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.

minutes later, Selina finally hung up the phone and walked

she had finished eating,

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

surprised.

can't be right. Did Austin lie to his

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

laundry. What's worse, Nicole had to wash it all by hand since Selina

here, it looked as if Selina had not washed a single article of clothing ever since Nicole went to the

rubbed her hands. "That's why I waited for you to do the laundry. I'm old and

that Selina was just acting. But when Nicole thought of her own mother, who

washing everything. Feeling so exhausted, she slumped on the sofa and fell fast

that need some decent cleaning," Selina said to her. "Oh, and when you're done

she had finished making dinner that she was finally able to put her

just sit here quietly. Go and boil an egg

was doing nothing, Selina asked her

mentioning of Austin, Nicole became angry

instantly pulled. "What nonsense are you talking

gritted her teeth and said

talking about! My son works so hard to earn money outside. Why do you still feel wronged to cook an egg custard for him? Don't act like you

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

the first time she had spoken to Selina in such a

At that moment,

wait and see. I will not

the door and opened it. She grabbed Austin's

her head,

cry, but she

you go inside and have a rest. I'll talk with

a snort, "Otherwise, she might

over and reached

moved her hand

Don't make her angry. After

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