hapter 3 Fight Back
Jayden was too stunned to speak, so I ended the call and finally got a good night’s sleep.
I figured he’d stay mad for a while and wait for me to apologize before coming home.
Surprisingly, they showed up early the next morning.
Before I could react, Sophie, my maid, had already answered the door.
Nicole walked in using a cane, with Jayden and Elisa following behind her solemnly.
Noticing me calmly eating in the main seat, Nicole flung her cane toward me in frustration.
“Mom, why didn’t you come see me? You even cut off my medical payments! What if we had never come back?”
“But you’re back now, aren’t you?”
I kept eating and didn’t bother lifting my eyes.
Jayden’s face darkened as he helped Nicole sit down. Then, he angrily knocked my bowl to the floor.
He stared at me angrily and snapped, “You didn’t even bother about Nicole getting hurt. You canceled her card, stopped covering her medical bills, and even changed the lock code! Do you still care about us?
“Nicole wouldn’t have gotten better so fast without Elisa’s care.
17
Chapter 1 Fight Back
“If you truly don’t want to take care of Nicole, I’ll just leave Elisa here to be her caregiver.”
We had been married almost 30 years, yet I’d never realized just how shameless he could be.
To keep his mistress nearby, he suggested something like that.
I gave him a cold smirk but said nothing. Then, I turned to Sophie and signaled her to bring the hot tonic soup.
Jayden’s face lit up right away, and he exchanged glances with Nicole.
Ever since Nicole moved in, that broth had basically been reserved for the two of them.
It wasn’t that I disliked it. I just stopped drinking it because Jayden thought his portion was my leftovers.
To protect his fragile pride, I let it go.
Since he didn’t want to act like he was a live–in son–in–law. I’d let him fall
back to where he started.
I’d let him watch how badly he could mess things up.
Nicole picked up on the signal and turned to Elisa affectionately. “Godmother, you’ve done so much for us. Just sit back now and let others serve you.
“Sophie, give the broth to my godmother.”
My chest tightened with anger.
I already knew Nicole was ungrateful, but I didn’t expect her to go this far right in front of me.
Jayden, still grim, spoke again, “Nicole is close with Elisa now and sees her as a godmother. To prepare the main bedroom for her. Maybe Nicole will forgive you then.”
“Is that so?”
I looked at Nicole, who nodded fast like a spoiled child.
I sneered. “What if I refuse?”
“Then I’ll stop recognizing you as my mom.”
The moment Nicole said that, I grabbed the tonic soup from Sophie and threw it at her.
Her pink dress soaked through instantly, and her hair stuck to her forehead in messy strands.
Ignoring her screams, I said flatly, “I raised you for 20 years, and you tossed me aside just because I didn’t meet your expectations once. What an ungrateful daughter you are.”
“Wynter, Nicole is just upset. How can you argue with your child?”
Elisa glared at me resentfully and tried to step past me to help Nicole.
I caught her arm and smiled meaningfully.
“You’re just a caregiver. My daughter is injured and just missing some motherly care. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you belong to the Schultz family. Stick to your role and know your place.”
Without another word, I shoved her onto the couch.
Her groan of pain mixed with the others‘ angry outbursts.
Jayden barked, “Wynter, stop it!”
Chapter 3 Fight Back
Nicole yelled, “Mom, if you dare to hurt her, I’ll never forgive you!”
Watching them rush to protect Elisa, I shot a sharp glare at Jayden.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think Elisa gave birth to Nicole, and the three of you are a real family.”
