularly favored in the Hipps Family. Her son had an ordinary job at an internet company with a regular salary.
Although she had some savings, it was far from enough to support a luxurious lifestyle for the whole family.
“You have millions in savings but won’t buy me a car worth hundreds of thousands. Instead, you bought one for just over 400, 000. You look down on me!” Mariam continued to speak harshly. “Driving such a car is embarrassing.”
“What kind of luxury car do you need to drive to your village school?” Finnegan himself drove a car worth just over 300, 000 and couldn’t understand what Mariam was thinking.
He was really about to explode with anger.
“What’s the point of arguing like this?” Queena slammed the table in anger, causing it to tremble and spilling water from the cups on it.
Mariam’s face stiffened in fear but then pouted defiantly. “What’s wrong? I just want money. Is that too much to ask?”
Queena’s eyes almost shot fire. “Mariam, given your family’s condition when you married into the Hipps Family, do you feel wronged or that you’ve married beneath yourself?”
Mariam clenched her fists tightly and said, “I’m a teacher! I have a stable job!”
“So what?” Queena coldly looked at Mariam’s dissatisfaction and anger without even sparing her a glance. “If you still want to live in the Hipps Family, go register your marriage with Finnegan immediately. If not, I suggest you leave.”
“How dare you try to kick me out? I’m pregnant with your family’s child!” Mariam glared at Finnegan unwillingly. “Say something! Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you going to kick me out?”
Finnegan took a deep breath as if making a decision. “Both my mom and I have asked you several times to register our marriage, but you refused each time. Since you don’t want to register, it seems like you don’t intend to live with me.”
“I’m pregnant! You’re kicking out a pregnant woman? That’s too much!” Mariam didn’t expect the usually honest Finnegan to listen to Queena’s advice and felt a flash of panic in her eyes.
“How shameless! I’m carrying your child!”
She almost screamed.
“You haven’t registered your marriage; what does that have to do with our Hipps Family?” Queena really didn’t like dealing with such family matters-it’s troublesome and who knows if they’ll reconcile tomorrow.
“I want to wait until after the baby is born to register; is that okay?” Mariam finally softened her attitude a bit, making what she thought was a concession.
Finnegan shook his head. “Do as you wish.”
“Why are you arguing? Can’t we all just get along?”
“Yes, Finnegan, you’re the man; be more accommodating to your wife.”
“She’s pregnant now; taking care of the baby is the most important thing.”
Everyone tried to comfort them.
But Finnegan said nothing more, and neither did Mariam.
The farce ended amidst everyone’s chatter.
After the luncheon ended, Finnegan’s family of three returned to their small courtyard. Watching their backs, Queena shook her head helplessly and said to Sylvia, “It’s all Alina’s fault for spoiling her daughter-in-law.”
“Grandma, what’s going on? Do you know something?” Sylvia smiled as she helped Queena sit on the sofa.
“When Finnegan first met Mariam through a matchmaker from their hometown, he wasn’t very satisfied with her. But he was getting older and Alina was eager for grandchildren. She hurriedly arranged for them to meet and thought that since Mariam was a teacher with decent personal qualities despite her poor family background, it would be fine.” Queena sighed. “She forced them together and made Finnegan agree to marry this woman.”
“And it turned out that after marrying her, they found out that her mindset and manners were very low-class?” Sylvia continued Queena’s thought.
“Yes! Her thinking is completely different from Finnegan’s. Especially after she got pregnant-she became even more domineering. Alina even prepares foot baths for her every day. Isn’t that infuriating?”
Queena couldn’t help but criticize Alina in frustration. “I’ve always reminded her to maintain boundaries with her daughter-in-law and not do things that lower her own status-but she wouldn’t listen. She gives Mariam whatever she wants and obeys her every whim. Now even 40, 000 isn’t enough for her.”
“This woman probably married into our Hipps Family for money. She thought that even as a branch family member of the Hipps Family they’d be very wealthy but was disappointed.” Sylvia recalled Mariam’s ugly face and said, “Given her poor family background, she must value money highly.”
“She has two younger siblings; she’s the eldest. Look at how Alina behaves around Mariam-always so submissive while Finnegan is pitifully caught in between.” Queena felt increasingly upset as she spoke. “Finnegan is an honest man but seems clueless about what he’s doing.”
“I’ll ask Finnegan about his intentions later; if he still wants this marriage then fine-if not then it’s better without Mariam.”
“Grandma, this is their business… Don’t end up getting blamed.” Sylvia noticed that Alina wasn’t someone easygoing either but didn’t understand why she acted so humbly before her daughter-in-law.
“You’re right.” Queena said no more but patted Sylvia’s hand instead. “Franklin should stay here tonight; no need to return to the Presidential Palace.”
Franklin was sitting on the sofa reading messages on his phone when he heard Queena’s words and quickly looked up saying: “Alright-I’ll do as Grandma says.”
“And my in-laws-you should stay here tonight too so we can have dinner together and chat,” Queena said while looking at Mrs. Wright and Brayden invitingly.
Maybe it’s because she’s getting older that she wants everyone around more often.