Chapter 225 Can't Bear It Anymore
Susan had just finished sorting out Spring's clothes and diapers when she heard some women whispering outside the window.
Even though they weren't loud, they were right downstairs, and the windows were open, so Susan could hear them clearly.
"Have you heard? Catherine's eldest daughter, Susan, has been staying at her place with her kid for a while now." Susan recognized the voice; it was Lovisa Moller, who lived just next door.
"No need to hear it; I've seen it myself. Haven't you noticed Catherine going grocery shopping every day? She's cooking for Susan and her granddaughter." That was Tuva Kristoffersen, who lived across the hall.
"Didn't Susan get divorced? How did she have another kid? When did she remarry? Why hasn't Catherine mentioned it?" This was Maja Lindgren, who lived at the far end.
Susan knew Lovisa, Tuva, and Maja well. They had nothing better to do than gossip. Her family had always had a tough life, and these three never stopped talking behind their backs.
Despite their gossiping, these neighbors were quite kind-hearted. If anyone had real trouble, they would help out. So, over time, people in this old, rundown building didn't take their gossip too seriously. After all, you could't control what others said behind your back.
But Lovisa, Tuva, and Maja never dared to say such things to someone's face. If the subjects of their gossip heard them, they would curse them out.
Hearing this, Susan initially didn't want to pay attention, but before she could step off the balcony, she heard even more unpleasant words.
"I bet Susan had this kid out of wedlock!"
"Nonsense, how could that be? Catherine cares so much about her reputation. If that happened, would she tolerate it? She's still buying groceries and cooking for Susan and the kid every day."
"Why not? I live right across from them; I know everything. One day, I heard crying inside. When I listened closely, it was Susan apologizing to Catherine, saying she had brought shame to her. What else could it be? It must be this!"
"That makes sense. Susan has been back with the kid for over two months now. Have you seen the kid's father even once?"
"No!"
"Also, Susan hadn't been back for over half a year. Catherine said she was working out of town. Now it seems she was hiding to have the baby."
"Oh my, that's so shameful, having a kid out of wedlock and bringing it back to her mom's house!"
"Exactly, I think Susan must have been someone's mistress, ended up pregnant, and since the man already has a wife and kids, he wouldn't marry her. So she brought the kid back to her mom's house!"
"Could she have been a mistress to a rich man?"
"What rich man? If he were rich, wouldn't he have bought her a house and a car by now, and even hired a nanny? She came back with nothing, still dressed the same as before. She probably got the short end of the stick!"
Such hurtful words fueled Susan's anger, yet she chose to ignore them. She understood she couldn't dictate others' words; she simply prayed that Catherine wouldn't catch wind of these rumors. Catherine had always been conscious of her image, but fate had a way of throwing curveballs at her.
When Catherine was young, James abandoned her. She struggled to raise Susan and Dorothy, but neither made her proud. Luckily, Dorothy married Henry, a professor, while Susan kept disappointing her.
Susan reached out to close the window, not wanting to hear the gossip or let Catherine hear it when she got back from grocery shopping.
But before she could touch the window, she heard Catherine's voice from downstairs.
"What are you talking about now? Don't you have anything better to do? Why are you so interested in our family's business?" Catherine, with a grocery basket on her arm, angrily pointed at Lovisa, Tuva, and Maja.
Susan peeked downstairs and saw that Catherine had indeed returned from grocery shopping.
She had never seen Catherine so fierce before. Usually, if someone gossiped about their family, Catherine would either endure it or say a few words back. But she had never been this fierce.
Susan knew Catherine cared most about their reputation. In the past, Lovisa, Tuva, and Maja would gossip about how terrible James was and how Catherine was abandoned. However, now the focus had shifted to Susan's reputation, explaining Catherine's current fury.
Usually, if Lovisa, Tuva, and Maja were caught and scolded by the person they were gossiping about, they wouldn't dare to continue talking.
Yet today, Tuva, who lived across the hall, muttered, "Don't be so harsh. We're not making things up. Isn't Susan's situation common knowledge?"
"You're too much. Gossiping about my family, and you think you're in the right? Just because I didn't lend you something the other day, you're holding a grudge and badmouthing Susan?" Catherine retorted, not backing down.
At this point, Lovisa quickly tried to mediate. "We're all neighbors; let's not argue!"
"Yes, perhaps we should all speak a little less. We do see each other every day," Maja chimed in, also aiming to defuse the tension and prevent further escalation.
"Just because we see each other every day, do you think it's okay to badmouth Susan right in front of me?" Catherine was very angry today and wouldn't let it go.
Hearing this, Maja and Lovisa fell silent.
Tuva sneered and said, "We're just telling the truth. How is that badmouthing? Tell me, did Susan have a child out of wedlock and bring the child to your house?"
"Bullshit! Susan had the child within marriage. She got married, but since it was her second marriage, she didn't have a wedding. The man married her properly!" Catherine, cornered, could only stand tall and continue the lie.
If the rumor that Susan had a child out of wedlock spread, everyone in the area would look down on their family, and they would become the talk of the town. Catherine would never let that happen.
Tuva sneered, "Catherine, we've been neighbors for decades. Do you think I don't know your family's business? Properly married, huh? It's been months, and we haven't seen your son-in-law even once. How can you say it's a proper marriage?"
"You..." Catherine was at a loss for words.
"What? Can't say anything now?" Tuva retorted.
Standing on the balcony, Susan could no longer hold back. In a fit of rage, she reached out and opened the window.
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