Chapter 2 Unfair Treatment

I held my phone and went into the bedroom.

"My friends and colleagues follow me on Instagram. They're going to think badly of Chris. We grew up together, and his father is my godfather—"

I interrupted, "So you let him cut in line when we've waited for four hours?"

Dead silence followed, as if someone had choked her.

I continued, "My mother stood until she was sweating. Her legs were shaking, and all for an endoscopy. You wanted us to wait in line like everyone else. Your friend and his father were relaxing and having snacks. All he did was a blood pressure check. A nurse could've done it, and you let them cut in line."

Somehow, that struck a nerve, and Lorelei raised her voice. "Your mother stands for half a day all the time, and now you're telling me she's getting princessy all of a sudden? You're fighting with me over something trivial, and that's just petty!"

"If I were petty, I wouldn't have made you dinner. You didn't even show my mother around when she visited, but you were so eager to act like another man's daughter-in-law. You booked them a room and treated them to a feast!"

"Enough!" Lorelei screamed into the phone. "Look at you, you disgust me! Keep this up and the marriage is off!"

I stayed silent for a long time, then someone opened the door. My mother came in looking heartbroken, and I hung up in a panic.

"Don't get in a fight, Michael. My stomach doesn't hurt anymore. It's alright." She smacked her belly to prove that she was alright.

But people at her age were at risk for stomach cancer. Last month, when I brought lunch for Lorelei at her hospital, I passed by a patient who died from late stage stomach cancer.

As I looked at the enveloped corpse, I was reminded of my own mother, who ate at irregular times and kept saying her stomach hurt.

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest back then. Lorelei laughed at me, saying I worried too much.

I quickly forced a smile and raised my hands at my mother. "That won't happen."

"Yeah, and talk it out with her when she comes back."

I noticed the anticipation in her eyes, and I clenched my fists. "Fine," I said quietly.

Soon, the door opened up. In came Lorelei holding a bunch of stuff. Behind her was that father-son pair.

She didn't even look at my mother. Instead, she bent over and grabbed two pairs of new cotton slippers for them from the shoe cabinet.

So that was why she snatched the slippers from my mother the day before. She said, "She's old, and her feet smell. She can wear an old pair, and after she leaves, I can throw them out."

My mother had just arrived, and this woman was already thinking about how to kick her out.

I wanted to argue, but my mother tugged on my sleeve and told me to be quiet. Then, she rubbed her hands and bowed as she simpered at Lorelei.

"Lorelei's right. Old slippers are fine. They feel good, and I love them. Let's not fight over this."

Flames of fury burned within me, but my mother clenched my hand tightly.

I didn't even need to look to get what she meant. She wanted me to endure this.

Once the two changed into the slippers, Lorelei stood up. "Michael, tell your mother to stay in a motel or something. We can't house this many people."

Your mother.

That was how she addressed her since the day before.

She was respectful when she was taking money from my mom, but now that she was a supervising doctor, she got haughty.

I said nothing, and she pointed at the pair. "This is my godfather, and that's his son, Chris Gray."

I held my fury down and greeted them. Her godfather said nothing. Instead, he strode ahead and slapped me. "You bastard! Know some shame! You don't even know my goddaughter that well! How dare you move in while she's gone?"