after being

7

I told her to take a deep breath and try to stay calm.

I wanted to use her phone to call the police, but I didn’t have the strength.

Then, loud knocking echoed from outside the room.

I placed my hand on her arm, signaling her not to move.

The knocking grew more rapidly.

It felt like they would not stop until we opened the door.

Just as she shakily reached for the phone to call the police, the door was kicked open.

A person entered, wearing a mask and a hat, so I couldn’t see his face.

But I could feel the anger radiating off him.

The moment he saw me, he yelled, “Homewreckers deserve to die.”

My mother–in–law clutched her chest and collapsed beside the bed.

The hospital security arrived just in time, dragging the man away before he could get any closer.

My mother–in–law was rushed into surgery.

I was frantic with worry, forcing myself to inch my way to the surgery room.

When Cole arrived at the hospital, he was almost in a breakdown, yanking at his hair in frustration.

I had never seen him so vulnerable before.

“It’s those people who watched the livestream. They wanted

revenge for Reva,” I said.

“I’m so sorry. I couldn’t protect you both,” he said.

I wanted to stay and comfort him, to wait together for news. about his mother’s surgery.

But he insisted on taking me back to my hospital room.

Thankfully, the surgery was successful.

Cole arranged for us to stay in the same room.

He didn’t leave our side for a moment, while his father took care. of our meals.

The joyful atmosphere from when the misunderstanding had been cleared up turned heavy and somber.

Cole’s expression grew darker by the day.

The police made frequent visits to the hospital, looking to take my statement.

Cole blocked them every time.

Soon enough, it was the day came for us to be discharged.

I rested for a night and then went straight to court the next day. After a month, I almost didn’t recognize Reva.

The moment she saw me, she dropped to her knees.

Her tone was pleading.

“Please, can you ask Cole to forgive me? I didn’t know you were the child’s mother. He never told me, or I never would’ve done what I did,” she said.

“You’re the child’s mother, which makes you like a sister to me. Can you really stand to see my relationship with Cole fall apart? “Or have you not gotten over Cole?”

2/3

Her words sounded sincere, but her eyes told a different story.

It was clear she was only scared of going to jail or losing money. Cole had probably hidden the truth to avoid making her insecure. After all, who could accept their parents–in–law treating their husband’s ex–wife like a daughter?

I cut her off coldly, “I’ll support whatever decision Cole makes. Someone like you isn’t fit to be my son’s stepmother.”

Reva changed colors.

The grievance was replaced by anger.

“I knew you complained to him. He wouldn’t have dumped me otherwise. You divorced him, yet you’re still hung up on him. You’re too old to be trying to steal my man.

“No wonder he suddenly changed and canceled our wedding. If I hadn’t found out he was planning to pick you and the kid up, I’d still be in the dark,” she said.

Just then, Cole walked in after parking the car, his face darkening as he heard her words.