Amanda, with a cold tone, remarked, "My blood pressure was fine until I saw you."
Shawn, trying to appease the situation, said, "Mom, I know you're upset about me not being home much lately. I promise to spend more time with Sandra and Greyson from now on."
"It's too late. Don't call me Mom anymore," Amanda replied sharply.
As the door swung open, Shawn grabbed Amanda's hand.
"Mom, both of you have fiery tempers. But I need to discuss something with you.
"My colleague's gastritis is severe, and she needs to be hospitalized. The last available bed was taken by you guys. How about you stay at our place for a few days, and Sandra can take care of you..."
Before he could finish, Amanda's hand connected with his face with a loud slap, causing Shawn to stumble and sit on a nearby chair.
The other patients' families in the room were stunned, their attention drawn to the commotion at the door.
Jennifer, pointing at Amanda, exclaimed, "Why did you hit him?"
In response, Amanda slapped Jennifer back, saying, "Sly vixen, who are you to question me?"
The onlookers chimed in, "He had it coming. Let him be."
Jennifer, now in tears, felt wronged and upset.
Shawn, holding his face in shock, never expected Amanda to be so fierce.
"Mom, why are you being unreasonable?"
Amanda retorted, "Unreasonable? Since when did slapping someone require reason? If you don't like it, call the cops on me.
"Don't call me Amanda anymore. It disgusts me. The biggest regret of my life was agreeing to let Sandra marry you!"
Addressing Jennifer, she added, "You, cry in a corner or I'll slap you again!"
Shawn, silenced by Amanda's outburst, could only watch in disbelief.
Jennifer, feeling neglected by Shawn's lack of defense, pulled away from his grasp, saying, "Enough, stop fighting. It's my fault. I'll leave."
Shawn, not wanting to let her go, tried to hold onto her, resulting in a brief struggle between the two.
Unable to bear the drama any longer, an elderly woman who had been watching the scene unfold stormed out, cursing at them.
"What kind of soap opera is this? One acts like she's dying from gastritis, the other doesn't care about her wife undergoing chemotherapy, and you're still fighting over a hospital bed for your mistress? What a perfect match!"
"What?"
Shawn, taken aback, entered the room to find me receiving chemotherapy.