Chapter 3
752words
Landon didn't get angry. Instead, he perfectly fulfilled his promises.
He pulled strings to bring in top experts for consultations, creating the most comprehensive treatment plan for my mom's heart bypass surgery.
He even pushed aside his work to stay with me overnight at the hospital.
"Landon, with you looking after Chloe, I have nothing to worry about," Mom told him, squeezing my hand.
He held my hand, his gaze sincere.
"Mom, I'll take good care of Chloe for a lifetime."
Seeing Mom's genuine look, I lowered my eyes and nodded.
But only I knew how heavy my heart felt.
Everything was normal at first.
The change happened one afternoon.
Landon got called away for an urgent matter at the company, so I went to the room alone.
Pushing open the door, I saw that the caregiver for Mom had changed.
I'd seen that face in the photo on Landon's mom's social media.
Summer.
"...My husband is a good man, just too kind-hearted," she was saying to my mother.
"This woman has been clinging to him for years. He says he can't cut her off without hurting her. It's... difficult for me. I took this job to distract myself."
Mom listened, her face showing sympathy.
I stood at the door, my blood freezing in an instant.
"Chloe's here?"
Mom saw me and smiled,
"This caregiver Summer has had a tough life. I say, those mistresses are really shameless..."
I forced a stiff smile and said:
"Mom, I brought some warm milk. Try it."
Then I turned to Summer,
"Can you step out for a moment? I have something to ask you."
At the end of the hallway.
"Were those words meant for my mom to hear?"
The gentleness on Summer's face faded, her lips curling into a faint smirk:
"I was just talking about my family matter, what's the problem?"
"Keep my parents out of our issues."
I kept my voice low, trying to reason,
"We're both victims here. If there's something, we can talk..."
"Victims?"
"Chloe," she interrupted me, "you've been the mistress for seven years, and you're acting all righteous?"
"Talk with me?"
"You think Landon will really divorce me for you? He's just stringing you along."
"Even your mom says you're shameless! Chloe, do you have the guts to tell your mom about being the damn mistress?"
I clenched my fists, wanting to argue, wanting to hit her.
But I forced myself to hold back.
Because this was a hospital—I couldn't make a scene, couldn't upset Mom.
But she wouldn't let up:
"Oh, I get it. You're afraid it'll affect your mom's surgery, right?"
"But even without saying anything, I doubt she'll make it through."
"After all, she's old, not in great health—maybe she won't even last until the operation..."
The taut string in my mind snapped with a "pop."
When I came to my senses, my palm was stinging hot.
I'd slapped her hard across the face.
Summer yelped, covering her cheek.
"What are you doing?!"
Landon's voice suddenly boomed.
He rushed over in quick strides, pulling Summer behind him and grabbing my wrist with force.
"Chloe! How could you hit someone?"
Summer immediately hid behind him, tears flowing instantly, her voice trembling:
"Landon... I was just seeing that your aunt was alone and kindly came to help, chat with her..."
"I don't know why Ms. Hayes got so angry and just hit me..."
She cried, looking like I'd bullied her—
Completely different from the sharp-tongued way she'd spoken to me earlier.
"Ask her what she said!"
I was shaking with anger, trying to wrench free from Landon's grip.
Landon's brows were knitted tightly.
He looked at Summer's swollen cheek.
Then at my agitated state, his eyes filled with disappointment and frustration:
"She's always been so gentle—what could she have said?"
"Even if she said something, you shouldn't have resorted to violence!"
"Chloe, when did you become so unreasonable, hitting people over a disagreement?"
"I'm unreasonable?"
I almost laughed, but tears welled up uncontrollably.
"Landon, the shameless one is you! If it weren't for you two-timing, she and I wouldn't..."
"Enough!"
He cut me off, putting an arm around Summer's shoulders.
"I'll take her home first."
"You cool down and think about your own issues."
He left with Summer, without glancing back at me.
Soon, I understood what he meant by "cool down."
