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.

Selina finally hung up the phone and walked out

had prepared. When she had finished eating, she looked up

tomorrow. You can stay here tonight. Wash my clothes while you're at it,"

was surprised.

can't be right. Did Austin

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

pile of laundry. What's worse, Nicole had to wash it all by hand since Selina did not

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

start on the laundry, Selina happened to walk by. "I'm still feeling a bit weak," Selina explained as she gently rubbed her hands. "That's why I waited for you

when Nicole thought of her own mother, who

was already midnight when Nicole had finished washing everything. Feeling

so many things in this house that need some decent cleaning," Selina said to her. "Oh, and when you're done with

worked nonstop. It was not until she had

eaten enough outside. Don't just sit

that Nicole was doing nothing, Selina

angry and retorted, "He eats very

instantly pulled. "What nonsense are you

teeth and

hard to earn money outside. Why do you still feel wronged to cook an egg custard for him? Don't act like you

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

spoken to Selina in such

dumbfounded. At that moment, the front door opened

let's wait and see. I

She grabbed

lowered her head,

didn't want to cry, but she couldn't

have a rest. I'll talk with

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

and reached

quickly moved her hand

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

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