“What happened?” Rosalind inquired with concern.
“I’m not sure. It didn’t appear to be a sharp object, so I didn’t investigate further,” the caregiver responded.
Rosalind approached the doctor. “Doctor, how is my mother doing?”
“She’s currently stable. It seems her agitation triggered her heart condition. Did something distressing occur during your interaction with her?” the doctor asked, his tone carrying a hint of reproach. “I’ve mentioned before that her emotions are fragile. Any agitation can be risky.”
“I didn’t have any conversation with her today,” Rosalind replied, pausing briefly before rushing to her mother’s side. She gently reached for her clenched hand.
As expected, there was a note clutched in her mother’s palm.
Rosalind unfolded the note, revealing messy handwriting that was unfamiliar to her.
[After all this time, you’re still alive? How long do you plan to take my place?]
Her heart sank. Holding the note, she called the caregiver over. “Did you see who gave this to her?”
“No! Whenever we go out, I make sure to walk her around without stopping to talk to anyone.”
Someone must have slipped the note to her during the caregiver’s absence while buying porridge!
Rosalind clenched her fists and headed straight to the hospital’s surveillance room.
“Hello, I would like to review the surveillance footage outside Room V1.”
Since VIP patients were often influential or affluent, the surveillance room staff promptly attended to her request.
Finally, the footage revealed that ten minutes after the caregiver left, an individual disguised as a hospital cleaner entered her mother’s room!
“Can you identify this person?”
“I need to verify it. I will inform you once I have the results.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it.”
Rosalind captured a photo of the person’s face from the footage and returned to her mother’s room.
Eva had regained consciousness but still appeared pale.
“Did you receive the note?” her mother asked, preempting Rosalind.
Rosalind felt a tinge of anger and approached her bedside. “Mom, after all these years, you’re still allowing yourself to be affected by this? It troubled you so much that you fainted!”
She couldn’t bear to think about the consequences if this continued and they couldn’t save her…
“It must be that woman! I recognize her handwriting!” Eva gasped as soon as she mentioned it.
Rosalind helped soothe her breathing. “Mom, I don’t care about them. I just want you to be safe! Let’s not let them have any power over us anymore, alright? Let’s pretend Dad passed away early on. Their affair and the existence of an illegitimate child don’t matter to you!”
“Rosalind, how can I forget? I despise them! I despise them!” Eva’s voice trembled with anger as she spoke.
If it weren’t for those people, she wouldn’t be in this state. Her daughter wouldn’t have had to start working in middle school, missing out on her education and future.
Meanwhile, that mistress had always been shielded and occasionally emerged to provoke them. Their illegitimate daughter was sent abroad for studies, living a privileged life.
“Mom, have you ever considered that they’re trying to provoke you into your demise? Do you really want to give them what they want?”
Eva sneered. “She can dream on! Rosalind, as long as I’m alive, that woman will forever be a mistress. I will never consent to a divorce.”
As long as she refused, no matter how many times he filed for divorce, it would be futile. Because Eva had been bedridden for years due to his actions, the court would never grant it.