I hurried to explain, my voice light yet firm. “Mom, Dad, you misunderstood. Hugo treats me well. I just... can’t bear to leave you.”
My mother-in-law waved a hand dismissively. “What kind of talk is that? If you miss us, just visit anytime or call, and your father and I will come see you. It’s that simple.”
I forced a smile, but deep down, I knew the truth.
This would be the last time.
Once I left this world, there would be no more visits, no more phone calls, only silence. The thought lodged in my throat, thick and unbearable. My voice trembled as I asked, “Mom if we could never see each other again... would you and Dad be sad?”
A flicker of panic flashed across her face.
“Sweetheart, why would you ask something like that? Did something happen? Are you... leaving us?”
Before I could answer, approaching footsteps broke the fragile moment.
Hugo stepped inside, Jasper at his side, and Ava walked between them as if she belonged there. The three of them looked almost like a picture-perfect family from a distance.
Hugo’s expression darkened, suspicion clouding his gaze. “Leaving? Who’s leaving?”
My mother-in-law turned, and the moment her eyes landed on Ava, the warmth drained from her face.
“Why did you bring this woman here?”
The air grew thick with tension, the temperature in the room dropping in an instant.
Yet Ava, either oblivious or deliberately ignorant, stepped forward with a practiced smile. “Auntie, I brought you a little something.” She pushed a gift toward my mother-in-law, her expression filled with feigned warmth. “You’re getting older now; you should better care of your health.”
But my mother-in-law barely reacted. She simply pressed her lips together, not even sparing Ava a glance.
Seeing Ava being blatantly ignored, Hugo spoke up in her defense.
“Mom, Ava spent all morning at the mall, carefully picking out this supplement after doing her research. She just wanted you to have something good for your health. Can’t you at least say something nice?”
My mother-in-law scoffed, her voice laced with disdain.
“Hmph. No need. A weasel paying respects to a hen, she’s up to no good.”
Her sharp gaze locked onto Ava. “I know exactly what kind of person she is. I treated her like my own daughter, and what did she do?” Her voice turned cold. “When you were in trouble, she vanished without a word. Left you behind like you were nothing. She’s nothing but an ungrateful wretch.”