The more Emma spoke, the angrier she became, her eyes turning red. She truly wished she could go and strangle that old hag right now to avenge her unborn child. Seeing his wife''s eyes red-rimmed and filled with tears, Frank''s heart ached.


    To Frank, Mrs. Thompson Sr. was the mother who had carried him for nine months and raised him through hardship. Now that she was dying, he could only remember the good times, the days when they had only each other to rely on.


    But what Mrs. Thompson Sr. had done over the years had indeed caused Emma immense pain.


    "Alright, alright, I was wrong. I won''t bring up her again. Don''t be angry," Frank said, moving toward Emma and trying to pull her into his arms, but she forcefully pushed him away.


    "Don''t touch me!" Emma red at him. "I''ve already booked a flight abroad for tomorrow morning. I''lle back when she''s dead."


    With that, Emma left Frank standing there and hurried upstairs.


    Frank sat alone on the living room sofa, where he remained for the entire night.


    The next morning, the housekeeper was startled to find him there.


    "Sir, why are you sitting here? Are you not feeling well? Should I call for Madam?" the housekeeper asked timidly.


    "No need," Frank shook his head. "What time is it?"


    "It''s six o''clock. I was just about to start making breakfast," the housekeeper replied.


    "Prepare some nourishing supplements for her. Make sure to take good care of her,” Frank said before standing up and heading upstairs.


    He knew Emma didn''t want to see him, so he went to a guest room, quickly showered, changed his clothes, and left for the hospital.


    By the time he arrived, the doctors had just finished their morning rounds. Mrs. Thompson Sr. was awake and her condition was stable enough that she had been moved from the ICU to a VIP room.


    "Mom. You''re awake." Frank''s


    emotions wereplicated as he


    faced his mother. Lying on the hospital bed, she was so frail she looked like a bag of bones. Her face under the oxygen mask was pale and bloodless, and her old eyes, filled with tears, looked at him pleadingly.


    "Frank... Frank, my son," Mrs. Thompson Sr. rasped, reaching a withered hand toward him.


    Frank''s eyes immediately welled up. He rushed to the bedside and took her hand. "Mom, you''re awake."


    "Grandma just woke up a little while ago. She''s been calling your name ever since," Vanessa said, dabbing at her eyes and crying as if her heart was broken.


    The room was instantly filled with a sorrowful atmosphere, and even Frank couldn''t hold back his tears.


    "Mom, the doctor said that if you just rest and recover, you''ll be fine," Frank said, holding her handfortingly.


    "Oh, don''t you humor an old woman like me. I know my own body. I''m not going tost much longer."


    Her voice was extremely faint, muffled by the oxygen mask.


    "I know you love Bet more. But Eden is your son, too. He''s already lost his mother, and soon he''ll lose his grandmother. He can''t lose his father as well. After I''m gone, you have to look after Eden more."


    "Yes, I know. Don''t you worry. Mom, you just focus on getting better," Frank said.


    "Alright, I won''t worry." Mrs.


    Thompson Sr. managed a weak smile, then coughed a few times before continuing, "tve lived a long life, I have no regrets. Except... haven''t seen Eden get married. What a pity."