02

The whole night gone by, but Lacy and Ian didn’t come back. Remi slept in peace for the first time ever. She talked to the HR of Web Group that she was going to take a day off the next day.

Without the typical rush to make breakfast or get Ian to school, she finally got a respite and some time to herself.

Her phone started to vibrate on the nightstand all of a sudden. Lacy’s name appeared on the screen. Remi pressed the answer button, and his voice came through, full of energy. "Right now, come to the hospital."

"Why?” She asked.

"Listen, you are the reason Bernice tried to kill herself. Don't you think you should come?” Lacy’s voice was full with hatred. "Remi, stop acting like I did anything wrong to you. You owe the Green. If you hadn’t told the debt collectors about Nathaniel’s whereabouts, Bernice wouldn’t have been suffering like this.

I'll divorce you if you don't show up!"  He hung up after that.

Remi thought about it for a second, then hurriedly got ready and left, holding on to the divorce papers. She wasn't going to the hospital to salvage her wretched marriage; she was planning to end it for good as she intended before.

She spotted Lacy giving Bernice soup as she went to the ward. The two looked like a

couple as they sat in the lovely, warm sunlight that came in through the window.

Bernice was blushing with her cheeks red which was a big change from how unwell she looked. People who didn't know better would have thought they were having a romantic meeting in the hospital.

Remi came in and ruined the tranquil scene. As soon as Bernice spotted her, she started to cry.

"I'm very sorry, Remi. I didn't mean to take Lacy away from you. It's all my fault. The post shouldn't have made you mad. But I just couldn't help myself..." Bernice’s tears started to flow, and her weak look could make  anyone's heart ache.

Lacy set the bowl of soup down and gave Remi a cold gaze. "Say you're sorry!" He asked.

"Why should I?" Remi shot back, "I didn't do anything wrong." She quickly looked at Bernice’s  wrist, where there was a thin red line. It appeared more like a scratch rather than a wound from a serious suicide attempt. She said with a sneer, "Even if Bernice didn’t come to the hospital last night. That small scratch would have healed on its own regardless.”

Bernice scowled and her cry worsened. She quickly grabbed a fruit knife that was lying nearby and was about to hurt herself. "It's all my fault. I might as well kill myself and join Nathaniel.”

The room was filled with her cry. Lacy instantly dragged the knife from her and threw it down near Remi’s feet. "Are you here just to annoy her?"

Bernice shook in Lacy’s arms and held on to his collar. "It's all my fault! Why can't I just end it all? It would be a relief...”

Remi calmly watched the whole thing. While they were still best friends, there have been many dramas like this. Bernice always had these meltdowns at the proper time. People often thought Remi was the evil person, even when she had nothing to do with it.

Lacy’s heart hurt for Bernice, and his anger toward Remi became stronger. Why? Because Bernice  was the last of the Green family and his first love.

Lacy muttered and hugged Bernice tightly, "No, no. The person who should be gone is the one who did it.”

Lacy suddenly looked up at Remi, and his eyes were full with hate. He yelled, "Look at what you did to her. Are you happy now? You really want to kill Bernice. Is Nathaniel’s death not enough? You really want to wipe out the entire Green family? How evil you are.”

Remi had a hard time breathing because the hate in Lacy’s eyes was so strong. At that moment, the doctor and nurses rushed in.

They pushed her out of the way to attend to Bernice. As usual, Bernice liked getting attention and she must be happy now that she succeeded.

Remi saw Lacy through the small opening of the door. He was worried as he tried to calm Bernice down. If not for her parent and Nathaniel’s death, Lacy would have married Bernice now, instead of her. Even in this marriage, Remi realized she was only a stand-in wife occupying Bernice’s space.

Remi let out a big sigh when she thought about that.  Lacy would never agree to sign the divorce paper today because everything is a mess now.

She got another text from Lacy while she was intending to go back home.

"I just ust got a call from the kindergarten that Ian is injured. I’m busy right now. You have to go there.”

Without waiting for her reply, he ended the call.

Remi called a cab and went to Ian’s school. She couldn't just forget about her kid, even though Ian had hurt her. She was anxious about him the whole way to the school.

As soon as she got there, she ran inside. Her ponytail fell out, and she was sweating on her forehead. She was out of breath, but clutched the teacher's arm. "Where's Ian? What happened to him? Is he okay?”

Lena Smith, the teacher, blinked in confusion. At first, she was surprised and said, "Sorry, who are you?"

"I'm Ian’s mother. His dad just called and said he had an injury. That’s why I came.”  Remi was so worried that her lovely face was twisted in worry.

Lena seemed even more confused. "Are you really Ian’s mom? So who was the woman with him on the day of the school’s competition with other schools that Ian represented? Take a look at the woman with him.”

Lena pulled out her phone from her skirt pocket and started going through the photos on her phone. A few seconds later, she showed Remi the photo of Ian with Bernice and Lacy. As usual, they were a happy couple.

Reno’s  throat felt like it was being held tightly by a giant hand, and her mind was racing. She didn't know anything about the school competition nor did Ian or Lacy informed her.

“And she has always been coming to several parents meeting we held as Ian’s mother. So we thought she was his mother.” Lena said again.

Remi felt a sharp pang in her chest as the reality hit her like a ton of bricks. Bernice has finally managed to steal both her husband and son from her.

"Why are you here? I thought it was Ms. Green coming.” Ian suddenly said from behind Remi with bandage on his forehead. He didn't sound happy at all and didn't like the fact that it was Remi that came instead of Bernice.

Remi was shaken to her core, but she heaved a sigh of relief and said to Ian while Lena was there. "You're right, I am not your mother. You now have  a new mother now. Teacher, don’t  call me about Ian again from now on. He is  ungrateful.”

Remi’s voice was loud, and the parents who came for their kids and sat not far from where Remi stood could hear all what she said.

As Ian heard this, he began to beg Remi, "Mom! Come on, let's head inside. All the other kids' parents are here. I can’t be the only one without my parents.”

"Didn't you already choose Bernice Green as your new mom? You are no longer my son. I can't believe I raised such a spoiled brat.” Remi turned walked away.

That moment, the place was filled with whispering. "What just happened? Is that woman really Ian’s mother? Then who is the woman who came every time as his mother?”

"Must be the new stepmother. What an ungrateful kid to call his father’s mistress his new mum. He's just like his dad, who cheated!"

"Marcos, I don’t want to see you playing with Ian anymore, before he’ll also corrupt you. Do you hear me?” A woman among the parents asked her son.

“Yes, mom.” Her son, Marcos, who was Ian’s best friend replied.

Ian fought hard not to crying.