Chapter 2
After that day, Ethan never came home again.
He said Claire was so eaten up with guilt that she was freaking out and threatening to end it all.
I wanted to yell some sense into him, to snap him out of this love-addled haze, but I couldn't say a single word.
That was when the hospital called and told me Jessica's condition had gotten worse.
I freaked out and rushed straight to her ward.
Jessica was holding her doll, looking around the room as if searching for someone.
"Have you seen Ethan?" Jessica asked softly. "He hasn't visited me in so long."
My nose started to sting.
She didn't know who I was anymore.
But she still remembered Ethan.
If she ever found out that the brother she loved most was about to marry the mistress's sister, it would absolutely crush her.
As I was at a loss for words, the nurse told me to go see the attending doctor.
She said they'd found a special medicine for Jessica's condition.
I thanked her profusely and rushed to the office.
But the attending doctor wasn't there.
Only one person was inside: Natalie.
The instant I saw her face, I recalled all the agony Jessica had been through.
If it weren't for her, Jessica wouldn't be treating that doll like it was her own child, lost in her madness.
"You wanted to see me?" I said.
"Sit down," Natalie ordered.
She lifted her eyelids, and jerked her chin at the chair.
"I'm here to talk about Claire and Ethan's marriage," I said.
I stayed right where I was.
Her face turned dark in an instant.
"Ms. Warren, don't push your luck," Natalie said. "If Claire didn't have a thing for Ethan, do you really think your family would be worth my time?"
I was baffled. "You're not afraid I'll bully your sister if she marries into our family?"
"Why would I be?" Natalie shot back, like I'd cracked the best joke ever. "I'll simply have your son marry into our family instead, simple as that!"
I couldn't help but laugh in fury.
She drove my daughter insane and now expected me to hand my son over to her family? She must be dreaming.
She saw the look on my face and said smugly, "Ethan's already said yes!"
My head was buzzing, and I felt dizzy.
I grabbed the doorframe, barely able to stay on my feet.
"That's impossible. You're lying," I blurted out.
"If you don't believe me, call him right now!" Natalie said, shoving her phone at me.
But I couldn't bring myself to take it.
Natalie was satisfied with my response.
She folded her arms and laughed arrogantly.
I steadied myself and spoke up, my voice sharp and cold, "Does Michael know about this?"
Michael Hughes was my former son-in-law.
And now, he was Natalie's husband.
When I mentioned Michael, Natalie burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.
"You old fool, you really think Michael would take your side?" she sneered.
I forced myself to stay calm.
"I was his mentor. If it weren't for me, he would've dropped out of school ages ago," I shot back. "I refuse to believe he'd stand by and let you humiliate me like this."
Natalie finally stopped laughing.
But the way she looked at me was like I was some clown.
She dialed Michael's number and hit the speaker button.
"Michael, Ms. Warren's right here with me. Why don't you talk to her yourself?" Natalie said.
The next second, Michael's voice came through the speaker.
"Ms. Warren, let Ethan marry into our family," he said. "Natalie's pregnant, and I don't want her to have to worry about Claire."
I shot a look at Natalie's belly.
Natalie smirked, her voice dripping with provocation. "I'm one-month along."
Natalie was the reason Jessica lost her baby.
She was the reason Jessica could never be a mother again.
And now, she was pregnant.
I clenched my fists, forcing myself to hold back my rage.
I barely managed to stop myself from shoving her.
"Over my dead body will Ethan marry into your family," I shouted.
With that, I turned to leave.
Michael's voice came through the speaker again. "I've found the special medicine for Jessica's condition."
I stopped dead in my tracks.
"Ms. Warren, let Ethan marry into the Summers family.
"If you agree, I'll make sure Jessica gets the medicine. If not..."
The call cut off right there.
He didn't finish but I knew exactly what he meant.
I closed my eyes, feeling utterly powerless.
I was the one who gave Michael that 100,000 dollars to start his business. It was the wedding gift when he married Jessica.
We made him who he was today.
But once he got rich, he cheated with a mistress.
And now he was using Jessica's life as leverage against me.
Did he even have a conscience?
"What's wrong, old biddy? Where's all that fire now?" Natalie sneered, "Didn't you feel powerful when you dumped wine on me?"
Her chin was raised high, and she looked down her nose at me.
"You're only a retired teacher, and you think you can boss me around?
"Just give up and accept your fate."
*****
I sat on a bench in the hallway.
It felt like I'd cried every tear I had left in me.
Natalie told me to accept my fate.
But she had no idea that I never believed in fate.
I only believed in the karma.
After wiping away my tears, I dialed a number.
It rang for a long time before someone finally picked up.
"Andrew, it's me," I said.
"Ms. Warren?" Andrew Lane sounded genuinely surprised.
He and Michael were classmates.
I was the one who funded them till they graduated.
Now, Andrew ran a publicly traded company.
Michael couldn't even compare to him.
"Andrew, Jessica's sick," I choked out. "There's a special medicine I can't get my hands on. I don't know who else to turn to but you."
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"Ms. Warren, I'll take care of everything," Andrew said.
He didn't ask about the price of the medicine.
He simply said, "I'll take care of everything."
I made the right call.
Not everyone was a backstabber like Michael.
After hanging up, I rushed straight to Jessica's room.
Even though she didn't recognize me anymore, I still wanted her to hear the good news first.
But as soon as I got to the door, I saw Claire inside.
I felt my blood pressure spike.
"What are you doing here?" I demanded.
Jessica, smiling brightly, introduced her, "This is my sister-in-law."
"She's here to see me and my baby."
She was grinning from ear to ear, her eyes shining like stars.
She even placed the doll she was holding into Claire's arms.
"Baby, this is your aunt," Jessica said softly. "Isn't she pretty?"
Claire's lips twitched, a hint of annoyance flashing across her face.
She walked over to me, still clutching the doll.
Her eyes were clearly full of contempt.
"Ms. Warren, Jessica already accepts me as her sister-in-law. Why are you still so stubborn?" Claire said.
My chest tightened so much I could barely breathe.
I didn't hate her before.
But today, I realized she was just as rotten as her sister.
"Get out!" I shouted.
I grabbed her by the arm and started dragging her out.
Suddenly, Jessica screamed.
"You bad person. Let go of Claire," Jessica shrieked.
She rushed over and bit my hand.
Tears flooded my eyes.
Jessica didn't seem to notice.
She turned and comforted Claire, "Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."
Claire burst out laughing, clutching her stomach.
I wanted to shout, to expose her, but the doctor said Jessica couldn't be upset.
I could only swallow it in.
But Claire wasn't finished with her torment.
As Jessica reached out for her "baby," Claire's smile twisted into something truly creepy.
"What baby? Open your eyes. It's just a doll!" Claire sneered. "Your baby was miscarried ages ago.
"It was a real little boy, you know.
"Guess what? You'll never have kids again."