Chapter 3

Finally, I tied the cardboard full of writing to the handles of the wheelchair.

As I pushed the wheelchair, the sign swung back and forth against my chest.

I wheeled her out of the house.

When the neighbors saw me wheeling Margaret out, they greeted me warmly.

"Claire, taking your mother-in-law out for some sun? You're such a good daughter-in-law."

"Yeah, not many young people care for their elders like this anymore."

I smiled and nodded in response.

But inside, I was counting down the seconds.

Soon, everyone would see the truth about the so-called "good daughter-in-law's" husband, and what a piece of work he really was.

The elevator reached the first floor.

I wheeled Margaret out of the building.

The sunlight was blinding.

There was already quite a crowd gathered in the central square.

Groups of three or five were chatting away, laughing and joking.

I wheeled Margaret toward the center of the square, step by step.

That was where the crowd was thickest.

As soon as I showed up, everyone's attention was instantly drawn to me.

After all, a woman pushing a wheelchair covered in photos, with an elderly woman who couldn't move sitting in it, was a sight nobody could ignore.

The crowd's chatter surged like a wave.

"Isn't that David's wife?"

"What's she doing with her mother-in-law?"

"Check out those photos on the wheelchair. Isn't that her husband? And who's that woman next to him?"

"Whoa, look at how close they are. That's pretty intimate."

I didn't pause for a second. I rolled straight to the big banyan tree at the heart of the square.

That was the center of attention in the whole square.

I stopped the wheelchair and locked the brakes.

Then I turned around, facing everyone.

I didn't say a word.

I just stood there.

But the cardboard hanging from my chest spoke for me.

The crowd went dead silent for a split second.

Then, all hell broke loose.

The people up front could read the words on the cardboard.

They gasped, then started whispering what they'd seen to everyone behind them.

"No way. Her husband just took off abroad with his side chick?"

"And his mom's still bedridden and paralyzed."

"That's just downright despicable."

"Wait, that woman's Jessica Carter? Is that really her in the photo?"

The gossip just kept getting louder, like a snowball rolling downhill.

More and more people crowded around.

People were packed in, layer after layer, all trying to get a look.

Margaret finally sensed that something was off.

She twisted her head, trying to see what was going on around her.

"Claire, what's happening? Why is everyone staring?" she asked, her voice uneasy.

I ignored her.

Just then, a familiar figure squeezed through the crowd.

It was Mary, my neighbor from across the hall.

She was one of Margaret's old pals and used to come over all the time.

"Margaret. Margaret, what are you doing here?" Mary blurted out, her face full of shock.

Then her gaze fell on the photos and the sign attached to the wheelchair.

Her face went pale in an instant.

Her finger shook as she pointed at the photos, her voice trembling. "Is that David? And who's this woman? Is what's written here true?"

Everyone's eyes were fixed on me.

They were all waiting for my answer.

I took a deep breath, looking at Mary, then at everyone else.

Then, I spoke slowly and clearly, "Mary, everyone.

"My name is Claire Summers. I'm David's wife, and I'm Margaret's daughter-in-law.

"I've been taking care of my paralyzed mother-in-law for three years.

"Meanwhile, my husband, David, took all our shared savings and is living it up on a sunny beach overseas with his coworker, Jessica Carter."

My voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for everyone to hear.

The whole place went dead silent.

Then, the crowd erupted.

"That's just messed up."

"David's a total scumbag."

"Claire's such a good woman. How did she get stuck with a family like this?"

Margaret finally understood what was going on.

Her face went from red to white, then to ashen.

She pointed at me, her lips trembling, but she couldn't get a single word out. "You..."

"Margaret, try to stay calm," I leaned down and whispered in her ear. "This is just the beginning. Everything your son owes me. I'll collect it all, with interest."

My words were the last straw that broke her.

Her eyes rolled back, her head lolled to the side, and she fainted right there.

The crowd gasped.

But I remained perfectly calm.

I pulled out my phone and called 911.

Then I started recording with my phone.

I captured the furious crowd on video.

I got a shot of Margaret, passed out in her wheelchair.

And I made sure to capture every one of those grinning faces taped to the wheelchair.

*****

The wail of the ambulance siren drew closer and closer.

Its cry was sharp, slicing right through the chaos.

The crowd parted, making way for the ambulance.

Two paramedics rushed over, carrying a stretcher.

They checked on Margaret.

"Who's her family?" one of the doctors asked.

I raised my hand. "I'm her daughter-in-law."

"She fainted from the shock. We need to get her to the hospital right away," the doctor said.

I nodded. "Okay."

"You should come with us," the doctor said.

I shook my head. "I'm not going."

The doctor was stunned.

The neighbors were stunned, too.

"Her son's overseas," I explained calmly. "His name is David Summers. Let me give you his number."

I gave them David's number. "Please let him know his mother's been taken to the hospital. He's the one responsible for her."

My voice was completely calm, not a hint of emotion.

The doctor looked at me with an unreadable expression.

He didn't say another word, signaling for the paramedics to lift Margaret onto the stretcher.

The photos and the blanket from the wheelchair went with her.

I took the cardboard sign off myself and held it in my hand.

This was my trophy.

The ambulance roared away.

The crowd still hadn't dispersed.

Everyone looked at me with a new kind of awe and sympathy.

I gave them a slight bow. "Thank you, everyone."

Then I turned and headed home.

Behind me, the gossip started up again.

"That girl's got real backbone."

"I could never be that tough."

"Tough? Come on, it's that mother and son who are truly heartless."

"Exactly. Push someone this far, and even a rabbit will bite back."