Chapter 156
I opened the door and went in, bending down to get slippers for Milly.
After changing shoes, I straightened up, touched her soft hair, and said in a calm and honest voice, "Maybe, Milly, maybe he was a little bit worried that Mom would really get hurt."
I looked into my daughter's clear eyes and said seriously, "But that doesn't matter anymore. Mom doesn't care about it now. Mom is going to divorce him, and we're going to start a new life. So, about things related to him, whether good or bad, we don't need to think about them anymore. Don't let it affect you too much, okay?"
Milly nodded as if she half understood, her little face showing a relieved look, "Okay, I got it!"
I thought that the drama at the archery center, along with George's concern that was hard to tell if it was real or fake, was finally over.
But I didn't expect that early the next morning, right after I dropped Milly off at kindergarten and was about to drive to the office, an unexpected call came in.
The name flashing on the screen was Albert.
George's father, my father-in-law.
He almost never contacted me on his own, or rather, I probably didn't even exist in his eyes as a daughter-in-law.
His call at this moment made my heart sink for no reason.
I answered the phone, and before I could say anything, an angry roar came from the other end, so loud it made my ears ring even through the receiver, "Grace! What kind of Mrs. Smith are you?"
"George had a fever and went to the hospital last night, did you know? Where did you go? Don't you know to come back and take care of your own husband?"
"Do you really think you're capable now and can break away from the Smith family?"
His voice was full of condescending blame and threats, as if I were still an accessory to the Smith family and to George, someone who had to obey every command and be available at any time.
"Let me tell you, without the Smith family, you're nothing, Grace! Get your ass to the hospital right now to take care of George!"
"If I find out you didn't go and are still wandering around outside, I'm telling you, I'll use all the Smith family's resources to make sure you and your daughter can't stay in this city anymore. Do you hear me?"
After he finished yelling, he didn't wait for my response and hung up the phone harshly, leaving only a cold busy tone.
I stood there holding my phone, first feeling absurd and confused, but then a chill slowly crept up my spine.
Albert's words were harsh, but the threat was very real.
The Smith family's power was deeply rooted. If he really wanted to target Milly and me, our lives would definitely not be easy.
He could easily take away my job, pressure Milly's kindergarten, or even use more despicable methods...
I couldn't ignore it.
I immediately called Linda at the Old Smith Mansion.
The phone rang for a long time before someone answered. Linda's voice was very low, with a hint of fatigue and caution, "Mrs. Smith..."
"Linda, it's me. I want to ask what happened with George being hospitalized?" I tried to keep my voice calm.
Linda sighed on the other end and quickly and quietly told me what had happened.
It turned out that last night while George was with Sarah, somehow he suddenly developed a high fever, which reached nearly 104 degrees Fahrenheit at one point.
Sarah was terrified and rushed him to a private hospital.
After Albert got the news, he rushed to the hospital overnight. When he got there, he only saw Sarah taking care of George at his bedside without rest, but didn't see me, the legitimate wife.
Albert was already unhappy with me, and seeing this scene made him even angrier. He felt I didn't know my place and hadn't fulfilled my duties as a wife. He threw a fit at the hospital and yelled about settling accounts with me.
Sarah made excuses for me, saying I might have had a small argument with George and was sulking, which was why I didn't come to the hospital.
So, that's how I got Albert's threatening phone call this morning.
"Mrs. Smith, Mr. Smith's fever has gone down now. He's fine, just needs rest. You be careful." Linda reminded me in a low voice at the end, then hurriedly hung up, probably afraid of being overheard.
I stood in the cool morning breeze, holding my phone, feeling cold inside.
So that's how it was.
Sarah's well-meaning excuse seemed to speak for me, but actually confirmed that I was ignoring my husband and being willful, and it directed all of Albert's anger at me.
Meanwhile, she became the gentle and considerate woman taking care of the sick.
Killing two birds with one stone. What a clever scheme.
I wouldn't go to the hospital.
Sarah was there. What would I go for?
To watch them being a loving couple?
Or to be an eyesore in the background and get yelled at by Albert again?
I took a deep breath, put my phone back in my bag, started the car, and drove toward Star Tech.
However, trouble didn't seem ready to let me go.
I had just arrived at the company building and parked my car when my phone rang again.
This time it was Violet.
I hadn't successfully divorced George yet, so legally I was still her granddaughter-in-law. I couldn't not answer this call.
I pressed the answer button, walked to a relatively quiet corner, and made my voice as respectful as possible, "Grandma."
On the other end of the phone came a long sigh from Violet, full of fatigue and helplessness, "Grace."
Her voice wasn't full of anger like Albert's, but rather carried a deep sense of powerlessness, "Did Albert call you just now? That bastard probably yelled at you again, right? Don't mind him. He's got that bad temper and will never change in his lifetime!"
Violet's words surprised me a bit, and the coldness in my heart melted a little.
"I've already asked the doctor about George. His fever has gone down. He was just overworked and maybe caught a cold. It's nothing serious. He just needs to stay in the hospital for observation for two days before he can go home to rest. You don't need to go to the hospital to take care of him." She paused, her tone becoming even gentler, even carrying a hint of understanding and encouragement, "You have your own career to work on, your own life to live. You don't need to revolve around one man."
"What do you think we hired all those maids and caregivers in the Smith family for? They're there to take care of people. You focus on your work and don't worry about these things."
Holding my phone and listening to Violet's reasonable words that even carried a protective tone, a wave of complex emotions surged in my heart. There was surprise, but more of an indescribable gratitude.
In this cold Smith family full of schemes, Violet was probably the only person who still had some genuine feelings for me and was willing to consider things from my perspective.
I was about to say thank you, Grandma, when suddenly Albert's dissatisfied raised voice came from the other end, "Mom! How can you say that? What did I say wrong?"
"Since she married into the Smith family and became George's wife, taking care of her husband is her duty, it's only right! Can those servants and maids be as careful and thoughtful as her? She should come back and take care of him!"
Violet was obviously quite angry, and her voice suddenly rose, "Albert, shut up. If you say less, no one will think you're mute. Grace married into the Smith family to enjoy life, not to be your maid and serve your son."
"Don't use your old-fashioned male chauvinism on Grace. She has her own career now and is doing well. Why should she have to come back and revolve around the stove and the sickbed? Get lost!"
There came a commotion of pushing and arguing from the other end, and I could vaguely hear Albert's unconvinced muttering and Violet's even stricter scolding.
Listening to this mother and son arguing over the phone, I felt a deep fatigue and disgust.
I raised my voice a bit toward the receiver and said calmly, "Grandma, I have a meeting coming up soon. I have to go. Take care of yourself."
Without waiting for a response from the other end, I hung up the phone.
I put my phone on silent, took a deep breath, and tried to completely put the Smith family's mess behind me and focus on today's work.
However, as soon as I walked into my office, before I could sit down, the phone screen on my desk lit up again.
This time it wasn't a call, but a text message.
It was from George.
George: [Why didn't you take care of Jack last night?]