Seeing his mother on the verge of a full-blown meltdown, Nathan felt a fresh wave of despair wash over him. He pressed his palms to his forehead, his voice cracking. "Mom, please, stop tormenting me. I''m already under so much pressure. I''m on edge, and I feel like screaming at someone too."


    Her son''s genuine anguish startled her, and her tears stopped instantly. "Son, what''s wrong?" she asked, her voiceced with concern. "In just a few days, you look like you''ve aged ten years. Is something wrong with your health?"


    For the first time, she truly noticed how unwell he looked. She remembered her son as a handsome man, still charming even in middle age. Now, he just looked worn out.


    Nathan knew his recent illness had taken its toll. He sighed wearily. "Mom, I''m just so frustrated. The doctor said I might be developing dementia. I''m too young for that. How could this happen to me?"


    He couldn''t understand it. Why him and not Wendy? Wendy hadined the supplements were hard to swallow and eventually stopped taking them, yet she was perfectly healthy. Meanwhile, he was the one facing this terrifying diagnosis. Was this... karma?


    His mother felt as if she''d been struck by a hammer. "What? Dementia? I''m still sharp as a tack! How could you get something like that?" she cried, fumbling for her phone to call Wendy.


    But as she looked up, she saw Wendy standing just a few feet away.


    Her fear instantly morphed into fury. She stormed over to her, pointing an using finger. "Wendy! As a wife, you should know your husband is sick, yet you''re out all the time! You''re a woman! Your ce is at home, looking after your husband and children. What are you trying to do, work my son to death?"


    Wendy met her tirade with a calm, weary expression. "Mom, please, listen to me: Before I came back, picked up Nathan''stest medical report his blood pressure and cholesterol are just a bit high if he watches his diet and gets some exercise, he''ll be fine. As for dementia, the doctor only said there''s a risk. It''s not a diagnosis."


    She continued, her voice steady. "Please, don''t panic. Nathan''spany is in trouble, and you know how he is he tends to run from his problems. As his wife, I have to be the one to go out and solve things to make sure our family can maintain its lifestyle. If he avoids his responsibilities and I don''t step up, are we all supposed to live on air?"


    Her words left the old woman momentarily speechless. She hadn''t expected Wendy to be so direct.


    Stunned, she forgot her earlier anger. She knew her son better than anyone. Over the years, under Wendy''s care, he had be somewhat dependent. But it was Wendy''s strength and independence that had be the family''s lifeline. She gave a silent, reluctant nod of agreement.


    "But you''re still his wife. You can''t just disappear for days. I''ve been here all this time, and you haven''t shown your face once. Are you trying to tell me I''m not wee?"


    Wendy put on a pained expression. "Mom, I''ve been swamped with


    met


    Jerome is in trouble, and Jared being defiant, wanting to


    awful woman. I''m at my wit''s end. If I stay home to take care of


    who''s going to earn the money? Thepany is drowning in debt, and we''ve lost several contracts. If this continues, we''ll all be out on the street."


    Her n was unfolding, piece by piece.