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

prepared. When she had finished eating,

stay here tonight. Wash my clothes while you're at it," Selina said with

was surprised.

right. Did Austin lie

Nicole knew that Austin was definitely not on a business trip, she decided not to expose his lie to Selina. After cleaning up

What's worse, Nicole had to wash it all

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

as she gently rubbed her hands. "That's why I waited

feeling that Selina was just acting. But when Nicole thought of her own mother, who was old and incapable to do any hard work, she suddenly became

was already midnight when Nicole had finished washing everything. Feeling so exhausted,

need some decent cleaning," Selina said to her. "Oh,

day long, Nicole had worked nonstop. It was not until she had finished making

enough outside. Don't just sit here

was doing

Selina's mentioning of Austin, Nicole became angry and retorted,

face instantly pulled. "What nonsense are

her teeth and

egg custard for him? Don't act like you are suffering from some injustice! It is

let him raise any more in the future!" Nicole couldn't

first time she had spoken to Selina in such a loud

shocked and dumbfounded. At that

I will

rushed to the door and opened it. She grabbed Austin's arm and began

her head, crying

to cry, but

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

ought to get a better education!" Selina said with a snort,

Austin came over and reached out to

quickly moved her hand

know what my mom is like. Don't make her angry. After all, she's already

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