Chapter 2 The Wrong Thing to Say

The next morning, the sound of the keypad lock unlocking echoed through the house.

Gabriel walked in carrying his briefcase.

He looked exhausted. Judging from his bloodshot eyes, he had stayed up all night. However, I could smell the pungent smell of hospital disinfectant clinging to him, mixed with the scent of the perfume Evelyn always wore.

I sat on the couch, holding the baby, and sneered inwardly.

So much for a business trip; he had clearly gone to the hospital to keep vigil for his childhood sweetheart while she gave birth.

Patricia scurried out of the kitchen the moment she heard the door.

When she saw her son, her face immediately broke into a wide smile. She even straightened her hunched back. "Oh, Gabriel. Your business trip must have been exhausting."

Gabriel changed his shoes and gave her a perfunctory response.

Patricia turned to me, and the smile instantly disappeared from her face. She slammed the basin in her hands down by the bathroom door.

It was filled with several pieces of dirty clothes she had changed out of, with several pairs of underwear sitting right on top.

"Genevieve, what are you waiting for? Gabriel works so hard to support this family while you sit around at home all day. Hurry up and do the laundry! And make sure you scrub them by hand. The washing machine never gets them clean."

The unhealed incision in my abdomen still ached faintly.

I looked at Gabriel. He was staring down at his phone without even looking up.

It was as if he had not heard his mother deliberately making things difficult for a woman who had given birth to his son only a few days ago.

"Patricia, I just got out of the hospital. My incision hasn't healed yet, so I can't touch cold water."

The moment Patricia heard that, her voice rose into a shrill pitch. "Why are you acting so delicate? What woman doesn't go through this after giving birth? You gave birth to a useless daughter, and now you've given birth to a useless baby who's doomed to die young!

"You're just as worthless as he is. The only thing you're good for is waiting on me!"

My expression turned cold. I placed the baby on the couch and walked toward Patricia one step at a time.

"Patricia, what exactly do you mean by that? Oliver was born full-term through a normal delivery, and all his health checks were normal. His birth report clearly says he's perfectly healthy.

"Why do you keep saying he's doomed to die young? Are you suggesting that you know something I don't?"

Patricia took a step back under my piercing stare. Her eyes darted around as the corners of her mouth stiffened. "W-What could I possibly know? He just looks so skinny to me. I'm only saying as I see it."

"Saying as you see it? What grandmother would curse her own grandson by saying he's going to die young? If you're so insistent that something's wrong with Oliver, then fine."

I turned and headed toward the bedroom. "I'll call the hospital right now and schedule a full physical, especially his heart. That needs to be thoroughly checked."

The moment Patricia heard the word "heart," all the color drained from her face.

She thought the baby in my arms was Evelyn's son, the one born with congenital heart disease.

If we went to the hospital and they discovered that the baby really did have heart disease, then a thorough examination would expose the fact that she had secretly switched the babies when I wasn't looking.

Patricia rushed over and grabbed my arm, her nails digging hard into my flesh.

"Why bother? Hospitals are full of germs. How can you take such a baby there? Don't even think about it!"

I stared coldly at her trembling hand. "Let go. You said he was going to die young, didn't you? What if he really does have an underlying condition that was left unchecked? Patricia, why are you trying to stop me? Don't tell me you're feeling guilty about something."

Cold sweat broke out across Patricia's forehead. She stammered for a long time, unable to form a complete sentence.

I turned toward the man sitting on the couch. "Gabriel, what are you still sitting there for? We're going to the hospital."

Gabriel was rubbing his forehead irritably.

He had spent the past few days at the hospital with Evelyn, watching over that sickly baby who really did have heart disease. He was probably already mentally and physically exhausted.

So, he finally lost his temper after hearing me make such a fuss. "That's enough!"

He shot to his feet and grabbed the car keys from the coffee table. "You're always squabbling over nothing every damn day. Can't I have any peace and quiet in this house? I've already discussed with Evelyn that we'll hold one celebration for both babies' one-month celebration.

"I have work at the company. I'm leaving!"

And so, he stormed out and slammed the door behind him without looking back.

Patricia stared at the closed door before turning to look at my icy expression.

She swallowed and let out an arrogant snort. "Why go at all? It'll just cost our family more money if they do find out that something's wrong with the baby!"

She released my arm guiltily, rushed back to her room, and slammed the door shut.

I stood there, staring at the basin of dirty laundry on the floor, the corners of my lips curling upward.

A joint one-month celebration? That suited me just fine.