Edward left.

Susan finished her porridge and, feeling overfull, rose from the table to walk around. She had barely reached the living room when the doorbell rang.

Opening the door, Susan began, "I told you to hurry away, why are you back...?" Then she saw Justine, initially mistaking her for her father. Her face hardened.

"Why, you know too?" Susan's tone was hostile.

"My stepdaughter is pregnant. Of course, I should know," Justine replied aggressively.

Susan rolled her eyes, again complaining about Manuel's tendency to spread news so quickly. "I have no intention of giving birth to this child," she declared pointedly, still resentful of Justine for taking her father from her mother.

"No intention? So what's in your belly?" Justine's expression shifted dramatically. Her demeanor was starkly different from her previous pretense of kindness. Susan realized the woman had only feigned affection.

"Do you think I'm willing to?" Susan retorted angrily.

"You're not willing. So, did Manuel force you?" Justine pressed.

Susan was speechless. Manuel hadn't forced her, but Justine, fixing her with a steely gaze, continued her relentless barrage: "Manuel is disabled in both legs; what could he do to you?"

Susan was speechless, her anger making it difficult to breathe. Justine believed Susan had initiated their encounter, which, in a sense, was true. Susan had been drugged and unable to control herself. A sullen expression settled on Susan's face under Justine's scrutiny.

"I don't care about your young people's affairs. It's all your choice, as long as you're happy," Justine said magnanimously. "I'm here to take care of my granddaughter. Your relationship with Manuel is none of my business."

"What did you say? You want to take care of your granddaughter?" Susan stared at Justine.

"Tia," Justine ignored her, calling to Tia, who was unpacking Edward's belongings, "Come help me with the luggage."

"What are you doing with your luggage?" Susan's eyes widened.

"Didn't I say? To take care of my granddaughter!" Justine's impatience grew.

"Who's your granddaughter?" Susan was furious.

"Isn't she in your belly?"

"Who says it's a girl?" Susan challenged.

"Before it's born, I'll call it whatever I want. It's none of your business," Justine stated firmly.

Susan was nearly beside herself with rage. Years of feigned obedience had all been a sham. Tia bustled into the room.

"Here you are, Madam," she chirped, taking Justine's luggage. "I'll take this to the room. I'll be staying here," Justine announced matter-of-factly.

Susan watched as Justine and Tia entered the house, the former settling in as if it were her own.

"Who allows you to live here?" Susan demanded. "This is my home. Did I give you permission?"

"This is my son's house," Justine retorted arrogantly. The contrast to her previous docile behavior was striking.

"You're wrong. I know my father bought this house," Susan stated definitively.

Justine's sarcastic smile further enraged Susan. She knew Justine had married her father for his money.

"No wonder you don't know who to love or who loves you," Justine sneered. "I'm afraid my granddaughter will inherit your intelligence!"

"Justine!"

Ignoring her, Justine turned to Tia. "Give me Susan's room. I'll take it."

"What!" Susan was near breaking point. The audacity of showing up uninvited and then claiming her room was beyond belief.

"There are three rooms. One for Manuel, one for Tia, and of course, the last one is for me," Justine declared as if it were perfectly natural.

"What about me? Where do I live?" Susan exploded.

"That's not my concern. You can live with Manuel..."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Or stay with Tia," Justine suggested.

"If you don't mind, I'd be pleased," Tia hastily interjected.

"Who wants to live with you?" Susan snapped.

"Then live with me," Justine said bluntly.

"I'd rather die than live with you!" Susan gritted her teeth.

"Fine, the couch is yours," Justine conceded with a shrug.

Susan glared at Justine. "Tia, go clean the room," Justine instructed, then, ignoring Susan, went directly to Manuel's room and knocked. He opened it, and they entered together.

Susan was left alone, seething. Justine was clearly there to torment her, perhaps even to cause a miscarriage.

Later...

"I'll be staying for a while. I'll take care of Susan; she's like a bull in a china shop," Justine told Manuel.

"I'm afraid that will only make her angrier," Manuel replied.

"Don't worry. After living with her for so many years, I know her well enough. I won't push her over the edge," Justine said confidently.

"Okay," Manuel said, accepting her assessment. His mother was rarely impulsive, and her judgment was usually sound. "By the way, I'll be in Susan's room. You should give up your room for Susan and sleep on the sofa. Susan will worry about you."

Susan was no match for her formidable mother-in-law.