Chapter 2

I clenched my fists, so hungry my vision blackened, and looked at my wailing daughters as I forced down that bowl of rich bone broth, swallowing back the nausea.

Three hours later there was still no milk. My breasts were swollen hard as stone, and when I touched my forehead it was burning.

This was mastitis. I'd learned about it in the prenatal classes while I was pregnant.

I held one of my daughters and sat against the door, knocking weakly. "Maurice, open the door. I have a fever."

I don't know how long I knocked before it opened. It was the groom's elder sister and the second sister.

"Sweetie, the first rule of being a Roman daughter-in-law is obedience, and giving us sons." The elder sister looked down at me with disgust.

"Since you can't produce one yourself, we're each giving you one. You'd better be grateful. Don't be an ingrate." The second sister crouched down and patted my cheek.

Marina Roman appeared behind them. "Back then, when Maurice insisted on marrying her, I was against it. Scrawny little thing. Anyone could see she'd never bear sons."

"What a waste of our family's good multiple-birth genes. I haven't even gotten to hold a single grandson."

My throat felt like it was being cut, my head hot and thick. "Please, take me to the hospital."

"Hospital for what? You're just clogged up. The girls are too weak to suck. Swap in the boys, they've got the strength." Marina scooped up my daughter without waiting for an answer.

The elder sister undid my clothes, and the second sister pushed a baby at me.

I lay collapsed on the floor with no dignity left, and Maurice just stood there lecturing.

"Lisa, listen to Mom. She's got experience. Stop making a scene!"

Tears slid down from the corners of my eyes. In that moment I was a lamb for the slaughter, and every one of them could raise a knife at me.

My vision kept going dark, and I was forced to nurse another woman's son.

And that wasn't the end of it. They brought over another baby.

The wounds on my body and the wounds in my heart bled together.

"Won't someone save me?" I stared at the ceiling, the dark closing in on me in waves.

The moment the doorbell rang, hope rose in me.

"Who is it?" Marina bellowed.

"Hello, we're the professional postpartum nurses Ms. Swanson hired for Ms. Lisa Swanson."

"You can leave. We don't need a nurse here. That kind of money's better spent on more pig's feet." Marina shouted, irritated.

I stared at the door in despair, silently pleading, "Don't go. Please don't go."

"Ms. Swanson has already paid in full for the nurses and the premium ingredients. You won't owe any extra." The nurse explained patiently through the door.

"Mom, if Lisa can't use a free nurse, my sister and I will."

"Mom, I want the premium ingredients. You kept the dowry money for both of us older sisters, and I've had no good life at my husband's place."

The elder sister and the second sister were flushed with excitement and greed.

Only then did Marina open the door. Two nurses came in carrying big insulated food carriers.

I was face down on the floor. I raised a hand and called out weakly, "Save... me."

Maurice took my hand and carried me back into the room.

"Honey, even though your sister paid for the nurses and the food, my sisters have given up so much. Don't fight them for it."

"This little problem of yours, just listen to Mom. Drink more water, more soup, and the milk will come."

I was dizzy, as if I were floating up in the clouds, drifting, unable to say a word.

"Honey, honey!" When Maurice saw my eyes roll back and my whole body twitch, he quickly slapped at me.

Getting no response, he screamed in terror, "Mom, sisters, come quick and look at Lisa."

"I think she's... she's dead!"

Marina came in cursing. "Making a whole production out of having a baby. Scaring my son again."

"Ms. Lisa Swanson, we're here!" The two nurses forced their way in, one pressing a cooling patch to me, the other feeding me warm water.

I opened my eyes, my voice hoarse. "My daughters..."