Chapter 3

I calmly called the property management office. "Hi, there's an elderly person here who seems a bit distressed and might need some help."

Linda's face changed instantly. "Why are you bringing outsiders into this? Don't air our dirty laundry in public."

"Dirty laundry?" I looked at her. "You skimmed off our money to support your daughter, and when you gave me nothing but boiled water with a few chicken bones, did you ever feel ashamed?

"You were even showing off online, sharing your so-called money-saving hacks."

Charles rubbed his temples wearily. "Mom, either you pack your things yourself, or we'll let the property management do it for you. Your choice."

Linda stared at Charlie in disbelief, finally realizing this time was different. She gritted her teeth and jabbed a finger at me. "This is all your fault. You poisoned his mind against me!"

"Enough!" Charles slammed his hand on the table. "During all these years, all you ever cared about were my brother and sister. Now I've got my own family, and you still want to mess up my life?"

There was a knock at the door. The property management staff had arrived.

Seeing this, Linda finally panicked and clung to Charles's arm. "Charles, I know I was wrong. Let me go make your wife some real chicken soup, okay?"

"No need," I said, turning away with the baby in my arms. "I'm not worthy of your chicken soup."

I didn't want to drag my parents into this. It would be way too embarrassing.

But when we stood our ground, Linda suddenly clutched her chest and passed out cold.

She'd never had any heart issues before.

But this time, no matter how many times Charles tried the usual methods, she just wouldn't wake up.

Charles freaked out.

I cut straight to the point. "Call the police and get her to the hospital. We've got cameras all over the house. No one pushed her, and she collapsed on her own.

"If anything happens, we'll do our duty and get her a decent grave. That's as much as we owe her."

Linda yelled, "Don't give me that crap. I'm just fine. Just because I didn't raise my son myself doesn't mean he should treat me like some enemy. So it's you stirring up trouble between my son and me.

"Charles, don't let her mess with your head. All that stuff I said about saving money for Ava and Eric? I was just mad. I was really trying to save up for you."

Linda shot up from the floor and started hurling insults at me.

I couldn't help but laugh, but honestly, I was just speechless.

I said, "So you weren't even passed out? Then get out. There's no room for you here."

I didn't give a damn about playing the good daughter-in-law anymore.

This old hag was nasty and could put on a show at any time. Keeping her around was pure trouble.

Seeing that I wasn't giving in, Linda dropped to the floor, beating her legs and crying out, "I worked so hard to raise my son, and now he's throwing his own mother out!

"Everybody, come look. This is what happens when a man gets married. He abandons his own mom!"

The two staff members stood at the door, looking at each other, not sure what to do.

I held Ava in my arms and watched her dramatic performance with a cold stare, totally unmoved.

"Mom, if you keep this up, we'll have to call the cops," Charles said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "Is that really what you want?"

"Call the cops? Go ahead. Let everyone see what an ungrateful son you are!" Linda wailed even louder.

I pulled out my phone, dialed 911, and turned the screen toward her. "Linda, are you sure you want me to make this call?

"When the cops show up, I'll hand over all the forum screenshots, grocery receipts, and security footage. Is that really what you want?"

Linda's wailing stopped dead. She stared at my phone screen, her lips trembling.

She said, "Don't... Don't you dare..."

"Why don't I?" I said calmly. "You were the one who stopped treating us like family first."

Linda's eyes went from furious to panicked, and then twisted into pure hatred. She shot up from the floor and pointed right at Charles's face. "Fine, I'm leaving.

"But let me tell you, Charles, if you kick me out today, don't you dare call me your mom ever again!"

Charles closed his eyes for a second and then opened them, his gaze steady and cold. "Mom, you were the one who cut me off as your son first."

Linda shook with rage, spun around, stormed into the guest room, and started throwing her stuff around, making a racket as she packed.

Half an hour later, she hauled her big suitcase out, shot us a look that could kill, and spat, "You'll regret this!"

The door slammed shut with a bang.

At last, silence fell over the house.

Charles stood still, not moving an inch. I walked over and gently took his hand.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice hoarse. "Sorry for what you've been through."

I shook my head. "You're not the one who should be apologizing."

Ava cooed softly in her crib, and I walked over to gently rock it. Charles came over as well, and we stood side by side, watching our daughter's peaceful, sleeping face.

"I'll get back the rest of our money," he said.

"Don't bother," I replied quietly. "Let's just treat it as money for her old age. But from now on, she's out of our lives for good."

Charles nodded and slipped his arm around my shoulders.