Chapter 3

By the time I drove back to our apartment, the sky was nearly dark.

When I pushed open the front door, the living room lights were on, and an opera performance was playing softly on the television.

Mom sat on the couch wearing her reading glasses, the speech script spread across the coffee table.

A red pen was in her hand as she carefully marked something on the page.

I walked closer and saw that she had crossed out the word 'daughter'.

Then, beside it, she wrote the word 'daughter' all over again.

She pressed so hard that the red ink bled through to the back of the paper.

"Mom."

She looked up, removed her glasses, and rubbed her eyes.

"Ian, you're home."

She studied my expression.

"Did the rehearsal not go well?"

I sat down beside her and was about to tell her the truth when my gaze landed on the medicine box at the edge of the coffee table.

Two tablets were already missing from the blister pack of blood pressure medication.

The electronic blood pressure monitor hadn't been put away yet, its cuff resting on top of the box.

I couldn't bring myself to say what was on my mind.

"It went fine."

I tried to keep my voice calm.

"There were just a lot of people, so it was pretty noisy."

Mom sighed in relief.

"That's good."

She folded the speech neatly and put it into the handbag beside her.

"Gina said she'd stop by tonight to see me."

Right then, the doorbell rang.

I opened the door.

Gina stood outside with two boxes of fruit and a paper bag.

She wore light makeup today, giving her a gentle and elegant appearance.

"Mrs. Jefferson."

She walked right past me and called into the living room.

"Gina, you're here. Come inside." Mom stood up and greeted her warmly.

After changing into slippers, Gina handed the paper bag to Mom.

"Mrs. Jefferson, I bought you this red shawl. It'll look perfect with your dress."

As she spoke, she picked up the blood pressure monitor from the coffee table.

"Have you checked your blood pressure today? Let me check it for you again."

She skillfully rolled up Mom's sleeve and fastened the cuff around her arm. Her movements were practiced and natural.

Watching her act so affectionately made me sick.

The monitor beeped several times before displaying a reading safely within the normal range.

Gina let out a sigh of relief. She went into the kitchen, warmed a glass of milk, and brought it back.

"Mrs. Jefferson, have something warm."

Mom accepted it. She was smiling so broadly that the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deepened.

After setting the glass down, she reached into her pocket and retrieved an old cloth pouch.

Inside was an antique silver bracelet. Its engraved patterns had long since worn smooth, but it had been polished until it gleamed.

Mom handed her the bracelet. "Gina, I wore this when I got married. It isn't worth much, but I'll wear it on your wedding. After that, I'll give it to you. Think of it as a little token of appreciation from our family."

Gina stared at the bracelet, and her eyes glistened slightly.

She didn't refuse, reaching out and trying it on.

"Thank you, Mrs. Jefferson."

When she slipped it onto her wrist, it fit perfectly.

"Mrs. Jefferson, having you at the main table tomorrow will give me the greatest peace of mind."

I couldn't stand another second.

"Gina. Come outside."

I turned around and walked out the front door. Thirty seconds later, she came out and closed the door behind her.

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

My gaze was fixed on the silver bracelet around her wrist.

"You know perfectly well how humiliating this whole arrangement is, so why are you dragging my mom into it?"

She sighed.

"I know I've wronged you, but this is only temporary. The Fletcher family cares about appearances, and my faculty appointment is at a critical stage. Once everything settles down, I'll make it up to you."

I snorted.

"You want me to wait until your wedding is over? Or until your baby's sip and see?"

Her face flushed red.

"Ian, don't be so mean. I'm just taking one step ahead. Why do you have to force me like this?"

I looked directly at her.

"Every time you tell me to wait, you're taking what's mine to make yourself look good."

She inhaled deeply and stopped arguing.

Her gaze shifted to the closed front door.

"Your mom has high blood pressure. You saw it yourself. If she suddenly learns the truth tomorrow and something happens to her at the wedding, who's going to take responsibility?"

She stepped closer and stared into my eyes.

"Aren't you her devoted son? Then, do it for her. Please don't cause a scene tomorrow."

With that, she opened the door and walked back inside.

I stood there for a long time.

I couldn't let Mom suffer that kind of humiliation tomorrow.

While Gina threw away her principles to look good, I had to keep Mom safe.