pte

of the car doors slamming in the driveway. Her heart d

lry or designer clothes. Jack's mother hated when Elena looked too fancy. S

alked in like she owned the place. Which she basically did. She was wearing a whi

said quietly. "I didn'

horn said coldly. "You were too busy em

diately. "Mrs. Kaelthorn, welcome. Sha

hef. I want a proper meal, not whate

about Elena's simple tastes. How she preferred normal food over

Kaelthorn sat in the head chair like a queen

Mrs. Kaeltho

ping her back straight a

y, no. S

d up again

what? Kn

ned. "Mother, I d

u embarrassed my son today. You embarrassed our family

n her knees beside Mrs. Kaelthorn's chair. The

lly. "Now you're in the right posi

nsive dishes in front of Mrs. Kaelthorn. Lobster, caviar, impo

d maid. "Make sure the food is per

the maid re

nd looked down at Elena. "Now. Tell me

ne," Elena said, her voice shaking. "But h

told me the truth. She said you acted like you deserv

d," Elena said. "I just

sa said you demanded to see the doctor immediately. You said Ja

that. I was polite. I just asked w

ter slowly. "She said you started crying when she mentioned how Jack could have marri

ep. Elena felt m

talking to you," Mr

or. Mrs. Kaelthorn was stari

you've given my son nothing. No children. No busi

The doctor has treatment options

now how much money Jack has spent on your medical bills? Hundre

e knew anything she sa

ued. "What am I supposed to tell them? That my son married a b

softly. "I love Jack.

s is about love? This is about family. This is about carrying on

ng to you. Jack didn't marry you for love. He married you because he felt gu

way, but Mrs. Kaeltho

aid. "And Jack is starting to realize what a mista

head, scared to

r options. Maybe it's time to find someon

ike it was crashing

appen. You're going to go to your appointment Friday. If this doctor can't

Elena said desperately.

asked. "A burden. A reminder of his mist

t to hear. Elena knew they would gossip about this later. The whole

ece of lobster, "you'll let him go. You'll let him find a real wif

r voice breaking. "Where will I go?

d coldly. "You should have thought about th

owing some spirit. "I saved his life! I risk

sing that one good deed to manipulate him ever since. Do you

been slapped. "I'm n

kneeling. "Jack is thirty years old. His friends all have children. His busin

her eyes, try

Mrs. Kaeltho

look

and I'll give you enough money to start a new life somewhere far away. Refuse, a

as racing. "You

ses in this city. I have friends in every important family. One

l Friday to decide. If the doctor can't fix your broke

d if the treatment works

ou'll have bought yourself a little more time. But Elena, let me

old marble floor. Every bite felt like an insult. Every sip

yourself up before Jack gets home. He d

rd the door, th

make sure everyone in Vaelthorne City knows exactly what kind of w

rvants cleaned around her quietly. No one helped her up. No one o

. But the pain in her heart was much worse. Mrs. Kaelthorn was right

ly family she'd ever known. Either way, she was running out of time