Chapter 5

The next day, I took a day off to take my mother to the hospital.

In the morning, we rode in Ryan's car. Ryan's face was gloomy, and my mother kept smiling and trying to make small talk, but he remained cold.

Finally, when my mother went to the bathroom to provide a urine sample, Ryan and I were alone.

"What are you doing? Keeping that sour face, as if someone owes you something," I said, almost bursting with anger.

"You're asking me? Yesterday was so awkward. Did you consider my mother's feelings at all? This is all because you didn't plan well..."

I was about to retort when I saw my mother pushing through the crowd. I quickly shut my mouth. Ryan also stopped talking, playing along.

After a morning of tests and consultations with specialists, we learned that my mother had a weakened immune system, and the dampness at my aunt's house had triggered her condition.

"With your constitution, you've adapted to the local environment all these years. Don't change locations. Come back and take good care of yourself," the senior specialist said kindly, out of respect for Ryan.

But as soon as he said this, Ryan's face darkened.

He made an excuse about having surgery and left us.

I called a taxi to take my mother home. Linda was sitting in the living room watching TV. When she saw us come in, she immediately turned off the TV and came over.

"How did it go? I told you it wouldn't be anything serious."

"It's not too serious. The specialist said she just needs to rest and recover," I said.

My mother had been quiet on the way back, and now she looked so tired she could barely sit up.

"Mom, why don't you go lie down in your room?" I suggested quickly.

"Yes, get some good rest. It must have been tiring coming all this way," Linda said, her words loaded with meaning. My mother stiffened, then slowly walked towards the bedroom.

"My mother is not leaving," I said, lowering my eyes as I walked past Linda.

"Not... not leaving? Where will she stay?" Linda exploded.

I stopped my mother from coming out of the room, gave her a look, and firmly closed the door.

"I shouldn't have come back so suddenly. I'll book a hotel," my mother said, panicking.

"Mom, this house was given to us by you. At the very least, there should be a room for you. Why should you be the one to leave?" I said.

"That's true, but I came so abruptly," my mother said with a bitter smile.

"Mom, have you thought about this? If I give in to them on everything, what will happen in the end?" I said.

"Mom, you need to think about this. If I always give in to them, what will happen in the future? If you can't be my support, they'll torment me to death. Mom! Dad is gone, you need to live well and protect me!" I said, bursting into tears.

"Alright," my mother's voice became firm.

I couldn't count on Linda now, so I went to the kitchen to toast some bread and ordered takeout.

Linda seemed to be on the phone in her room. I couldn't hear what she was saying.

I took my mother's dirty clothes and went to the balcony to put them in the washing machine. To my surprise, when I opened it, a rancid smell hit me. Looking closer, I saw that Linda had washed Kevin's clothes and forgotten to take them out.

Just then, Linda hurriedly came out of the inner room. Seeing the situation, she forcefully pushed me aside and took out the clothes.

"Kevin is coming back to stay tonight. I can't stay in his room anymore. Find a hotel for your mother," she said, not even looking at me.

"Why should my mother go to a hotel?" I felt anger rising.

"Then where am I supposed to stay? Your mother is a mother, but am I not a mother too? She can't climb stairs because of her knees, but what about my knees? Why can she not climb, but I have to?" Linda put her hands on her hips and started yelling at me, spitting as she spoke, forcing me to take a couple of steps back.

"This house was given to us by my mother to live in. How can she not even have a room when she comes back?" I said.

"That's not how it works. That was the condition when you and Ryan got married. That was given by your family! You've married into our family now, what does it have to do with your family anymore?" Linda's words made me laugh bitterly.

"Oh really? So I've given you such a big house? Then what did your family give?" I asked.

"Look at your conditions. Are you worthy of my Ryan? You should be grateful he even married you!" Linda said.

I suddenly realized that marrying for love was the biggest lie. I had always considered their family's interests, but was I wrong?

In her eyes, Ryan was too good for me, and I had actively bought the house. If it weren't for this house, Ryan might not have even wanted me.

Just then, the doorbell rang. It must be the takeout arriving.

I brought the takeout in, and the toast was ready too. I took it all to my mother's room.

My mother wasn't lying on the bed but sitting up straight. She must have heard the argument earlier.

"Mom, eat first. Don't listen to that dog barking," I said.

I had just finished speaking when my phone rang. It was a call from the company. There was an important contract that had to be signed in the afternoon.

I told my mother to eat well, and that I would go to the company for a while and come back soon.

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