Chapter 3 · My Mother-in-Law Crossed the Line

My mother-in-law's lips were trembling, and she kept dodging my eyes, too scared to look at me.

"I-I just wanted to prove something," she stammered.

"Prove what?" I pressed, holding the injector steady right next to Sonny's thigh. "That Austin isn't as delicate as you think? Or that your son is tougher than mine?"

My voice wasn't loud, but it stabbed right into her heart like a dagger.

Sonny's convulsions grew more violent, and his eyes began to roll back.

If we waited any longer, even if we managed to save him, his brain would be starved of oxygen and permanently damaged.

My mother-in-law completely broke down. She collapsed to the floor, crawled over on her hands and knees, and grabbed my arm.

"I'm not human. I'm an animal. Camela, hit me, curse me. But please save Sonny. I'll do anything you want!" she sobbed.

Her nails bit into my flesh, making it sting.

I didn't react, just gave her a cold, hard look. "Don't forget what you said today."

With that, I didn't hesitate. I pulled off the safety cap and, with a sharp click, jabbed the injector into Sonny's thigh.

As the epinephrine shot into his muscle, his whole body shuddered.

I pulled out my phone and dialed 911.

When the call connected, I gave the address and explained the situation in the clearest, most concise way possible.

"Adult male, peanut allergy, acute laryngeal edema. One dose of epinephrine administered. Immediate emergency response needed," I said.

After hanging up, the living room was dead silent.

The only sound was Sonny's heavy, ragged breathing, gradually settling down.

The epinephrine was working.

The blue tint on his face was fading, and the swelling in his lips was starting to go down.

He wasn't going to die. At least, not for now.

My mother-in-law collapsed on the floor, limp and defeated, like a heap.

I walked over and stood over her, looking down. "Now, answer my question."

She looked up at me, blankly.

"How much peanut butter did you put in the egg custard?" I pressed.

She shuddered, her eyes full of fear.

"Just just a spoon not even a whole one..." she stammered.

"Half a spoon?" I let out a cold laugh. "Your 'half a spoon' sure packs a punch. Sonny went into shock after just three bites. What about Austin? He's so little. Would one bite have sent him straight to the grave?"

"No! I didn't! I never meant to hurt Austin!" she screamed, her voice shrill and breaking.

"You didn't mean to?" I leaned in, my voice low enough for only her to hear. "You wanted to see me suffer, to prove you're the one in charge here, isn't that right?"

Her pupils contracted suddenly, fear flashing in her eyes.

I straightened up and turned away, not sparing her another glance.

The wail of the ambulance grew louder, and soon it pulled up right outside the building.

The paramedics rushed in, checking Sonny over, hooking him up to oxygen, and getting him onto the stretcher.

"Who's going with him to the hospital?" one of the nurses asked.

"I'll go," I answered right away.

My mother-in-law forced herself upright, wobbling as she declared, "I'm going too!"

I shot her a glance and told the nurse, "She's old and her legs aren't great. Better not drag her along."

"You!" she sputtered, trembling with rage.

Without giving her another look, I grabbed my bag from the couch and followed the stretcher out.

At the door, I paused and glanced back at her.

She stood alone in the empty living room, her hair disheveled, her eyes vacant, like a puppet with its soul torn out.

"Mom," I called out.

She flinched and looked at me.

I gave her a cold, icy smile. "Don't forget to wash the dishes."

With that, I closed the door, locking her despair and regret inside.

In the ambulance, Sonny had already regained consciousness.

He gave me a complicated look. There was lingering fear, exhaustion, and a trace of resentment that was almost hidden.

"Camela, about Mom..." he started, his voice weak.

"Shut up," I cut him off. "Keep your strength for the doctors."

He fell silent, sulking.

When we got to the hospital, they rushed him straight into the ER.

A doctor came out to ask questions. "What's wrong with him? What is he allergic to?"

"Peanuts," I replied.

"Has he ever had a reaction this severe before?" the doctor asked.

"Yes," I replied calmly. "He's been allergic to peanuts since he was a kid, and we've always been careful. Today was an accident."

The doctor nodded and asked, "How much did he accidentally eat?"

I paused for a moment.

Then I looked up at the light above the ER entrance and spoke slowly. "I can't say for sure. His mom fed it to him herself."

The doctor's pen froze mid-air. He stared at me, shock and pity written all over his face.

I knew that from this moment on, nothing would ever be the same.

Sonny was moved to an observation room and would need to stay in the hospital under watch for 24 hours.

After finishing the paperwork, I sat down in the chair by his bedside, quietly watching over him.

Chapter 3

My mother-in-law's lips were trembling, and she kept dodging my eyes, too scared to look at me.

"I-I just wanted to prove something," she stammered.

"Prove what?" I pressed, holding the injector steady right next to Sonny's thigh. "That Austin isn't as delicate as you think? Or that your son is tougher than mine?"

My voice wasn't loud, but it stabbed right into her heart like a dagger.

Sonny's convulsions grew more violent, and his eyes began to roll back.

If we waited any longer, even if we managed to save him, his brain would be starved of oxygen and permanently damaged.

My mother-in-law completely broke down. She collapsed to the floor, crawled over on her hands and knees, and grabbed my arm.

"I'm not human. I'm an animal. Camela, hit me, curse me. But please save Sonny. I'll do anything you want!" she sobbed.

Her nails bit into my flesh, making it sting.

I didn't react, just gave her a cold, hard look. "Don't forget what you said today."

With that, I didn't hesitate. I pulled off the safety cap and, with a sharp click, jabbed the injector into Sonny's thigh.

As the epinephrine shot into his muscle, his whole body shuddered.

I pulled out my phone and dialed 911.

When the call connected, I gave the address and explained the situation in the clearest, most concise way possible.

"Adult male, peanut allergy, acute laryngeal edema. One dose of epinephrine administered. Immediate emergency response needed," I said.

After hanging up, the living room was dead silent.

The only sound was Sonny's heavy, ragged breathing, gradually settling down.

The epinephrine was working.

The blue tint on his face was fading, and the swelling in his lips was starting to go down.

He wasn't going to die. At least, not for now.

My mother-in-law collapsed on the floor, limp and defeated, like a heap.

I walked over and stood over her, looking down. "Now, answer my question."

She looked up at me, blankly.

"How much peanut butter did you put in the egg custard?" I pressed.

She shuddered, her eyes full of fear.

"Just just a spoon not even a whole one..." she stammered.

"No! I didn't! I never meant to hurt Austin!" she screamed, her voice shrill and breaking.

"You didn't mean to?" I leaned in, my voice low enough for only her to hear. "You wanted to see me suffer, to prove you're the one in charge here, isn't that right?"

Her pupils contracted suddenly, fear flashing in her eyes.

I straightened up and turned away, not sparing her another glance.

The wail of the ambulance grew louder, and soon it pulled up right outside the building.

The paramedics rushed in, checking Sonny over, hooking him up to oxygen, and getting him onto the stretcher.

"Who's going with him to the hospital?" one of the nurses asked.

"I'll go," I answered right away.

My mother-in-law forced herself upright, wobbling as she declared, "I'm going too!"

I shot her a glance and told the nurse, "She's old and her legs aren't great. Better not drag her along."

"You!" she sputtered, trembling with rage.

Without giving her another look, I grabbed my bag from the couch and followed the stretcher out.

At the door, I paused and glanced back at her.

She stood alone in the empty living room, her hair disheveled, her eyes vacant, like a puppet with its soul torn out.

"Mom," I called out.

She flinched and looked at me.

I gave her a cold, icy smile. "Don't forget to wash the dishes."

With that, I closed the door, locking her despair and regret inside.

In the ambulance, Sonny had already regained consciousness.

He gave me a complicated look. There was lingering fear, exhaustion, and a trace of resentment that was almost hidden.

"Camela, about Mom..." he started, his voice weak.

"Shut up," I cut him off. "Keep your strength for the doctors."

He fell silent, sulking.

When we got to the hospital, they rushed him straight into the ER.

A doctor came out to ask questions. "What's wrong with him? What is he allergic to?"

"Peanuts," I replied.

"Has he ever had a reaction this severe before?" the doctor asked.

"Yes," I replied calmly. "He's been allergic to peanuts since he was a kid, and we've always been careful. Today was an accident."

The doctor nodded and asked, "How much did he accidentally eat?"

I paused for a moment.

Then I looked up at the light above the ER entrance and spoke slowly. "I can't say for sure. His mom fed it to him herself."

The doctor's pen froze mid-air. He stared at me, shock and pity written all over his face.

I knew that from this moment on, nothing would ever be the same.

Sonny was moved to an observation room and would need to stay in the hospital under watch for 24 hours.

After finishing the paperwork, I sat down in the chair by his bedside, quietly watching over him.