Chapter 3

I didn't care about any of it. Grabbing my bag, I headed straight to the hospital.

In my previous life, after three years of Henry pretending to be sick, I collapsed at home when my back started aching so badly that I couldn't stand it.

Once I got to the hospital, they told me I had late-stage liver cancer and had just a month to live.

Now that I'd gotten a second chance, there was no way I'd let my body fall apart again.

When I finally got the test results, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. It was just a mild case of hepatitis.

This time, there was no way I'd end up as pitifully as I did in my previous life.

Serena blew up my phone, calling nonstop.

I ignored every single call.

As soon as I left the hospital, I headed straight to my next destination.

I needed to find somewhere suitable for Henry to go next.

By the time I got home, it was already getting dark.

The living room, which had been a total mess before, was now spotless, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of lemons.

It was true that housework was only ever done by the person who couldn't stand the mess.

Henry was sitting on the couch, holding his grandson and watching TV.

Serena was cracking nuts for Grace, laughing and chatting away.

It looked like the picture-perfect happy family.

I glanced away and quietly made my way to the bedroom.

Serena called out, sounding annoyed. "Mom, I've been calling you nonstop. Why didn't you answer?

"You went out without even tidying up. Seriously, what kind of old woman is as carefree as you?

"Grace and I took Dad to the hospital for a check-up today. Here's the report. The doctor said everything he's experiencing is totally normal for this illness. You just need to be a little more patient with him."

I glanced at the report. There was a doctor's signature at the bottom, and it looked pretty legit.

If I hadn't already figured out their scheme in my previous life, I probably wouldn't be able to tell if this was real or fake.

I tossed the report onto the table.

I said, "You could've taken your dad to a proper hospital? You just dragged him to some small clinic? What's your deal?"

Not giving Serena a chance to respond, I pushed open the bedroom door and walked in.

Instinctively, I glanced at the closet. Someone had definitely messed with it.

My heart dropped. That thing was already gone.

I burst out of the bedroom and strode right up to Henry.

"Give it back to me!" I snapped.

"Mom, what are you doing? Bobby wants to watch TV. Get out of the way!" Serena called out, her brows furrowed in annoyance.

I paid her no mind, staring straight at Henry and Grace.

In my previous life, I was so sick that I couldn't even get out of bed.

Grace strutted around wearing the gold brooch that I had lost, bragging that it was some priceless heirloom from her own side.

She blew up online with that thing, scamming people left and right and making a killing.

I pointed at the gold brooch and insisted it was mine, but nobody believed a word I said.

I knew for a fact that Henry was the one who stole it and gave it to Grace.

The first thing I did after coming back was hit up the museum.

Tomorrow was the day we'd set to meet.

But I never expected them to strike this early.

I forced myself to keep it together.

"Henry, give it back to me now, or I'm calling the police," I said.

Henry covered his ears and hid behind Grace, muttering incoherently. "The tigress is hitting me! The tigress is hitting me!"

Anyone could tell he was terrified of me.

Grace hugged him, looking at him with nothing but pity.

Serena shot me a furious glare, clearly blaming me for how Henry was acting.

"Mom, is this how you always treat Dad? Just look at him. He's terrified!" Serena said sharply.

"Shut up!" I couldn't hold it in anymore and snapped at Serena.

She froze, staring at me in shock.

I said, "Henry, I'm not joking with you. If you don't give it back, I'm calling the police!"

Grace, her face all dolled up, had panic written all over it.

"Margaret, shouldn't we figure out what's really going on before calling the cops?" Grace stammered, clearly rattled.

I pulled out my phone and punched in the numbers right in front of them.

But before the call could even go through, a sudden pain shot through my forehead.

Blood blurred the screen, and the glass shattered into bits all over the floor.

I clutched my head and collapsed, barely able to make out Henry making a move to strike me.

Serena pulled Bobby into her arms and retreated to the corner, calling out anxiously from across the room, "Mom, Mom, are you okay?"

By the time I finally made it home from the hospital, it was already two in the morning.

I sat on the couch, my face blank and eyes bleary, staring at my phone.

All that blood loss and exhaustion were really taking a toll on my aging body.

But I forced myself to finish sending that last message.

Serena carefully watched my expression, trying to speak up for Henry. "Mom, you know Dad's emotions are unsteady. He doesn't even realize what he's doing.

"It's really not worth calling the cops over something so small. When Dad becomes conscious, I'll make sure he—"

Once I got a clear reply from the other side, I turned off my phone and nodded to Serena.

"You're right. Something this small isn't worth calling the cops over," I said.

I stood up and slapped Henry hard twice right across the face, while he was still pretending to be crazy.