“Son! She’s firing me! That little bitch! In the
old country, she’d have to bow down and
serve me! And now I’m in her service!
Cooking and cleaning up after her, and she
doesn’t like it”
Chris rubbed his forehead, looking annoyed.
“Mom, you lost your temper last night. Hailey
doesn’t let things slide. I’ll talk to her, but if it
doesn’t work, just take some time off.”
“Lost my temper? You two have been
together for years, you’ve probably been
sleeping together for all of it! Who else would
she marry? I’m going to be her mother–in–law
sooner or later! What’s wrong with me saying
a few things? Am I not allowed to speak my
mind when you get married.”
Brenda started to cry, both furious and
tearful.
“Ever since middle school, you’ve been at her
place every day. I’ve basically given her my
son for years, and I can’t even pretend to be
a mother to her? What is this!”
The nerve of her!
Chris had shared everything with me, even the
educational resources.
Without my mom, without me, would Chris be
L
where he is today?
And yet, in this family’s eyes, they were the
ones who were missing out.
And what about Chris?
Did he think so too?
Chris frowned, his face clearly displeased.
“Mom, quiet down! Hailey won’t marry me
until everything is settled, so just keep going.
Hailey isn’t stupid, if I’m discovered,
everything falls apart!”
Brenda seemed to snap out of it after his
outburst. Looking despondent, she shut her
<
mouth.
“Well, I’m upset! She wants to fire me for
such a small thing. I work hard, don’t I
deserve a little credit? That little bitch is so
heartless. I’d never let her take care of my
grand kids.”
Brenda called me a “little bitch” over and over
again, but Chris never argued with her.
This was what years of love and devotion had
come down to.
I looked down and pulled out my other phone
to call Chris.
く
The sudden ringtone startled them. Chris
reached for his phone, but I hung up.
“Fine, I’ll get her pregnant, don’t worry.”
Chris’s phone rang immediately.
I blathered some nonsense about running a
few more laps, and asked him to make me
some noodles when I got back.
Chris seemed relieved, and then took
something out of his pocket – folic acid.
After double–checking, he swapped the vitamins in my pillbox.
<
Today he was swapping vitamins for folic
acid, but what if, down the line, I stood in his
way? Would he swap them for something
else?
didn’t know Chris at all, and I didn’t dare to
think about it any further.
After my run, I took a shower and finally
sorted out my thoughts.
The scorching heat suddenly enveloped me
from behind. The scent was familiar, and
used to be my favorite.
“Hailey, I fried you some eggs with coconut
oil, Come eat.”
I nodded, moving away from his embrace.
After eating, Chris put the pillbox in front of
me, then casually brought up Brenda.
“Brenda said you’re going to fire her? Hailey,
Brenda’s a good worker, and she’s getting
older. It’ll be hard for her to find another job,
so maybe…”
My stomach churned, and the coconut aroma
suddenly tasted like poison!
I slammed the pillbox on the floor. The pills
bounced out and scattered everywhere.
“I said she’s fired, and she’s fired! You know
<
how important my mom is to me. I don’t want
another birthday ruined! Chris, you said you’d
treat my mom like your own. Did you lie?”
I stared at Chris, forcing him to nod.
“Good. She’s crossed the line, talks too much,
and likes to stir up trouble. It’s better to fire
her. I always thought she was clean, even if
her cooking was so–so. It’s a waste of money
to pay her this much. I don’t even know why
somebody’s mom goes to work for us instead
of them taking care of her!”
Chris’s face had stiffened. Seeing a glimpse of clothing near the kitchen door, I added fuel
to the fire.
L
“Chris, I’m so glad your parents are gone. We
don’t have these problems. If I had a mother-
in–law like that, I’d never marry you!”
“She’s the product of a terrible husband and
family, otherwise why does she have to do
these types of jobs.”
Just then, Brenda charged out of the kitchen,
throwing something at me!
I quickly pushed Chris in front of me. The hot
liquid splashed all over him.
I was secretly thrilled, but on the outside I
acted furious!
く
“…I was going to throw that on you! It wasn’t
supposed to be you.”
Brenda immediately looked flustered, now
that her son was harmed.
I couldn’t miss this opportunity.
I pulled out my phone and started to dial 911!
“Argh! You dared to attack me! I’ll never
forgive you! Absolutely no leniency!” I
screeched.
While holding Chris back, I acted like a
chicken. I didn’t listen to her explanations, I
was only calling the cops.
L
Now, Brenda wouldn’t get her severance pay,
and she’d have a bad reputation.
Chris winced in pain, but was still trying to
speak on Brenda’s behalf.
I stopped him, getting the others to keep
Brenda away, and twisted his words.
“Chris, don’t worry, I won’t let her get away
with hurting you! Does it hurt a lot? Let me
kiss it. This woman, she’s so arrogant just
because she shares the same last name.
Does she think she’s someone special
because of that!”
“Anyone who didn’t know better would think
<
she was your mom! She’s going way too far!”
Chris froze, afraid of what I’d find out.
What was that I was saying, I have a video of
- it.
Great, everything was perfect.
Since it was such a big deal, the whole family
should be there.
I called Frank!
“Why did you call me,” Frank said, “I don’t do
shifts on that day”
く
“Yeah but Chris got third–degree burns,” I
said.
“I’m on my way,” Frank said.
“I’ll always be thankful for you Chris,” I said
with my puppy dog eyes.
Only a few minutes later, the telephone was
buzzing. My assistant was calling.
I bit my lip, and then said that there was an
emergency at my office and left.
You think that I am going to pay for Chris‘
expenses?
<
I would burn all the money instead.
“Okay, Susan, go ahead.”
That’s right, I was having Chris investigated.
Since I had uncovered clues at home, what
could I find at work?
When Dad died young, Mom supported the
company all by herself.
So, I would never let anything harm the
company.
“Miss Davis, we found a few people with
family ties from both of the people you were
く
investigating. Most of them are in back–end
roles, while one or two are in administration.”
