Chapter 14

Sharon quietly stared at us intently with a complex gaze that I couldn't understand. After noticing that I had spotted her, she quickly reverted to her usual arrogant demeanor. "I'll let you off this time, but you won't be so lucky in the future," she warned before leaving without looking back. My tense body relaxed in an instant, and I felt a wave of relief. Without Sharon's interference, my mom could now stay in the hospital peacefully. The light in the emergency room turned off, and the doctor hurried out. With my heart pounding like a drum, I rushed ahead. "Doctor, how is my mom?" "The surgery was a success, but please be mindful of her emotional fluctuations. She must avoid extreme emotions." I listened carefully to the doctor's advice and committed everything to memory. Then, I followed my mom back to her ward. Mom's face was pale as paper, and she was so frail that she barely seemed like herself. Even her breathing was faint as she lay on the hospital bed. I bought mashed potato from the hospital cafeteria so Mom could eat it as soon as she woke up. May stood beside me, helping to organize Mom's belongings after the hospital transfer. Since we would likely be in the hospital for a long time, getting things sorted would minimize trouble for the hospital staff. Just as we finished tidying up, Mom woke up from her sleep and opened her eyes. When she softly called my name, I hurried to her side, holding her hand tightly. "I'm here, Mom." May also put down what she was holding and greeted Mom, to which Mom answered her with a smile. Then, I began explaining everything, though I left out the part about being pushed into the pool. Even so, the concern in Mom's eyes didn't lessen one bit. She first expressed her gratitude to May, then looked at me with eyes full of guilt. Tears continuously flowed from the corners of her eyes, running down her cheeks and soaking the pillow. "It's my fault. I've already deprived you of a mother's love for so many years, and now, I'm causing you so much trouble because I'm sick..." At this point, my mother was sobbing uncontrollably. "It must have been hard, borrowing money from the Tatham family's daughter. How much hardship will you have to endure borrowing money from her? You've always suffered in silence..." The strong walls I had built around myself crumbled at this moment, considering how a mother was the person who understood her child the most. Even though I downplayed everything, I still underestimated how well my mother knew me. Silent tears slipped down my face. I didn't answer my mother, yet it felt like everything had been said. After I fed my mother the mashed potatoes, May and I quietly left the room. May pulled out a card and stuffed it into my palms as if afraid I would refuse. "There's 500 thousand dollars in there. Consider it a loan from me for now. I don't know what Sharon has done to you, but however she treated you, you should return it in kind. From now on, cut ties with her completely. Don't let her have any leverage over you." I clenched the card tightly in my hand. This time, I didn't refuse. "I will repay you as soon as I can!" I swore. Soon, I withdrew 10 thousand in cash from the bank and headed to Sharon's villa. I asked the servant who stopped me at the door to inform Sharon of my arrival. When Sharon returned, I was allowed to go in. Perhaps to disgust me, she was once again by the pool. Unlike last time, there were many people gathered around the pool this time. It seemed like they were having a party. Sharon sat on a lounge chair, peering at me with a mocking gaze. "What, are you here to borrow more money? Seems like what May gave you wasn't enough. You're way too greedy, Kaelan." Impassively, I waited for her to finish, ignoring the reactions of those around me. Then, I took the 10 thousand in cash and threw it above her head. A hundred green notes danced in the air, falling all over Sharon and the surrounding area. "Kaelan! Have you lost your mind?"