Chapter 4

Would someone who was just going through the motions buy Mrs. Knapp a gold bracelet while giving Mom a leather one?

Would someone who was merely putting on an act make Mom and Dad rent hospital beds just so Mr. and Mrs. Knapp could have their bedroom?

I fixed Ruth with a cold stare, feeling genuine hatred toward her for the first time.

Ruth flinched under my gaze and opened her mouth to explain herself again. But before she could speak, my phone rang.

It was a nurse from the hospital.

The moment I answered, her terrified, frantic voice came through.

"Mr. Goodman, you need to get to the hospital right away! A middle-aged couple came into your parents' hospital room and got into a fight with them!"

…

By the time Ruth and I arrived at the hospital, the ward was in complete chaos.

Dad was grappling with Mr. and Mrs. Knapp.

Mom had fallen off her hospital bed. An IV catheter was still inserted in her hand, her hair was disheveled from being pulled, and a bright red slap mark stood out on her cheek.

Mrs. Knapp was panting heavily, her finger practically jabbing Mom in the face.

"Cedric is absolutely shameless! He seduced Ruth and even followed her to the hotel! What, is your family so poor that Cedric has to seduce women to climb the social ladder?"

Mom's lips trembled with rage. "Watch your filthy mouth!"

Mrs. Knapp let out a cold laugh. "Filthy? Cedric is shameless enough to do something like that, and you expect me to watch my mouth? Let me tell you something—Ruth is Marvin's girlfriend. If I ever catch Cedric shamelessly chasing after her again, I'll beat you up all over again!"

As she spoke, she raised her hand to shove Mom.

Dad immediately stepped in front of her. But he was already frail to begin with, and Mr. Knapp shoved him so hard that his lower back slammed into the rail of the hospital bed.

Dad let out a muffled groan, his face instantly draining of color.

A deafening buzz filled my head.

"Dad!" I rushed over to support him.

The moment Mom saw me, tears streamed down her face. "Cedric, you're here."

When Mrs. Knapp spotted me, her eyes lit up as though she'd finally caught the person responsible for everything.

"So, you've finally decided to show your face. Everyone, come look! This is the man who's been seducing my son's girlfriend!"

I raised my head and glared at her. "I haven't seduced anyone!"

"I heard everything with my own ears!" Mrs. Knapp shrieked. "You told Ruth to come over to your place late at night. A man and a woman alone together at that hour! If that's not seduction, what is? Your parents are no better for raising such a shameless son!"

The crowd of onlookers immediately erupted into chatter.

Someone whispered, "So, he really is the homewrecker. Young people these days have absolutely no shame. Now he's even dragged his parents into it. The real boyfriend's parents have come to confront him. Serves him right if he gets beaten up."

Every word pierced me like a needle.

Mom's and Dad's faces grew even paler.

I was just about to speak when Marvin stepped forward. His eyes were red, and his shoulders trembled slightly. He looked like someone who had suffered an unimaginable injustice.

"Mom, please, just let it go. We're in a hospital. Let's not make a scene." As he spoke, tears rolled down his cheeks. "I don't want to put Ruth in a difficult position."

Hearing that, Mrs. Knapp felt even more sorry for him.

"You're just too kind. These people have bullied you right to your face, and you're still defending them?"

She turned back toward me, pointing an accusing finger. "Look at Marvin, then look at yourself! Your whole family is nothing but shameless trash!"

Mom's face turned livid with anger. "Cedric is not a homewrecker!"

Mr. Knapp snorted contemptuously. "If he's going to steal someone else's girlfriend, he should be prepared to be called out for it. With parents like you, it's no wonder he turned out so shameless. And you're no better either!"

Mom's eyes instantly reddened. Dad gripped the edge of the bed and struggled to his feet.

"I dare you to say one more word about my wife!" he said in a trembling voice.

Mr. Knapp laughed disdainfully. "And what if I do? You think a sickly man like you can take a swing at me?"

The moment he finished speaking, Mrs. Knapp suddenly lunged forward, reaching for Mom's hair.

I couldn't take it anymore. I stepped in front of Mom and seized Mrs. Knapp's wrist in a vise-like grip. "That's enough!"

For a brief second, the entire hospital room fell silent.

Mrs. Knapp froze, then shrieked, "How dare you lay a hand on me?"

I ignored her and fixed my gaze on Ruth instead. She'd been hiding among the crowd the entire time, not daring to make a sound.