“You didn’t tell him I had a heart attack? How could Archer just ignore whether I live or die?”
The assistant, visibly shaking, rushed to explain. “I told him about your heart attack. I said you were unconscious that you needed him back immediately to make a decision.”
“He said, ‘Wasn’t she fine when I left? How could she be on her deathbed after just half a day?’ He also asked, ‘Does she want to tie me to the house like a guard dog to keep her satisfied?’”
“Outrageous!” My mother-in-law’s face drained of color as the words hit her like a slap.
I couldn’t help but smile inwardly. Archer’s response didn’t surprise me; it was a reflection of how he’d spoken to me when his precious Noreen was the center of his world. The same harsh words, the same cruel disregard, now aimed at his own mother.
But the worst was yet to come.
As my mother-in-law seethed with rage, the assistant, visibly shaking, rushed to explain.
"Madam, please, calm down. It’s not that Archer is unfilial. It’s just that Noreen is too good at playing the victim."
"The moment he saw your diamond bracelet, Archer was about to speak to me, but Noreen stopped him."
"She looked so pitiful, telling him she didn’t want to be a burden. She insisted he shouldn’t upset you."
"She said it was just a rehabilitation session, that she could endure it, and urged him to come home, apologize to you, and make you happy; that’s what really mattered to her."
The assistant’s face twisted with bitterness as he continued, "Archer was furious. He smashed your bracelet right into my face. It shattered into pieces. And when I bent down to pick up the fragments, he kicked me out."
"Then he said… he said…"
“What did he say?”
My mother-in-law slammed the coffee table in frustration, her voice shaking with fury. The assistant dared not hesitate any longer.
"The young master said you’ve lost your mind. Helping outsiders hurt your own family while chanting scriptures every day, you’re an embarrassment to God!"
I couldn’t help but give Archer a silent thumbs-up.
Those biting words, meant to cut me deep, had now landed squarely on the mother he had always held in the highest regard.
And that diamond bracelet? Her most cherished family heirloom, something she guarded as if it were her very life.
Sure enough, my mother-in-law, both furious and distressed, couldn’t catch her breath. Her face drained of color, and she clutched her chest, collapsing into unconsciousness.
She’d always said to me, "If you were even half as understanding and considerate as Noreen, Archer wouldn’t be running from home so often."
Well, now Noreen’s so-called "consideration" had hit her hard. How was she supposed to handle it?
Chaos erupted around us. I kept a worried expression on my face, but inwardly, I was celebrating.
In my past life, whenever I found myself cornered by Noreen’s schemes, the Hayes family blamed me for not keeping my husband’s heart and claimed I deserved to be crushed beneath his first love.
Turns out, compared to Noreen, even my mother-in-law was no match. With one swift move, she was defeated, collapsing into a faint.
It seemed that this imposing woman couldn’t take a blow as well as I could. She wouldn’t last three rounds against Noreen.
Just to be sure, I’d slipped a little heart-stimulating medication into the coffee I’d personally served her.
She’d always claimed I’d eventually drive her to an early grave, so I thought I’d let her experience the feeling of being “angry to death” by her beloved son instead.
"Has Archer come back yet? Is Raden safe?"
Half an hour later, my mother-in-law finally came to me, her eyes fluttering open. Weak as she was, her first concern was still her son.
I shook my head slowly, feigning sorrow, then delivered the final blow, watching her face fall.
"The young master refuses to come back. We sent three people, but they were all turned away! The hospital is on high alert now; we can’t even get past the front desk."
"He said if it’s not life-threatening, don’t bother him."
My mother-in-law gasped, her breath coming in quick, shallow bursts. I had to fight to keep from smiling, pretending to comfort her.
"Luckily, Director Finnegan is loyal. He went to the hospital personally, and I’m sure he’ll convince the young master to save Raden."
My mother-in-law let out a sigh of relief at the news. Her pale face softened, and she leaned weakly against the bed, murmuring, "Then I can finally rest easy."
But just as quickly, she shot me a venomous glare and hissed, "Everyone’s doing their best for Raden, and here you are, pretending to care while clearly not worried at all."
Before she could continue her tirade, the housekeeper tugged at her sleeve and whispered urgently in her ear. "Madam, the young mistress has already advanced the ransom money..."
At the mention of my payment, along with my nephew’s contribution, my mother-in-law’s expression softened. She visibly relaxed, asking for a cup of Americano to wake herself up.
It wasn’t my intention to speed up her demise by mixing her stimulant meds with caffeine; it was her own disregard for her health.
Soon after, the assistant rushed in, looking as pale as a ghost. At the sight of my mother-in-law’s frail state, he hesitated, clearly unsure whether to speak.
Since the news couldn’t wait, I quickly asked, "Ezra, what’s wrong? What’s got you so rattled?"
Already on edge, my mother-in-law exploded, "Spit it out! Are you trying to kill me with suspense?"
The assistant inhaled sharply and stammered, "Director Finnegan couldn’t convince the young master. He even got his head cracked open by the hospital security!"
My mother-in-law’s eyes widened in shock. "What?"
