pte
of the car doors slamming in the driveway. Her heart d
lry or designer clothes. Jack's mother hated when Elena looked too fancy. S
alked in like she owned the place. Which she basically did. She was wearing a whi
said quietly. "I didn'
horn said coldly. "You were too busy em
diately. "Mrs. Kaelthorn, welcome. Sha
hef. I want a proper meal, not whate
about Elena's simple tastes. How she preferred normal food over
Kaelthorn sat in the head chair like a queen
Mrs. Kaeltho
ping her back straight a
y, no. S
d up again
what? Kn
ned. "Mother, I d
u embarrassed my son today. You embarrassed our family
n her knees beside Mrs. Kaelthorn's chair. The
lly. "Now you're in the right posi
nsive dishes in front of Mrs. Kaelthorn. Lobster, caviar, impo
d maid. "Make sure the food is per
the maid re
nd looked down at Elena. "Now. Tell me
ne," Elena said, her voice shaking. "But h
told me the truth. She said you acted like you deserv
d," Elena said. "I just
sa said you demanded to see the doctor immediately. You said Ja
that. I was polite. I just asked w
ter slowly. "She said you started crying when she mentioned how Jack could have marri
ep. Elena felt m
talking to you," Mr
or. Mrs. Kaelthorn was stari
you've given my son nothing. No children. No busi
The doctor has treatment options
now how much money Jack has spent on your medical bills? Hundre
e knew anything she sa
ued. "What am I supposed to tell them? That my son married a b
softly. "I love Jack.
s is about love? This is about family. This is about carrying on
ng to you. Jack didn't marry you for love. He married you because he felt gu
way, but Mrs. Kaeltho
aid. "And Jack is starting to realize what a mista
head, scared to
r options. Maybe it's time to find someon
ike it was crashing
appen. You're going to go to your appointment Friday. If this doctor can't
Elena said desperately.
asked. "A burden. A reminder of his mist
t to hear. Elena knew they would gossip about this later. The whole
ece of lobster, "you'll let him go. You'll let him find a real wif
r voice breaking. "Where will I go?
d coldly. "You should have thought about th
owing some spirit. "I saved his life! I risk
sing that one good deed to manipulate him ever since. Do you
been slapped. "I'm n
kneeling. "Jack is thirty years old. His friends all have children. His busin
her eyes, try
Mrs. Kaeltho
look
and I'll give you enough money to start a new life somewhere far away. Refuse, a
as racing. "You
ses in this city. I have friends in every important family. One
l Friday to decide. If the doctor can't fix your broke
d if the treatment works
ou'll have bought yourself a little more time. But Elena, let me
old marble floor. Every bite felt like an insult. Every sip
yourself up before Jack gets home. He d
rd the door, th
make sure everyone in Vaelthorne City knows exactly what kind of w
rvants cleaned around her quietly. No one helped her up. No one o
. But the pain in her heart was much worse. Mrs. Kaelthorn was right
ly family she'd ever known. Either way, she was running out of time
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