When I Quit Being A Wicked Mother-in-law, Everyone Became Obsessed With Me - Chapter 160

She looked at her mother with a face that seemed on the verge of collapse.

But her mother no longer gave her any attention.

Instead, she was pleading desperately with her father.

“Dear, please stop now.”

“Stop? What do you mean stop?!”

“It’s just that the child is immature; she must know that she did something wrong.”

Her mother spoke again, earnestly.

“I’ll make sure to talk to her properly… okay?”

“Tsk!”

With a short click of his tongue, her father stomped out of the room.

“Ugh, what a mood killer!”

Bang!

The door slammed shut with a force that seemed like it would break it.

A heavy silence filled the room.

“……”

“……”

And she found that silence almost unbearable.

‘…It feels like I’m being choked.’

Unable to endure it any longer, she staggered to her feet.

Only then did her mother look at her.

But the gaze was filled with resignation and resentment.

‘If only you had been a boy…’

At that moment, her heart sank.

Simultaneously, she realized.

‘I was never needed from the start.’

***

Years passed.

A late-born younger brother was born.

He was the long-awaited heir.

Joy blossomed on the faces of her family.

However, amidst that joy, she was thoroughly alienated.

“Come on, grandchild, try this.”

Her grandmother piled delicious dishes onto her younger brother’s spoon.

While she quietly shoved plain rice into her mouth, she cautiously reached for the chopsticks.

The braised meat in front of her younger brother looked so delicious that she wanted to taste even a single piece, but…

“Now that you’re a sister, should you be coveting what your brother eats like that?!”

She had to shrink back at her grandmother’s icy shout.

Meanwhile, her mother’s situation had improved significantly compared to hers.

“Oh, my daughter-in-law. You’ve worked hard to give birth to a son.”

“Thank you, Mother…”

The mere fact of having given birth to a son made everyone in the family treat her mother kindly.

“Dear, is there anything you want to eat?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Fine? Just tell me! I’ll buy you anything you want!”

Her mother’s face, smiling shyly in happiness, was as clear as a cloudless sky.

In the midst of it all, she felt completely isolated.

Though she was in the same space, she couldn’t share the same feelings.

She was the useless daughter.

***

She was always completely alone.

Even on the day of her middle school graduation, her mother nonchalantly demanded understanding.

“Your brother is still very young, so you need to understand, okay?”

“…But this is my only graduation ceremony.”

Unable to hold back, she earnestly pleaded with her mother.

“Could you please come just this once?”

At her question, her mother’s eyes sharpened immediately.

“Why is this child throwing a tantrum?”

“Mom.”

“What’s so special about that graduation ceremony? When will you grow up?”

But… Mom, you didn’t come for my elementary or middle school graduations either.

Now I only have my high school graduation left.

Those words almost escaped her lips.

However, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

She was afraid it would only anger her mother further.

“Can’t you just let your brother have this?”

Her mother shot back sharply.

Then, at that moment,

“Mom, what’s wrong with my sister?”

Her younger brother, who had just returned from school, spoke up.

The precious heir, the pillar and hope of the family.

The magical presence that brought harmony to everyone.

Her mother quickly adjusted her expression.

She turned to her son with a smile.

“Don’t mind her. With you being here….”

“Did my sister make you upset again?”

“What can I do? That’s just how your sister is. But as long as we have our son, Mom is okay.”

Her mother gently patted her son’s back.

“Aren’t you hungry? I’ll make you some potato pancakes.”

“Wow, really?”

Her brother nodded happily with a big smile on his face.

She silently watched the two of them head to the dining table.

Until her mother set out snacks for her son and packed his bag to take him to tutoring.

Her mother didn’t say a single word to her.

In that moment, she realized.

‘So this is how it is.’

As long as Mom has a son, that’s all that matters.

Unlike me, a completely useless daughter.

By giving birth to my younger brother, my mother’s life has become much happier.

“……”

She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.

The overwhelming self-loathing made it hard to breathe.

***

The more she sought love and begged from her family, the more they turned away from her.

It was expected that she would sacrifice for her brother, and if she didn’t accept that sacrifice, she became the sinner of the household.

Before she knew it, she had become the spark of discord.

The household would always be peaceful if she weren’t around.

Now she thought that way herself.

And that was understandable because her family said it in unison.

“If only you weren’t here….”

“Who do you think you are, raising your voice at my precious grandchild?!”

“Can’t you take care of your little brother, being a sister?!”

All she wanted was to be loved by her family.

‘If I could just change a little, would my family treat me differently?’

So she tried to change.

She could have gone to a better university but enrolled in a local college that offered scholarships.

It was to avoid putting a strain on the family finances.

While she had met a few friends at college, she couldn’t truly connect with them.

She was too busy to enjoy her college life.

She worked part-time jobs to earn pocket money and studied day and night to maintain her grades.

To look good in her family’s eyes, she acted as obediently as possible.

While she worked hard, she also harbored a little hope.

‘Maybe one day, I’ll be loved too?’

She hoped that her family would recognize and cherish her.

But then…

“About your younger brother.”

When she had just graduated from college and got her first job,

While she struggled to adapt to the company amid her boss’s shouts and frustrations,

Paying back the remaining tuition that her scholarship couldn’t cover, sending half of her meager salary home…

Her mother suddenly called her out.

“Things have been a bit tough at home lately.”

Her mother sat her down without a hint of hesitation.

“You know your brother is entering college, right?”

She did know.

Unlike her, who enrolled in a local college due to tuition concerns, her brother registered at a university in another region.

“He’ll need living expenses and tuition since he’ll be living away from home.”

Her mother shrugged.

“Try to gather some money.”

It wasn’t a request but an order.

Her eyes trembled slightly.

“…Mom.”

“You’re the sister, right? Can’t you do that much?”

She had lived her entire life hoping to hear just that one word of appreciation.

But in the end, she never heard it.

***

That night.

She stood atop a tall building.

Looking down at the distant ground, she thought.

‘What if I just disappeared from this world forever?’

She desperately wished for someone to shed at least a tear for her.

But… at the moment she vanished, her family would likely create a perfectly happy home.

‘It’s time to accept it.’

She had always been a burden to her family.

No matter how hard she struggled, it was all useless.

“……”

She gazed down for a long time.

‘If I ever become a mother, I will absolutely love my children unconditionally.’

So they can grow up without being wrinkled by life.

So they wouldn’t suffer like I did.

So they wouldn’t have to beg for love.

“…The truth is.”

A voice like a groan slipped out.

“Deep down, I wanted to be loved too.”

But she knew that couldn’t happen.

So…

‘I hope I never open my eyes again.’

With that thought, she leapt off the building.