Frances''s eyes flickered. She didn''t look at me as she said, "It''s just a friend''s daughter. What''s the big deal?"


    She sighed and continued, "Stop messing around with the pointless jobs of yours. Quit your job if you want to live atfortable life with the Hawks. I can introduce you to other socialites in the upper crust so that you can make more friends your age.


    "Look at how much trouble you''ve brought upon the Hawk family! Daniel hasn''t been able to sleep welltely, and the doctor even said that his condition has worsened. Are you trying to drive him to his grave? And look at what happened to udia and Nichs now.


    "Ari, haven''t I treated you well? Why does it feel like you''re constantly making things difficult for us? Wives are meant to bring a family closer together, but look at what you''ve done!"


    She was so awash in grief that tears trickled down her cheeks as she spoke.


    I clenched my jaw. Initially, I didn''t want to argue with my mother-inw in front of others, but since she no longer showed me any respect and shifted so much of the me to me, I wouldn''t hold back.


    "udia stabbed Nichs, and then she stabbed herself. This has nothing to do with me."


    My retort embarrassed her as Jasmine and the family''s hired bodyguards were still present. Raising her voice, Frances shrieked, "Can''t you stop her?"


    "Aren''t you worried that she might stab me? Am I not family too?"


    "udia has depression! It''s normal for her emotions to be unstable. Can''t you just tolerate her? She should visit a psychiatrist if she''s mentally unstable. Why should I bother with her condition?" "Why, you!" Frances jutted a finger at me, her hand quivering..


    What an excuse. I had known udia for so long, but how did I not. know that she had depression?


    Conveniently, she was suddenly diagnosed with depression only aftermitting a crime and when she was about to go abroad. She really did have her next move nned out, didn''t she? "What''s themotion about? Don''t you know that you''re not supposed to make a scene in the hospital?"


    A nurse rushed over when she heard themotion, but she immediately lowered her voice once she saw the bodyguards lining the corridor. Her legs were still trembling as she fled the scene. Looking surprised, Jasmine chimed in, "What are you guys waiting for? You should take Mrs. Hawk first. Frances and I can stay here."


    red at them. "I''m not leaving!" Then, I turned to Jasmine and said, "Ms. Cooper, an outsider like you has no right to meddle with the Hawk family affairs."


    To be honest, I was genuinely exhausted. I didn''t even want to guess anymore. Apart from udia, I had never seen any other women around Nichs.


    But I really wanted to ask him why the rosary beads he usually wore


    ended up on another woman. I wanted to ask if he had ever truly cared for me, or if it was all a show,


    All the bodyguards snapped their heads toward Frances. Visibly resigned, she waved her hand weakly as if she was shooing away a stray dog.


    The bodyguards quickly separated me from Frances, seemingly afraid that I might harm them.


    "Frances, if anyone''s leaving, it should be her!" I protested.


    Never once did I imagine that our four-year rtionship would be outweighed by a mere outsider, no matter how much Frances and I argued. But Frances didn''t even spare me another nce. The head of the bodyguards stepped forward and blocked my path. He began indifferently, "Mrs. Hawk, I''ll see you out."


    Seeing how agitated Frances was, Jasmine quickly sat next to her andforted her. She seemed more like her daughter-inw thanContent is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    1. me.


    "Don''t get worked up, Frances. There must be some sort of


    misunderstanding. You should talk things over when there''s time..."


    I clenched my fists, feeling my nails digging into my palms. Smiling, spun around and straightened up.


    "I''ll leave on my own," I said coldly.


    I didn''t actually leave. Instead, I ran to the fire escape and ended up curling up in a dark corner for three hours.


    I was stubborn, after all. Even if I knew the answer might not be


    what i anticipated, I still wanted to ak him myself


    it wasn''t hard to find out which room Nicholes was in Estimating the


    headed to Flichs''s ward


    if his indulgence and affection toward me were just an act, 1 would no longer spare udia because of him