Sweet Sorrow

As Nicole walked down the street with her suitcase in hand, her phone suddenly rang. It was Austin's mother, Selina Zhang. For a while, Nicole deliberated whether or not she should pick up. With a sigh, she answered the call and put the phone to her ear.

"Blanche said you just came back. Is this true?" Selina Zhang asked in an angry voice.

"Yes," Nicole replied in low spirits.

"Well, you'd better come here right this instant. Tom came by yesterday and gave me some delicious pork ribs. I need you to make some soup,"

Selina Zhang ordered in her usual, bossy tone.

"I..." Nicole stammered, getting all flustered, "I don't think I--"

But before she could finish her words, Selina Zhang said on the phone, "The doctor told me to drink more soup to supplement nutrition when I went to the hospital yesterday. You can come later. I'll take out the spareribs from the frozen room."

The phone was directly hung up, and Nicole didn't have a chance to express her will.

She hesitated for a while and decided to go to her mother-in-law's home.

"How was Blanche feeling?" Selina Zhang asked upon Nicole's arrival.

"She's fine!" Nicole bit her lip and answered indifferently, "She and her baby are doing pretty good."

"I'm going to give her a call. You should start cooking dinner now. The ribs are on the table."

Then Selina Zhang impatiently waved her hand, and entered her bedroom with her phone in her hand.

Nicole clenched her teeth, trying her best not to snap back at Selina Zhang.

For over a month, Nicole had been taking care of Selina Zhang's daughter wholeheartedly. Despite this, Selina Zhang didn't even really care about how Nicole was nor did she even mutter any words of thanks.

There was no warmth or love here for Nicole.

After stewing the sparerib soup, Nicole cooked some rice and prepared some other dishes. She put them on the table and went to Selina's bedroom to tell her that dinner was ready.

As Selina chatted away on the phone, her face was full of smiles. She had never smiled at Nicole that way when she was talking to Blanche Liang.

up the

meal Nicole had prepared. When she

tonight. Wash my clothes while you're at it," Selina

was surprised. 'Business

can't be right. Did Austin lie

trip, she decided not to expose his lie to Selina. After cleaning up the dishes, she

Nicole had to wash it all by hand since Selina

had not washed a single article of clothing ever since Nicole went to the countryside

laundry, Selina happened to walk by. "I'm still feeling a bit weak," Selina explained as she gently rubbed her hands. "That's

had a feeling that Selina was just acting. But when Nicole thought of her own mother,

Feeling so

cleaning," Selina said to her. "Oh, and when you're done with that, I

had finished making dinner that she was finally able to put

Austin hasn't eaten enough outside. Don't just sit here quietly. Go and boil

that Nicole was doing nothing, Selina asked her

of Austin, Nicole became angry and retorted, "He eats very

pulled. "What nonsense are you talking

teeth and

to earn money outside. Why do you still feel wronged to cook an egg custard for him? Don't act like you are suffering from some injustice! It is my son who suffers a lot, raising you up for nothing, supporting your

raise any more in the future!" Nicole couldn't bear it

had spoken

At that

let's wait and see. I will

and opened it. She grabbed Austin's arm

her head,

cry, but she couldn't

have a rest. I'll talk with Nicole," Austin said in a

with a snort, "Otherwise, she might become even more arrogant and

and reached

quickly moved her hand

what my mom is like. Don't make her

was covered with tears. "I made her angry? How could I make her angry? I have been