Seeing that girl act so smug made my chest tighten with anger.
"Does my son even know what you're doing?"
"So what if he does?"
Cynthia strode into the hospital room, first casting a disdainful glance at Lucy before turning to me, her lips curling into a cold smirk.
"Everyone knows your son's my bootlicker. He loves me so much he'd die for me."
"Don't talk to me about bullying. Even if I beat you two to death, he wouldn't bat an eye."
"We're his real family now. As for you two? You're not even worth mentioning."
Summer echoed, "Uncle Deryl only pitied you two like people feel sorry for beggars. Don't flatter yourselves."
"Oh, right, Lucy Lockwood, I must tell you something."
"Back in freshman year, Uncle Deryl stole your invention proposal and gave it to me. That's how I won the award and you were labeled a plagiarist."
"How is it? Surprised?"
Each word hit like a knife to the heart.
Lucy broke down in tears on the spot, sobbing uncontrollably.
She had been cyberbullied for an entire semester over that scandal and eventually was forced to transfer schools.
I collapsed against the hospital bed, completely drained. My voice trembled as I choked out, "Fine. We'll leave. We can't fight you, but we can stay out of your way."
"Hmph, that's more like it."
The mother-daughter pair exchanged satisfied smiles before strutting out.
Initially, I had planned to recuperate for a few more days. Still, given the current situation, I couldn't stay even for another day.
So, I hurriedly left the hospital with Lucy to apply for visas without completing the discharge procedures.
The university took this matter seriously and especially sent a car to pick us up.
However, before leaving.
I took off the wooden bracelet and tucked it into Lucy's letter, asking the head nurse to keep it safe for me.
If my son ever remembered me, she should give it to him.
Otherwise, she could just throw it away.
***
Deryl had just helped Cynthia's parents clean themselves up when he glanced out the window mid-phone call and froze.
"Huh?"
"Isn't that my mom and Lucy? The one opening the car door for them was the principal of the Nexon Polytechnic Institute?"
"That's not right. Why would the principal treat them with such importance?"
"Maybe I'm seeing things."
My son shook his head.
It wasn't until Cynthia's parents were discharged that he went to my ward, where he happened to bump into the head nurse.
"You've finally come."
"The patient asked me to give this to you."
The head nurse handed him the envelope.
My son was taken aback. He tilted his head and glanced into the ward, asking, "Where are they?"
"They were discharged three days ago."
The head nurse replied, "The patient's granddaughter obtained an official overseas study opportunity and they went abroad together."
"The principal of the Nexon Polytechnic Institute personally drove them; they didn't even have time to complete the discharge paperwork."
After that, the head nurse left.
"So, I wasn't seeing things."
Deryl was stunned for a moment, then showed great joy. "Lucy is so amazing! She has a lot of potential!"
"But why did she keep it from me?"
He hurriedly opened the envelope.
