Simone was looking at her plate. Marcus was clenching his fists under the table, and I just smiled. «Yes, you’re right, everyone gives what they can.»

Veronica continued. «We always made sure Simone had the best. She went to the best schools, traveled the world, learned four languages. Now she has an excellent job, earns very well. And when she married Marcus, well, we helped them quite a bit.»

«We gave them money for the down payment on the house. We paid for their honeymoon because that’s just who we are. We believe in supporting our children.» She looked at me intently. «And you, Alara, were you able to help Marcus with anything when they got married?»

The question floated like a sharp knife. «Not much,» I replied. «I gave them what I could, a small gift.»

Veronica smiled. «How sweet, every detail counts, right? The amount doesn’t matter, the intention is what’s important.»

And right then, I felt the rage begin to stir within me. The rage wasn’t explosive. It was cold, controlled, like a river under ice. I breathed slowly, kept the timid smile, and let Veronica keep talking.

Because that’s what people like her do. They talk, they inflate themselves, they show off. And the more they talk, the more they reveal themselves, the more they expose the emptiness inside.

Veronica took a sip of her glass of red, expensive wine, swirling it in her hand as if she were an expert. «This wine is from an exclusive region in France. It costs $200 a bottle, but when you know quality, you don’t skimp. Do you drink wine, Alara?»

«Only on special occasions,» I replied, «and usually the cheapest one. I don’t understand much about these things.»

Veronica smiled condescendingly. «Don’t worry, not everyone has a trained palate. That comes with experience, with travel, with education. Franklin and I have visited vineyards in Europe, South America, and California. We are quite knowledgeable.»

Franklin nodded. «It’s a hobby, something we enjoy. Simone is learning too. She has good taste. She inherited it from us.» He looked at Simone with pride.

Simone offered a weak smile. «Thanks, Mom.»

Veronica turned to me. «And you, Alara? Do you have any hobbies, anything you enjoy doing in your free time?»

I shrugged. «I watch television, cook, walk in the park, simple things.»

Veronica and Franklin exchanged another look, a look loaded with meaning, with silent judgment. «How lovely,» Veronica said. «Simple things have their charm too. Although, of course, one always aspires to more, right?»

«To see the world, to experience new things, to grow culturally. But, well, I understand not everyone has those opportunities.»

I nodded. «You’re right. Not everyone has those opportunities.»

The waiter arrived with dessert, tiny portions of something that looked like edible art. Veronica ordered the most expensive one, $30 for a piece of cake the size of a cookie. «This is delicious,» she said after the first bite.

«It has edible gold on top. See those little golden flakes? It’s a detail only the best restaurants offer.» I ate my dessert, simpler, cheaper, in silence.

Veronica continued, «You know, Alara, I think it’s important that we talk about something as a family now that we are all here.» She looked up, her expression changed, becoming serious, falsely maternal.

«Marcus is our son-in-law and we love him very much. Simone loves him and we respect that decision. But as parents, we always want the best for our daughter.»

Marcus tensed up. «Mom, I don’t think this is the time.»

Veronica raised her hand. «Let me finish, son. This is important.»

She looked at me. «Alara, I understand you did the best you could with Marcus. I know raising him alone wasn’t easy and I truly respect you for that. But now Marcus is at another stage in his life. He is married, he has responsibilities, and well, Simone and he deserve to have stability.»

«Stability?» I asked softly.

«Yes,» Veronica replied, «financial, emotional stability. We have helped a lot and we will continue to help, but we also believe it’s important that Marcus doesn’t have unnecessary burdens.» Her tone was clear. She was calling me a burden, me, his mother, his mother-in-law.

Simone was looking at her plate as if she wanted to disappear. Marcus had his jaw clenched. «Burdens,» I repeated.

Veronica sighed. «I don’t want to sound harsh, Alara, but at your age, living alone with a limited salary, it’s natural for Marcus to worry about you, to feel that he must take care of you, and that’s fine.»

«He is a good son, but we don’t want that worry to affect his marriage. Do you understand me?»

«Perfectly,» I replied.

Veronica smiled. «I’m glad you understand. That’s why we wanted to talk to you. Franklin and I have thought about something.» She paused dramatically.

«We could help you financially, give you a small monthly allowance, something that allows you to live more comfortably without Marcus having to worry so much. Obviously, it would be modest. We can’t work miracles, but it would be a support.»

I remained silent, watching her, waiting. She continued, «And in exchange, we would only ask you to respect Marcus and Simone’s space, not to seek them out so much, not to pressure them, to give them the freedom to build their life together without interference. How does that sound?»

There was the offer, the bribe disguised as charity. They wanted to buy me off. They wanted to pay me to disappear from my son’s life so I wouldn’t be a nuisance, so I wouldn’t embarrass their precious daughter with my poverty.

Marcus exploded. «Mom, that’s enough. You don’t have to…»

Veronica interrupted him. «Marcus, calm down. We’re talking like adults. Your mother understands, right, Alara?»

I picked up my napkin, calmly wiped my lips, took a sip of water, and let the silence grow. Everyone was looking at me, Veronica with expectation, Franklin with arrogance, Simone with shame, Marcus with desperation, and then I spoke.

My voice came out differently. It was no longer timid. It was no longer small. It was firm, clear, and cold. «That’s an interesting offer, Veronica. Truly, very generous of you.»

Veronica smiled victoriously. «I’m glad you see it that way.»

I nodded, «But I have a few questions, just to understand clearly.»

Veronica blinked. «Of course, ask whatever you like.»

I leaned forward slightly. «How much exactly would you consider a modest monthly allowance?»

Veronica hesitated. «Well, we were thinking about 500, maybe $700, depending.»

I nodded. «I see, $700 a month for me to disappear from my son’s life.»

Veronica frowned. «I wouldn’t put it like that, but yes.»

I responded. «That is exactly how you put it.»

She adjusted in her chair. «Alara, I don’t want you to misunderstand. We just want to help.»

«Of course,» I said, «help. How did you help with the house down payment? How much was that?»

Veronica nodded proudly. «$40,000, actually 40,000.»

«Ah, 40,000, how generous. And the honeymoon?»

«$15,000,» Veronica said. «It was a three-week trip through Europe.»

«Incredible. Unbelievable,» I replied. «So you’ve invested about $55,000 in Marcus and Simone.»

Veronica smiled. «Well, when you love your children, you don’t hold back.»

I nodded slowly. «You’re right. When you love your children, you don’t hold back. But tell me something, Veronica. All that investment, all that money, did it buy you anything?»

Veronica blinked, confused.

«Like, did it buy you respect?» I continued. «Did it buy you real love? Or did it just buy obedience?»

The atmosphere changed. Veronica stopped smiling. «Excuse me?»

My tone became sharper. «You’ve spent the entire night talking about money, about how much things cost, how much you spent, how much you have. But you haven’t asked even once how I am, if I’m happy, if something hurts me, if I need company.»

«You have only calculated my worth, and apparently I’m worth $700 a month.»

Veronica paled. «I didn’t.»

«Yes,» I interrupted her. «Yes, you did. Since I arrived, you’ve been measuring my value with your wallet. And do you know what I discovered, Veronica? I discovered that the people who only talk about money are the ones who least understand their true value.»

Franklin intervened. «I think you are misinterpreting my wife’s intentions.»

I looked at him directly. «And what are her intentions? To treat me with pity? To humiliate me throughout dinner? To offer me alms so I’d vanish?»

Franklin opened his mouth but said nothing. Marcus was pale. «Mom, please.»

I looked at him. «No, Marcus, please don’t. I’m done being quiet.»

I placed the napkin on the table. I leaned back in my chair. There was no more timidity in my posture, no more shrinking. I looked Veronica directly in the eyes.

She held my gaze for a second, then quickly looked away, uncomfortable. Something had changed and she felt it. Everyone felt it.

«Veronica, you said something very interesting a moment ago. You said you admire women who struggle alone, who are brave.»

Veronica nodded slowly. «Yes, I did.»

«Then let me ask you something. Have you ever struggled alone? Have you ever worked without your husband backing you? Have you ever built something with your own two hands without your family’s money?»