Chapter 3

After enduring for several hours, I finally waited for Iris to get off work.

The child's own mother surely wouldn't refuse to take care of her!

I eagerly shoved our daughter into her arms, about to whistle in relief when my shoulder was suddenly patted by my mom.

"I'll hold the baby. Jack has been working all day outside, while you've been doing nothing at home. Go give him a shoulder massage."

I frowned. Taking care of a baby was much more tiring than going to work. It was already good enough that I didn't ask Iris to rub my back. I couldn't help but retort, "How can you say I didn't do anything? Ulla can't be left alone for a moment. You didn't hold her at all during the day, I was the only one taking care of her."

As soon as I finished speaking, my mom actually started crying, complaining tearfully to Iris, "I've been busy all day, cooking, washing clothes, cleaning the house, doing everything. Now you're finding fault with me. I shouldn't be alive, I shouldn't be in your way."

I was stunned for a moment.

My mom had cried in front of me several times before, and I thought Iris was being horrible. I became increasingly impatient with her, never imagining that my mom could be two-faced...

Come to think of it, I used to love Iris very much. The vows I made when proposing were sincere. It was only later, worn out by the constant tug-of-war at home, that my love gradually faded.

How much of this was due to my mother?

Iris raised an eyebrow and plopped down on the sofa with a look of amusement. "How dare you talk to my mom like that, Iris? She came all this way to take care of you, and this is how you treat her? Apologize to Mom right now."

Iris's words hit me hard. This was exactly how I used to speak to her. She had remembered all along...

I closed my eyes and resigned myself to giving her a shoulder massage.

At night, after the whole family had showered, Iris sat in the living room working. I quickly walked over, feeling I finally had something useful to contribute.

"How was your first day at work? Was there a lot you didn't understand? I can teach you."

Iris shifted her gaze from the screen to my face. Her eyes sparkled with unprecedented brilliance as she smiled and patted her chest.

"I was a bit unfamiliar in the morning, but I got much better in the afternoon. Don't worry, I didn't slack off during my pregnancy. I haven't lost my professional knowledge. Remember when we were in college? I was top of our major. Which project have I ever lost to you at the company? If it weren't for preparing to get pregnant and have Ulla, I would have been the one promoted that time."

Seeing Iris's proud expression, I felt somewhat embarrassed.

She was an only child from the city, with academic and work abilities no less than mine. To be honest, I was the one who married up.

If she could strive forward even while pregnant, surely I, a man with several more years of work experience, could do even better.

"When my maternity leave is over, I'll go back to work. We can hire a nanny to take care of Ulla."

Iris gave me a strange look, smiling sarcastically, "Didn't you say your mom is Ulla's grandmother and loves her more than anyone? Why waste money on a nanny? Mom won't agree."

I gave a bitter smile. "Stop mocking me. I know I was wrong, honey."

If I hadn't transmigrated into my wife's body, I probably would have thought my mom was a kind-hearted old lady until the day I died.

Our daughter woke up hungry every two hours, crying loudly. I had to force open my heavy eyelids to get up and feed her.

After two feedings, I couldn't take it anymore. I picked up our daughter, and with huge dark circles under my eyes, I woke up Iris sleeping in the living room. "She's so noisy, how am I supposed to sleep? I'm having a mental breakdown! Please, you take care of the baby. I'll go to work."

Iris had slept through the baby's loud crying earlier, but as soon as I complained, my mom immediately pushed open her bedroom door and came out. Holding Iris's hand, tears streamed down her face like broken strings of pearls.

"My poor son, married to a wife who doesn't know how to care for others. And she's a graduate from a top university in the city, not even as good as a country girl."

In the past, when I heard these words, I would be moved to tears, thinking my mom was the most sensible person in the world. But now I wanted to slap her.

You never feel the pain until the knife cuts your own flesh.

I hadn't had a good night's sleep since taking care of Ulla, yet I was still being compared unfavorably.

But she was my own mother after all, so I held back.

Iris pulled her hand away. "Honey, be strong for your child. You'll get through this."