Something heavy settled on my chest. I couldn't breathe.
It took me a long moment to find my voice again. I stared at her, disbelief written across my face. "Mom. Are you serious?"
She blinked, then stiffened her neck and doubled down. "Don't blame me. I'm going to be living with your brother from now on, so of course I have to look out for him."
"Besides, isn't your husband a doctor? You two can figure out the baby situation on your own. But my surgery is a one-time thing."
I couldn't hold it in anymore. The words tore out of me. "Do you even know that your disease needs my baby?!"
"Without my baby, your disease can't be cured!"
The room went dead silent.
But within seconds, Daisy let out a sharp little laugh. "Mom, she's threatening you."
"She's saying if you don't let her keep the baby, she won't let her husband do your surgery."
"She really knows how to twist your arm, doesn't she."
My mother's whole body shook. She jabbed a trembling finger at my face and screamed, "You! You'd threaten me over some shapeless clump that hasn't even formed yet?!"
"I'll ask you one more time! Are you getting rid of it or not!"