Rowan got upset when Angeline cried. He tried to patiently comfort her.
The more attention Angeline was given, the prouder she became. She spoke like she was the victim, but her eyes were full of spite and provocation.
She wailed, "Rowan, your father died so young. I struggled all my life to raise you alone. I guess my duty as a mother is complete now!
“I’m old and dying now. I’m not asking to be treated like your father was. I just want to spend more time with you and Rowan, but it’s okay. It's all my fault, after all. I made you and your wife argue. I'll just see myself out!"
I knew Angeline would not leave, so I stepped forward and grabbed Rowan, not allowing him to interfere.
Angeline walked to the door but saw me holding onto Rowan. She plopped down on the ground and started crying all over again.
"There goes your conscience! Rowan, you can't forget your mother even though you have a wife! Boohoo!”
Angeline would never leave. This was not the first time she had done this. She had pretended to be weak to gain sympathy many times in the past. In the days when I got along with her, I got into trouble with her countless times because I was not cunning and ruthless enough.
She was trying her old tricks again, but she could not fool me twice.
However, she was still Rowan’s mother, after all. He felt bad being caught in the middle. As he watched his mother cry hard and remembered her cancer diagnosis, he immediately pushed my hand away.
He went to help Angeline get up and yelled at me, "Haven’t you caused enough trouble? Come over here and apologize to Mom!"
Even my beloved son, whom I doted on daily, looked at me with a face full of blame. He said, "Mom, I heard what Dad and Grandma said. Why are you holding on to such a long grudge over a trivial matter? How could you not care about Grandma’s life at all?!"
A trivial matter?
I stared at my dear son in shock. Before I could open my mouth, I heard him say…
"If you don't let Grandma stay with us, I will never call you Mom again!"
Everett actually threatened me.
My flesh and blood, the son that I raised with so much love, actually threatened me over the old woman who almost killed him.
I could not stop the icy resentment taking over my heart, so I blurted out loud, "Let me say this once and for all today. There’s only room in this family for one of us!"
I was so angry that I was shaking all over. My eyes burned with the tears I was holding back as I stared at Everett.
Everett could not understand me. He thought I was being childish and sneered.
"Mom, you must be crazy! Why are you still acting like a child despite your age?! Will you force me to choose between my wife and you when I get married too?"
"Daphne, can you please stop this nonsense? Our family is doing just fine, yet you insist on making a fuss."
Rowan stared at me angrily.
"I have been an unfilial son for your sake for so many years. Can’t you just let me accompany my mother during her final days?"
Rowan's words woke me up completely. Between his mother and me, I was always his second choice. He may have chosen me back then, but he had been forced to with the situation at hand.
The love I had for my husband and son was completely extinguished.
What Angeline said was right. Blood was thicker than water. They were a real family, bonded through having the same blood running through their veins. I was merely an outsider.
I smiled at them and said, “Alright. You guys can take care of her if you love her so much."
There was nothing much left to say. I could not be bothered to argue further with them, so I turned around and went back to my room.
To them, my silence was a disguised form of submission.
Rowan deliberately raised his voice and snorted coldly. "Women can be so unreasonable and arrogant sometimes. You must’ve gotten used to being spoiled every day. Who the hell do you think you are?!”
Angeline immediately carried on with her phony act and said, "Shh! Don’t say that about Daphne."
"It's all my fault," Angeline’s weepy voice came again. "I came here and inconvenienced your family."
"Grandma, you’re not allowed to say that,” Everett coaxed Angeline and said, "My mother is just being arrogant. She has no conscience! I can’t believe she won't even spare her elders from her wrath."
"Don't worry, Grandma," Everett continued as he took a clear stand. "Dad and I are on your side! Just stay here with us.
"My mother is getting her bonus today. Let her treat you to a big dinner later to make amends. She should buy you some king crabs!"
