Chapter 12 — When the Spider Plant Turned Black

All I wanted was to have a child.

That single sentence made my stomach turn with a sickening revulsion. Whose child? I demanded. He froze in sheer bewilderment.

Ours, naturally.

Then why did only the two of you make that decision behind my back?

Someone walked past in the hallway, their footsteps pausing for a fraction of a second outside the open door before fading away into the distance. Research locked his gaze downward and lowered his voice.

Must you make a scene and expose me right here in this hallway?

I looked at his expression, which flickered between awkward embarrassment and simmering resentment, and a chilling realization washed over me. He was never afraid that I might be hurt by all of this. He was only terrified that things were slipping beyond his control and he would have to face the consequences. A police officer handed him a pen and instructed him to sign the transfer verification form. As Research reached for the pen, his fingers slipped off the cap again and again, trembling noticeably.

My mother accompanied me into a separate room to supplement my initial statement. As soon as we sat down, an elderly officer leaned forward and asked, Ever since you were married, were you ever forced or coerced into consuming any medicinal supplements or special foods?

I paused, searching my memories.

Yes, I was.

My mother whipped her head around, staring at me in disbelief.

Why did you never tell me about this?

For a period shortly after the wedding, his mother brewed bowls of thick, pungent broth every single day, insisting it was to nourish my vital energy and blood.

What kind of broth? the officer pressed.

Black chicken, pigeon, and various types of fish. Sometimes the bitter, heavy scent of traditional herbs seeped right through the broth.

My mother's expression darkened into a stormy scowl.

How long did you drink it?

For about ten days or so. Then my work schedule became hectic, and I started leaving early, frequently skipping breakfast at home. That was when she shifted tactics and forced me to start doing herbal foot baths every night instead.

The tip of the officer's pen paused abruptly against the paper.

Did you notice any unusual discomfort or adverse physical reactions?

I answered, There was one time when my menstrual cycle became severely irregular. My legs felt numb and heavy, and my limbs were constantly cold at night. Once I stopped doing the foot baths, those symptoms gradually improved.

My mother grabbed my hand, gripping it so tightly her knuckles turned white, her voice trembling with suppressed fury.

We are going straight to the hospital this afternoon.

I nodded numbly. From just outside the interrogation room, the sound of a sudden, shrill argument erupted. It was the voice of my mother-in-law.

That money was given to me out of filial piety by my own son! What does it have to do with her!

Calm down and sit back down, a stern officer instructed.

My mother-in-law wailed hysterically, tears streaming down her face. I want to see my son!

Right after that, Research's voice cut through the commotion.

Mother, please, stop talking.

It was as if that plea had startled her back to reality; her sobs escalated into a piercing shriek.

I did it all on my own! It has nothing to do with Research, he knew nothing about any of this!

My mother turned her gaze back to me.

Did you hear that?

I remained silent. Outside, the officer's voice rang out clearly once more.

Then how do you explain why Aunt Liu was regularly sending you detailed logs of Lily's physiological cycle?

The room plunged into an absolute, suffocating silence. I jerked my head up in shock. My mother was equally stunned. The heavy door was pushed open a few inches. A young police officer stood in the doorway, his expression grim and hardened.

Lily, come over here for a moment.

In the fourth screenshot, a meticulous sequence of dates was laid out. The exact day it started, the day it ended, the days when abdominal cramps struck—every single detail was recorded with chilling precision. Directly beneath the timeline of dates was a text message. *Her cycle came three days early this time. Is the herbal mixture too strong?* The sender was my mother-in-law. Aunt Liu had replied: *Pause it for two days, then switch her to the foot baths, and make sure she remains completely unaware of it.* I stared unblinkingly at those words until the edges of my vision darkened into absolute blackness. My mother caught me before I could fall.

Lily.

It took me several long seconds to drag myself back to reality, my voice coming out rasped and hollow.

Those dates... how on earth did she know them?

Research stood nearby, his face contorted into an expression so wretched it defied description. He did not dare to meet my eyes.

Did you tell her? I asked.

His lips trembled pathetically.

I only happened to mention it in passing.

My intimate personal matters, you casually discussed them with your mother?

She was merely inquiring about your overall health and well-being, so I happened to mention a few details.

My mother was so enraged her eyes burned a furious, stinging red.

A few details? You even broadcasted the exact days she suffered from menstrual cramps to your mother like neighborhood gossip.

Research panicked, his voice rising defensively.

We are husband and wife, what is so taboo about these things that cannot be discussed? My mother only did it out of concern for her well-being!

I swung my arm forward and struck him across the face with all my might. The sharp crack of the slap echoed crisply inside the small room. Research's head was jerked violently to the side by the impact, and he remained frozen in that position for a long, agonizing moment. The police officers standing nearby made no move to stop me.