3
The next morning, as I was waking up, Gabriel Whitmore called. “Don’t let your temper stop you from visiting the nursing home today to look after my parents,” he said bluntly.
Gabriel prided himself on being a dutiful son. Even though Gerald and Dolores Whitmore were living in the best care facility money could buy, his mantra was, “Children should personally care for their parents.”
“Okay,” I replied dully and hung up. Then, like clockwork, I headed to Golden Horizon Care Center.
As I stepped into the room with a pot of freshly made chicken soup, Dolores’s voice rang out, giddy with pride. “Oh, Natalie, isn’t Serena just stunning? She’ll be my daughter–in–law soon!” She gestured at the television where Serena Sterling’s face filled the screen.
The young nurse, Natalie Parker, lit up with excitement. “They’re really getting married?”
“Of course!” Gerald and Dolores replied in unison, beaming.
My steps faltered. A sharp pang shot through my chest, but I swallowed the bitterness and spoke softly, “Dad, Mom.”
The moment my voice registered, their smiles vanished, replaced by cold indifference.
Natalie turned to me, confused. “And this lady who’s here every day is…?”
“She’s our goddaughter,” Dolores interrupted without missing a beat.
Natalie nodded, her misunderstanding cemented. “Wow, I’m so jealous! You’re so lucky to be part of Gabe’s family. Must be amazing to be his
sister!”
I forced a stiff smile but felt no joy. When Natalie left, Dolores’s tone turned sharp. “Lexa, must you sneak in here unannounced? Trying to scare us to death?”
I held back my frustration. “You looked so happy chatting. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
Setting the chicken soup on the table, I said, “I made this for you. Please give it a try.”
The moment Gerald lifted the bowl to his nose, he sneered and threw it onto the floor. Scalding liquid splashed onto my hand, making me flinch in pain as tears stung my eyes.
“What is this? It tastes awful! Lexa, you can’t even cook properly. What good are you?” Dolores scoffed.
“I’ll make it again,” I murmured, suppressing my anger while cleaning the mess.
A crushing sense of futility enveloped me. Three years of unyielding devotion felt utterly wasted.
After finishing their massages, I prepared to leave but decided to ask one last question, holding onto a sliver of hope. “Did you know? Gabe’s planning a wedding with Serena.”
“Really?” Dolores’s face lit up, her excitement matching Gerald’s.
“That’s wonderful!” they exclaimed, nearly bursting with joy.
I expected the blow, but the ache still seeped into my chest. “But I’m his wife,” I whispered, forcing a smile.
Gerald’s face twisted into a sneer. “Don’t push your luck. We never wanted you to marry him in the first place. You’ve been sucking him dry for years. You should know when to let go.”
Dolores chimed in, her voice dripping with disdain. “Exactly. Stop clinging to Gabe like some parasite.”
Parasite?
I shouldn’t have been surprised by their cruelty, but hearing it out loud sent a tremor through my body. For three years, I had never asked
4:34 PM O
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Gabriel for a dime, nor had he spent anything on me. I paid for my own expenses and cared for his parents selflessly.
And yet, this was the label I earned.
It hit me then. Gabriel’s cold heart wasn’t a fluke–it was inherited. Three years of devotion couldn’t thaw them, nor could it change him.
As their scolding and demands to fetch a bedpan continued, I turned on my heel and walked out without a word.
Outside, the sun was starting to break through the clouds. I took a deep breath and made a call. “Hello? Do you have time? …I’ve made my decision.”
