One ninety six: All at once

Ivan felt like a hand was holding his throat tightly as he found it hard to swallow. He had never expected such an advice from his mother in law or from anyone at all.

He didn't know how to even react to what they had just said to him and he knew that Janet was probably feeling the same way.

Drawn out of his thoughts by the sound of a chair being moved back, he saw his wife storming out of the dining room.

“Janet come back!” Her mother called out to her in a stern voice but Janet didn't even stop to look back.

Mrs Banks turned to look at Ivan. “Ivan, my Darling, please, you have to hear me out first before making a decision.”

“I– I know and I will but I– I have to go check on her for now, she probably doesn't want to be alone right now.” Ivan responded, feeling confused. He didn't even know how to react at the moment.

He wanted to stand up to join his wife but he felt his feet glued to the ground for some reason. Why did something like that have such an effect on him?

It wasn't