Loren seized the moment and rushed to the bedside, gripping my wrist tightly. “Sister, I’m so glad you’re okay! Does it still hurt? I was so scared... It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t—”
I pulled my hand away and rasped, “Yes, I am hurt. All because of you.”
At that moment, my parents entered the room, their expressions stormy.
My mother frowned. “She’s just worried about you. How can you speak to her like that?”
My father shook his head and sighed. “You’ve always had a difficult personality. If it weren’t for Loren’s patience, who could put up with you?”
Loren’s shoulders quivered as tears streamed down her cheeks. She looked heartbreakingly pitiful. “I’m sorry... It’s all my fault...”
Then, casting one last sorrowful glance at Arthur, she turned and ran out of the ward.
Arthur watched her go with a conflicted gaze. Then, without a word to me, he followed her.
Not even a glance back.
Abraham spun on me, eyes blazing. “Look at you! You’re nothing compared to Aunt Loren! You should’ve divorced Dad a long time ago and let her take your place!”
I stared at him, stunned.
This was the same child I had given up everything for.
When he was born with health issues, I’d quit a promising career and dedicated three years of my life—day and night—to care for him, nourish him, raise him into the healthy boy he was now.
And this was what he had become?
“Abraham!” My mother grabbed his arm in alarm. “Don’t talk nonsense!”
But he wrenched away. “She’s the one who bullies people! No wonder Dad doesn’t want her!”
I turned to the window. The sun was bright outside, but in this room, all I felt was cold.
Abraham pouted as his father disappeared. He tugged at Loren’s mother’s sleeve and whined, “I want to stay with Aunt Loren! I want to buy her candy so she won’t be sad!”
Lin’s mother stroked his head gently. “Alright, we’ll go find her together.”
Before leaving, she looked at me and said, without warmth, “You should rest.”
Then they were gone.
For the next five days, no one visited.
Not my husband, not my son, not even my parents.
I might as well have been invisible.
Alone, I smiled bitterly and pulled out my phone to order takeout.
The delivery man was more considerate than my so-called family. He set up the food neatly, adjusted the bed for me, and even asked if I needed help.
As I ate in silence, I couldn’t help but think: even strangers show more care than those closest to me.
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