I pushed open my front door after a long day of work to find Angeline Delmont, my mother-in-law, smiling at me. She sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, snacking on some peanuts. “Oh Daphne, my dear daughter-in-law! You’re finally back.”
My expression froze.
Before I could wonder what she was doing here, she had already gotten up from the sofa and walked toward me. “Are you surprised? You didn’t expect to see me here, huh?
“Your husband and son personally requested I come over. Are you upset?” Angeline said proudly, “Do you know what family means? Blood is thicker than water. An outsider like you could never break the bond among my son, my grandson, and me!”
Angeline’s face was as disgusting as ever. Her expression made me feel sick to my stomach. I did not have time to ask her anything before my husband, Rowan Delmont, and my son, Everett, left the room they were in to join us.
Rowan’s and Everett’s laughter stopped abruptly the moment they saw me. A suffocating silence engulfed the quiet living room.
Angeline, who was sporting a sarcastic smirk seconds ago, immediately changed her expression and said pitifully, “Please don’t blame Rowan. I don’t have much time left, so I begged him to let me in.”
Angeline pushed her performance further and took out a test report.
“My physical examination revealed uterine cancer! I don’t have much time left. I’m all out of hope!” she choked out. “You’d be cruel to kick me out. Show me some mercy!”
She begged me fearfully.
Angeline shed tears and dropped to the ground with her outstanding acting skills. “You can see this as my last wish. Please let me stay with you!”
What an excellent performance. I looked at my speechless husband, then at my beloved son whom I had raised with so much love and care. I asked them, “What do you guys think?”
Rowan knew how the situation got to this point. He knew exactly why Angeline and I could not get along. He reluctantly asked Angeline to leave years ago to save our marriage. He repeatedly promised me that he would never let his mother see me again, even if she was close to death.
Barely a few years had passed, yet Rowan had already forgotten his vow to me. He walked up to me silently and took my hand with a stony face.
