chapter 3

It was hard to hide the quiet joy inside me, so I pinched my thigh so hard tears sprang to my eyes. “Wendy, I’m begging you. Pass the phone to Jason. Judith is truly having a heart attack. This is no joke. I don’t care about your ride or any rivalry between us. A life is at stake.”

I then lowered my voice. “Once this mess is over, we can sit down like adults. I’m even willing to step aside so the two of you can try—”

Wendy interrupted me sternly, “Charlotte, stop insulting me. Jason and I are nothing more than friends.”

Jason’s voice boomed through the speaker like thunder.

“Charlotte, are you out of your mind? I’ve said it a thousand times. Wendy and I ended ages ago. We’re just friends. How dare you slander her, suggest she’s intruding our marriage? Are you about to call her a homewrecker next?”

Which friend rings you at two in the morning because the thunder keeps her awake and asks for a personal lullaby? Which friend climbs into your bed and then claims she is carrying your child? I rolled my eyes.

However, I ignored his words and responded with relief, “Thank heavens, Jason, you answered at last. Please come home. Your mom is in terrible pain. I think her heart is acting up, and she refuses to go to the hospital unless she sees you.”

Jason exploded. “How could you? Because you’re jealous, you curse my mom and use her to drag me back? Do you think that’s funny? Do you take me for an idiot?”

He hung up before I could reply, the abrupt beep echoing in the silence.

I faced Judith, helpless tears refusing to fall. “Mom, what now? Jason thinks I lied. Wendy says it’s fake too. They say if you really have a heart problem, we should call an ambulance. Jason is useless. Maybe we should go to the hospital. When Jason shows up tomorrow, he’ll see the truth. Holding out like this helps no one.”

Judith’s face blanched as she clutched the fabric over her chest. “This is your fault. You must lie to Jason so often that he believes nothing from you. What did I do wrong to end up with a daughter-in-law like you?”

I paced around, phone glued to my ear. “Mom, how is this my fault? If you hadn’t woken Jason in the middle of the night over a mosquito bite, he wouldn’t doubt you now. What do we do?”

Judith frowned, breath shallow. “You... Fine. Let us—”

Seeing Judith was about to change her mind, I seized the moment to interrupt her. “He still won’t pick up. Please listen to me. Let’s get you to the hospital now. This is no time for tantrums. I won’t mock you for changing your mind.”

Judith’s complexion darkened, whether from anger or pain; I could not tell. She also wanted to go to the hospital, but habit made her directly refute me, “No. I know my own condition. I need Jason home. Keep calling. When he answers, I’ll speak to him myself.”

I sighed and dialed again and again until, on the tenth try, Jason finally answered. Judith snatched the phone, her voice breaking. “Jason, please come home. I feel awful.”