WHO IS THE EVIL ONE

In front of the room, many people were waiting anxiously. The atmosphere was truly tense, until finally all eyes were on Monica and Nathan, who had just arrived.

"Brother, how is Mother?" Nathan asked bitterly. A man much older than him looked at him and tried to hold back his own sadness.

"Calm down! We are all still waiting for the doctor's statement now," he replied, patting Nathan's shoulder slowly with one hand.

Monica now looked more relaxed, though a little nervous, while two women not far from her looked at her cynically.

"Arini, you've really recovered?"

Nathan looked at his confused wife, grasped her soft fingers, and then smiled at the two women.

"But just yesterday I saw you lying sick like a dead person. Isn't it too soon for you to be standing in front of all of us now?"

Ambar made him a little scared. What if Monica knew a lot about his secret?

"Ambar, please focus on Mother's condition now!"

Everyone now fell silent, along with the room door that was opening. The doctor's face peeked out.

"Doc, how is her condition?"

The face mask was removed, revealing a faint smile there. That meant they received good news; the old woman was now starting to stabilize, and that news made everyone relieved.

Just as Ambar was about to enter, the doctor now interrupted and asked Arini and Nathan to enter and visit first. Her hatred and anger towards Arini intensified. In her eyes, the woman was good at manipulation, relying on her fake beauty and gentle attitude to steal everyone's heart, including her husband's heart.

"Why must it be Arini? You know that her biological daughter is me, not Arini."

"Sorry, Madam. But this is the request of Mrs. Yuan herself."

'It seems she really hates Arini. But, wait! If Arini isn't her daughter, then who is she? Daughter-in-law. Ah, yes, Arini is the daughter-in-law. Wait! What!? Daughter-in-law? So, he married me because of his obsession with his former wife. Damn you, Nathan.'

"Arini, why are you still standing there? Come in, dear!"

Nathan broke her reverie. Monica immediately went in when her hand was held by her husband, disappearing from Ambar's sight, which was also the safest way to avoid her envy.

The old woman was still lying down with an oxygen tube as a breathing aid. Her condition was not completely stable; a pale face with a faint, almost invisible smile, hair adorned with a few white strands did not fade her beauty. It was a lie if Monica's presence here was because of the old woman; in reality, she was here because she wanted the freedom of a place to live and money. And now she had to perform a drama so that her real identity would not be exposed. Nathan might take back what he had given her. She couldn't even bear to imagine it.

"Nathan, please see the doctor and ask what medicines Mother needs to consume again?"

Yuan's voice was hoarse and weak. A little hesitant, Nathan finally rushed out and held Monica's hand.

"Let Arini stay here with Mother! It's been a long time since Mother spent time with her favorite daughter-in-law," she said, trying to hold Monica back.

Nathan looked at Monica, who only nodded obediently, as if reassuring Nathan.

"I entrust Mother to you, dear!"

His hand gently stroked Monica's left cheek, like a romantic couple. Monica's other hand also gently rubbed the back of Nathan's hand.

"It's been 5 years of marriage, and you two have never changed; you always make Mother jealous," Yuan said, teasing the two of them.

Monica looked at Nathan's back as he disappeared behind the door. Now she was confused. Starting a conversation with someone she had just met wasn't too difficult if it was just vulgar words and flirting with the opposite sex, but this was an old woman who was previously very close to Arini.

"How is Mother now?"

Monica tried to start a conversation while sitting next to Yuan. The old woman reached for her hand, then looked into Monica's eyes. To be honest, Yuan's action made Monica nervous, like a thief who had just been caught red-handed.

"Thank you for visiting me."

Yuan paused for a moment.

"What is your name?"

Hearing that question made Monica even more scared. Her fate would be sealed if Nathan knew her identity was starting to be exposed.

"What are you talking about, Mother? I'm Arini, Mom." Monica tried to convince Yuan.

"Alright, if you don't want to be honest, let's assume you really are Arini. Now answer my question! What is Nathan's favorite food?"

A trick question. Monica fell silent, and Yuan took it as a loss.

"I told you only Arini knows. What is your name?" Yuan kept pressing her.

"Anything vegetarian, because Nathan has never liked seafood or any other meat. He's also allergic to shrimp. Arini still remembers when Mas Nathan was hospitalized and almost died because of his allergy," Monica answered fluently.

This finally made Yuan breathe a sigh of relief.

"Then why were you silent for so long, as if you were thinking, Arini?"

Monica looked down, putting on a sad expression.

"Arini was just surprised because now Mother can't recognize Arini anymore. After not meeting for a long time, will I become a stranger in Mother's eyes?"

Hearing that made Yuan feel guilty.

"Forgive me, dear! Just seeing your change made me doubt."

Yuan hugged Monica tightly. Fortunately, before getting married, Monica had memorized some rules and everything concerning Nathan. Apparently, this incident was predicted; Nathan was not wrong in his prediction.

Yuan and Monica finally engaged in a long conversation. Right when Nathan came in with some of Yuan's medicines, he was a little surprised to see the quick closeness between Yuan and Monica. Monica was apparently quick to play her role.

"Mother should rest a lot, focus on recovery. Are you really comfortable staying here and being away from Arini all the time?"

Her lips curved like a crescent moon towards Yuan.

"Yes, dear. Just seeing your face adds to Mother's enthusiasm."

"Ahem, looks like someone is talking about me, huh?"

The two of them turned. Monica smiled faintly.

"Who's talking about you anyway? You'll get a big head. Right, Mom?"

Yuan laughed and shook her head slightly. This was the sight she missed while lying in the hospital. From the beginning, even before she was sick, Arini had disappeared without informing her at all; her departure was also unknown, while Nathan kept claiming that Arini was busy with her business abroad alone, but his other child said Arini was gone and had been dead for a long time. That was the reason she was admitted to the hospital until today.

After a satisfying chat, they left Yuan again to rest. Monica walked behind Nathan, and Ambar had been staring at her face full of hatred.

The two stopped briefly. Ambar took the opportunity to approach Monica, then whispered softly.

"You should have died, Arini. But it seems the universe gave you a new life to feel the same suffering."

Monica looked into Ambar's eyes, then gave a cynical smile, before finally holding Nathan's hand and leaving the hospital.