Chapter 79 Domestic Violence Should Not Be Tolerated at All!
Everyone in this neighborhood knew that Leila and Teresa were close.
Leila didn't want her sister to know about it because she didn't let her sister worry.
"Mrs. Thompson, thank you."
After Teresa thanked Mrs. Thompson, she dragged Hubert and walked quickly into the building where Leila lived.
"When I dropped Leila off yesterday, Patrick blamed Leila for not cooking for him. Patrick did look like he wanted to beat someone. He only changed his expression after he saw me."
Teresa told Hubert about what happened yesterday.
"Why didn't Leila tell me?"
Teresa was heartbroken about what happened to Leila. Marriage was like the rebirth of a woman. But her sister, Leila, didn't get a good rebirth.
They had only been married for three years. But Patrick had already changed his attitude toward Leila.
Hubert said in a comforting tone, "Your sister does not want you to worry. You heard Mrs. Thompson that your sister chased Patrick with a kitchen knife for a few blocks, which means your sister should be on the upper hand. Do not worry too much. It's fine."
'How could I not be worried?' Teresa thought to herself.
But she didn't keep talking with Hubert. After they arrived at Leila's door, Teresa took out the key that Leila gave her and opened the door.
Leila was cooking in the kitchen. When she heard the door being opened, she thought it was Patrick coming back. She came out with a spatula, thinking that if Patrick dared to beat her again, she would definitely beat him up.
Patrick didn't call her after he went back to his family with his parents. However, Patrick's parents and sister kept sending messages scolding her. And they even complained about her in the Cerone family's family chat group, accusing her of being a terrible wife who should be beaten by her husband.
They all said she deserved to be beaten up. They all defended Patrick and said it was her fault.
Some of the elder in-laws arrogantly asked her to apologize to Patrick, saying that there was no need to quarrel in a family chat group, saying that couples would fight all the time, and saying that it was not a big deal and she shouldn't make it a big fuss.
Of course, the relatives of the Cerone family were on Patrick's side. They advised her to be considerate of Patrick and spend less money, saying that Patrick was exhausted from working, saying that it was normal for him to be a bit grumpy when he returned home, and saying that she should be more considerate of his hard work and temper...
Leila was so angry that she directly withdrew from the Cerone family's chat group.
Anyway, she wouldn't go to those relatives with Patrick anymore.
"Aunt Teresa."
Andy, who was sitting by himself on the floor of the hall playing with blocks, saw Teresa coming in. He joyfully climbed up and trotted to Teresa.
Seeing that it was her sister, Leila instinctively hid back in the kitchen.
She still had bruises on her face. She didn't dare to go out to buy groceries. There were some vegetables in the refrigerator left, which was enough for her and her son to eat for a couple of days.
Teresa picked up Andy and kissed his little face. She coaxed Andy into going to play with Hubert. Then, she went into the kitchen herself.
"Leila."
"Teresa, don't you have to stay in the store?"
Leila asked, still turning her back to Teresa.
"Gwen is there. Sis, what's going on with you and Patrick?"
Teresa asked bluntly. She walked to Leila's side. Then, immediately, she saw the bruises on Leila's face. She turned Leila to face her and then immediately went furious. She turned around and was about to rush out, "I'm going to settle the score with Patrick Cerone!"
How dared that jerk beat her sister like this?
Did he really think Leila had no family?
As long as she was alive, she would not let anyone bully Leila.
In the past, Leila was her protector. Now, she had grown up. She could protect Leila.
"Teresa."
Leila stopped her sister in a hurry, saying, "Don't go. I just got a little scratch. He got worse. I chased him for a few blocks with a knife. He was so scared. I think he shouldn't dare to beat me again."
"Leila, domestic violence is only zero or countless times. If he dares to beat you once, he will do it again if you don't let him pay for it."
Domestic violence should not be tolerated at all!
"I know. That's why I didn't yield. I also beat him up violently and chased him with a knife for a few blocks. You didn't see his look. He was terrified. Both of his legs were shaking. I've heard that the wife had to win the first fight with her husband. I won. He will think of the consequences even if he wants to get violent with me in the future."
Leila tightly held Teresa and didn't let her go to Patrick to seek justice, "He has gone back to the Cerone family. He gets a big family to defend him. You will only be at a disadvantage if you go alone. Don't go. I will not tolerate him anymore. Not to mention beating me up again, even if he scolds me, I will fight back."
"Leila, why didn't you tell me then?"
Teresa touched Leila's face, which was still bruised. She felt heartache, asking, "Leila, does it still hurt? D*mn Patrick! How could he hit you so hard! You two have been in a relationship for so many years. And you even gave birth to Danny for him. How dare he hit you?"
Leila laughed bitterly, "He has long been disgusted by my look."
"Does Hubert come with you?"
"Yeah. He is playing with Danny in the living room."
Leila lowered her voice and reminded her sister, "Teresa, you can see that my marriage is now a mess. It's all because I quit my job after I got married and bought into the bullsh*t that Patrick would support me. You have to stay financially independent. Women need to have their own income no matter what."
"Do not believe the bullsh*t that a man says he will support you. That is to let your fate be decided by him. If he loves you for life, then you are lucky. But if you met a man like my husband, look at what I've got now... Also, you should be aware of your look and figure even if you are married. Men always say that they will love you no matter what you look like. Be realistic. Those are lies. Men are all superficial. They only like good-looking faces and perfect shapes."
"Leila, I will."
Teresa ran a bookstore, which would not hold her from taking care of her family.
Hubert didn't say anything like asking her to quit and become a housewife, nor did he say that he would support her. He only asked her to sign an agreement to divorce after six months...
As for being out of shape after having a baby, Teresa felt that it was still far from her. And it might not happen.
If she and Hubert got divorced, she wouldn't want to get married again. She felt fine being alone.
If she really wanted a child, she could go to the orphanage and adopt one.
"Leila, why did you guys start a fight?"
Teresa wanted to know the reason.
Leila turned off the stove and piled the dishes on a plate. She asked Teresa, "You and Hubert haven't eaten yet, right? Let's eat together. I will make you two some pasta."
She made as many potatoes as she and Andy would finish.
"Well, let me do it"
Teresa was a much better cook than Leila.
She began to prepare the ingredients for the pasta. And then, she asked again, "Leila, tell me, why did he hit you?"
"The go-halves. He insisted on doing that and I insisted on my go-halves. Then he went physically violent on me. If he hadn't suddenly gone crazy and given me a hard time, I wouldn't have been beaten up like this."
Since Teresa knew all about it, Leila stopped hiding and told the reason for her fight with Patrick.
Teresa cursed Patrick again.
Although Leila stopped her from going to seek justice from Patrick, Teresa still decided to go to Patrick after dinner.
As the only family member of Leila, Teresa wanted the Cerone family to know her attitude. Whoever bullied Leila, she would fight with him!