The old lady didn't spare them at all. She vented all the frustrations she had upon them.

So when the woman's family reached their houses, they were still speechless.

​​

They left their house bold and ready to fight for their daughter, but it seems like they went to shame their ancestors.

They could not carry on with the shame, so they phoned the woman and warned her never to set her feet in their house again.

And the money they promised to give her for the hospital bills went just like that.

The woman became frustrated when her lies were found out by her family. Now, she had no one to turn to for help, no friends.

The friends she made from following the old lady around had already deserted her because the old lady had already informed them of her evil acts.

But there was one more person she could rely on, and that was the father of her children. She phoned him, but he didn't pick up. So she had to go find him at his house, but he had moved out a few years ago, according to his neighbors.

She sent him an urgent text before going back to the hospital, where the doctor asked for the hospital bills.

She said she would get back to him soon, so the doctor glanced at her in annoyance before advising her to try and get the money on time; otherwise, her son will not be discharged when the right time came.

The woman could only nod her head in agreement, for this was not the time to scold anybody even if she was embarrassed.

She had to bear her cross.

On the evening of the same day, the woman became impatient as she hadn't received any reply from the man in question, so she called his sister and mother, but nobody answered her calls. She then decided to visit the man's mother.

And when she met her, the old woman didn't take her seriously until she threatened to go to the press. Only then did the old woman tell her that her son was already married with children and that she would ask him to give her a call.

Late into the night, the woman's phone rang, so she left the hospital room where her son was sleeping to answer the call; it was from her lover.

She didn't waste time having a conversation with him.

She first chuckled when she answered the call before saying, "Oh! So you know how to call back now?"

"What do you want?" the man asked.

"I heard you are married with children," the woman asked in a smile.

"And how is that any of your business? Don't waste my time. Get straight to the point!" the man asked with a little annoyance in his voice.

"You don't want your wife and children to find out about us, so listen. I need money to pay for your son's hospital bills. I need an apartment and money to take care of both children," the woman demanded arrogantly.

"Hahaha! What do you take me for your money bank?" the man asked angrily.

"Whatever suits you, it's your choice," the woman said in a smile. She was happy that the man was annoyed.

The man breathed heavily before saying, "I will pay for the hospital bills and rent an apartment for you and the children. Give me time to sort myself out."

"Now you are making sense, and this is why I love you. Your son is almost due for discharge, so the hospital bills should come to me this week," the woman said in a serious tone.

"As for what?" the man asked, almost flaring up.

"As a reminder," the woman replied and hung up. Immediately, a triumphant smile appeared on her face.

She felt so on top of the world for getting her ex-lover to do her bidding.

**********

Aunt Lin's residence.

Aunt Lin had just completed her early morning jog when she met her daughter at the entrance of the house.

Her daughter was beautiful and looked just like her.

"Baby, are you off to work?" she asked her daughter, who was already looking so dressed up.

"Mum, don't call me that. It's embarrassing, and yes, I am off to work," her daughter answered.

"I don't find it embarrassing at all," Aunt Lin answered in a smile.

"But I do, and that's what matters. Bye, mum," her daughter said before walking away.

"We are going shopping this evening, so remember to come home on time," Aunt Lin called out to her.

"Alright, mum," her daughter replied but then stopped in her steps and turned around.

"Mum?" she called out to her mother.

Just as Aunt Lin grabbed the door handle to push the door open, she heard her daughter call her, so she retracted her hand and looked towards her daughter in a smile.

"I think you should stop with the exercises; you are already looking way slimmer than me," her daughter said.

"And that's because I want to look as young as you," Aunt Lin replied.

"You already look so young. But seriously, mum, you've got to stop with the exercises and diets, you have lost a lot of weight already," her daughter suggested.

"Alright, I will listen to you. Go to work, and don't forget our appointment today," Aunt Lin reminded me.

When her daughter finally drove away, the smile on Aunt Lin's face disappeared. She gazed into the distance, lost in thoughts.

Then she retracted her gaze after some seconds and sighed before going into the house.

*********

The Liu Residence.

"Why are you always so busy with your phone?" Madam Liu asked her husband.

"It's work," Mr. Liu replied, and his phone started to ring immediately. So he glanced at his wife, sitting an arm's length away from him, before excusing himself.

Madam Liu just sighed as she watched him leave the sitting room.

Just then, Old Madam Liu walked in, and Madam Liu hurriedly went to support her.

"Am fine," Old Madam Liu said in a kind voice.

"I know, mother," Madam Liu answered in a smile.

After helping Old Madam Liu take a seat, she sat beside her.