Everyone was shocked to see my mother suddenly open her eyes. I was stunned as well, but my heart still sank over what was happening, because I knew that this was a sign that my mother was about to die.
I quickly pulled the doctor over to her, "My mother won't make it. Please give her first aid…" Before I could finish, Rina stopped me.
Rina's face fell. "That's enough! Your mother is fine.
"Let's go, Eugene." She turned to leave without looking back again.
I wanted to run after her, but my mother tugged at me with difficulty. A tear fell from the corner of her eye as she stuttered, "Don't hold it against Rina, Micah. It was my fault for not being able to swim a short distance of a few hundred meters.
"Just explain things nicely to her, and don't hurt her, all right? I can pull through. I still want to attend your wedding…"
However, her eyes slowly widened, and her hand fell limply to the ground right after saying this. It did not matter how hysterical I was, calling out to my mother, but she never woke up again. It felt like my heart had stopped beating as I numbly closed my mother's eyes.
Rina and I had been together for three years, and I could not understand how we ended up this way. I still remember how loving we were the first year we were together, but everything changed when her childhood crush returned from overseas.
She kept her distance from me for no reason and would constantly test my love for her. Rina even said that I had to pass 99 tests of true love before I could marry her.
The last time I had to go through one of her tests, she told me to attend a welcome party for Eugene in the middle of the night, but when I got to the door, a full bucket of flour was poured all over me. Eugene was holding the bucket of flour while saying in a pitiful manner, "I poured the flour on you, Micah. You aren't mad at me, are you? I just wanted to make this a fun party for everyone."
Even though I was angry, I did not lose my temper as I spotted Rina watching me thoughtfully. So, I shook my head and told him I was not mad. However, Eugene winked at Rina, and he congratulated me for passing the test. "Not bad. Your boyfriend passed the test. It looks like he has a good temper. That means you don't need to worry about domestic violence."
Rina's expression relaxed, but she did not do anything to comfort me despite the humiliation I faced. All she did was get me to clean myself up in the kitchen indifferently and get me to make supper for everyone with the remaining ingredients.
I could not understand why Rina was adamant about the tests, but I said nothing as I was in love with her. I told myself that everything would return to normal after Eugene left the country, but I never imagined the situation would escalate like this.
It took me a long time to finally stand up from where I was sitting limply. After taking care of my mother's body, I went in search of Rina, who was still having fun at the party. All I wanted to do was leave the island to give my mother a proper burial so that she may rest in peace.
However, many people kept pointing their phone cameras at me while I was on my way to find Rina. They were taking pictures of me and whispering amongst themselves. I was initially unperturbed until one of them suddenly stepped forward to stop me. That person pushed his phone to my face.
"Hey, how much was your mother paid for her life? I'd like to make some money from Rina Shaker like how your mother did."
I was taken aback, and I grabbed the phone from that man, only to see Eugene's friends had posted a video of what happened online.
The comments were filled with angry and vulgar words.
[Isn't that old hag a swimming champion? Why can't she even handle swimming several meters in the sea?]
[Makes one wonder how she cheated during her glory days, doesn't it?]
[I'd cry my heart out if I were Rina Shaker. She's pretty unlucky to have a mother-in-law who's penniless and difficult to handle. Even her fiancé is leeching off her money. They're afraid they can't handle a rich daughter-in-law, so they're putting on a show to put her in her place.]
