Chapter 2

Jeanette and Hailey looked grim, but they didn't dare say a word to offend me.

Simon also quickly brought my daughter, Althea, back.

"Mom, look, Althea's right here! Nothing's happened to her!"

"Althea! Hurry and tell your grandma what you've been doing these past few days!"

I looked at my daughter's gaunt little face, a little worked up, my heart aching terribly.

"There, there, Althea, don't be afraid! Mom—Grandma's here!"

"Whatever's wrong, tell Grandma, and Grandma will make it right for you!"

There wasn't a trace of life in Althea's face. She stared at me blankly for a long moment, then burst into tears.

"Grandma! You're finally awake, boohoo..."

"My mom is gone, and now Dad doesn't want me anymore!"

"I wanted to come see you, but they wouldn't let me..."

My heart ached, both bitter and sore, and I said silently, Your mother is right here!

With one hand I held her, gently patting her back to soothe her.

With the other, I stared coldly at Simon and the other two.

"Which one of you kept my granddaughter from coming to see me!"

"You've got some nerve, don't you!"

Hailey didn't bother hiding her malice toward Althea. She shot her a glare, then stepped forward, chin high.

"I'm the one who had her stopped, so what?"

"Althea's already been kicked out of the house by my dad, so of course she has no right to come see you!"

"And Grandma, you don't know! The Charlatan said she's a jinx—she jinxed her own mother to death, and she might even jinx you! You'd better stay far away from her!"

With a cold smile I let go of Althea, and before anyone could react, I lunged forward and slapped Hailey hard across the face.

"You little beast! If you dare spit out one more bad word about Althea, I'll rip your mouth apart!"

Hailey covered her face and screamed.

Her mother, Jeanette, shielded her daughter, heartsick, and glared at me, furious.

"Mom! This is too far! Hailey was only telling the truth—how could you hit her!"

I sneered and raised my hand to give Jeanette a slap too.

"Fine! I won't hit her, I'll hit you!"

"When a child isn't taught, the fault lies with the mother! That fine daughter you raised, every other word out of her mouth is about some damn charlatan—it makes me sick to hear it!"

Simon wanted to pull me back but didn't dare, so all he could do was carefully urge me to calm down.

"Mom, can we please drop it? Don't do anything rash!"

"Althea, you too! It's such a small thing—why go running to Grandma about it? Can't you see there's still a needle stuck in Grandma's hand?"

"Hurry up and help Grandma sit down and rest!"

Althea wiped her tears, obediently did as she was told, and helped me back onto the hospital bed.

"Grandma, don't get upset, I'm fine."

"I just wanted to come see you and talk with you."

"Before she passed, the person my mother worried about most was you. I don't want her to be down in the next world and still not at ease..."

Silly child! I am your mother!

I stroked her gaunt little face, aching, wishing I could tell her right now.

Mom is back.

But I can't.

Now is not the time.

At the very least, I have to deal with these three first, and help my daughter take back the family's property!

I sighed, my gaze at Simon sharp and full of disgust.

"What are you standing there for?! Go make something good to eat for Althea!"

"Can't you see how thin she is, her face all sunken in!"

"What kind of father are you! The child that isn't even yours is plump and healthy, while your own is this skinny! People would laugh if word got out!"

Simon mumbled his agreement and turned to leave.

Back when his mother-in-law was alive, she'd always ordered Simon around to cook, and he never thought anything of it.

Jeanette, however, stopped him, none too pleased, her eyes full of reproach and lecturing as she looked at me.

"Mom, don't you know Simon's a boss now? His standing is nothing like it used to be. How can you still have him cook for Althea!"

I lifted my eyelids and looked at her quietly.

Jeanette shrank her neck back in fear, as if worried I'd hit her again.

But this time I didn't move at all.

"If you don't want him cooking for Althea and me, that's fine too."

"Simon, bring out all the money I gave you back then, along with the dowry money Althea's mother gave you."

"I'm taking Althea and splitting off from you. From now on, everyone lives their own life! Nobody interferes with anybody!"