The firefighters put out the fire in time.
The ambulance arrived. The doctor's initial examination determined that Chloe and I were the most seriously injured, intending to take us to the hospital first.
But my mom trembled as she grabbed the doctor and yelled, "Noah is unconscious. He is more seriously injured. Why should they be saved first?"
Her hand poked my head. Her nails dug deeply into my scalp, causing silent tears to fall from the pain.
All children are supposed to be equal, but her favoritism was unreasonable.
The doctor patiently explained, holding back his frustration.
"Ma'am, we are professionals. Your granddaughter has a high fever right now. Please don't waste our time."
My mom's face darkened. She acted as if she hadn't heard a word. She forcibly carried Noah, who weighed over 160 pounds and stumbled into the ambulance.
"Hurry up! Don't waste the time. If something happens to him, I'll fight you all!"
My mom blocked the ambulance door, afraid I would try to get in.
"You take them to the hospital first!"
Anyway, another ambulance was coming soon. I didn't want to argue with her.
If anything happened to Noah, Chloe and I would be in trouble.
My tone was full of compromise and helplessness.
The doctor shook his head and sighed helplessly.
"This is unbelievable! Such blatant favoritism for boys!
"Are you sure this is your biological mom?"
I gave a weak smile without confirming or denying it.
Whether she was or not, it didn't matter anymore.
When she served expired pills to Chloe and me, our relationship ended.
"Chloe and I are done with her.
Everything is over!"
The ambulance drove away, and I smiled with relief.
During the days Chloe and I were in the hospital, no one came to see us.
Even though we were in the room next to Noah's.
When I brought takeout into the ward, the nurse glanced at the room next door and clicked her tongue in disapproval.
"What's wrong with your family? You and your daughter are more seriously injured, yet they ignore you.
"Noah is your nephew, right? He's been up and about, ready to be discharged. But your mom insists on keeping him in the hospital for a few more days.
"You two have pneumonia, and no one brings you food. Anyone would think you were adopted."
I didn't want to cause trouble for myself.
My family's attitude clearly showed that even though I saved Noah, they still resented me.
I motioned for the nurse to be quiet.
"It's not good if they hear. He just went through something terrifying. It's normal for my mom to be worried."
"But that doesn't mean they should ignore you and your daughter. Loving you two more isn't difficult, right?"
Sigh!
How could it not be difficult?
They did not care for us even a little.
"Every family has its own problems."
I patted the young nurse and said no more.
After all, she was young. She was probably pampered growing up and didn't understand the hardships of life.
In my previous life, I was bound by the word "filial." I was trapped in a moral framework, allowing my family to suck the life out of me.
Now, I wouldn't let that happen.
I thought that if they didn't cause trouble, this matter would pass.
Seven days later, Chloe and I packed our things to leave the hospital.
Suddenly, the ward door was violently pushed open.
The noise was deafening.
I frowned in displeasure. I was about to speak when my mom slapped me hard across the face.
"Michelle, you've grown bold. We didn't blame you for failing to take care of Noah, yet you go around badmouthing us!"
"They say not to air family dirty laundry, Michelle. You lack virtue!"
"You caught H1N1. We didn't visit you for your financial good!
"If Noah caught H1N1 and had to stay in the hospital longer, wouldn't your expenses be higher?"
My mom and sister-in-law glared at me from either side.
My dad and brother stood firmly behind them.
I thought they wouldn't cause trouble early or late. So, this was what they were waiting for!
"What are you talking about? I don't understand.
"But you're right. Not visiting us was the correct decision."
After all, just seeing them made me sick.
My mom saw my usual attitude and thought I was still her daughter who would let her manipulate me.
She dragged me to the next ward with a fierce look on her face.
"Michelle, first apologize to Noah, then pay the hospital fees. If you do that, I won't hold this against you!"
I glanced coldly at the family behind me.
"Why should I apologize? Shouldn't you be kneeling and thanking me for saving Noah?
"Mom, you almost got Noah killed because you were too busy playing chess to pick him up!"
Even the patient's family next to us couldn't stand it anymore.
"Hey, you are being too unreasonable! This is too much!"
Seeing someone help me, my mom took it as proof and started cursing, "Michelle, you have no shame, but I do! Should I buy a loudspeaker for you to spread your lies?"
Noah cooperated by rushing at me.
"Aunt, you can't bully my grandma!"
I risked my life to save him, yet they didn't thank me. They wanted me to apologize and pay the medical bills.
"This is completely absurd!"
In my previous life, I was stupid enough to support a group of ungrateful leeches!
I stepped aside just in time, and Noah's hard head went straight into my mom's stomach.
My mom fell to the ground, grimacing in pain.
"Michelle! Are you looking for death?
"Today, if you don't apologize, don't even think about stepping into the house!"
"Huh! Even if you beg me, I won't go back!"
After my divorce, I raised a child alone. I never planned to move back home.
My brother and sister-in-law were busy at the factory then and couldn't care for Noah. They kindly asked me to come home, "Michelle, your job is easy. Taking care of one child or two is the same. I'm begging you!
"Once this busy period ends, they can care for Noah.
"I know it's hard for you to raise a child alone. Living at home would be easier, and I'll pay you a salary later."
Maybe the divorce made me feel lonely, and my family coaxed me so much that I thought. After all, they were my family.
Yearning for family affection, how could I ask my brother for money?
Once I took over, I never got rid of the responsibility.
Within a month, my sister-in-law was busy with beauty treatments or traveling. My mom was busy with her chess games, leaving early and returning late.
I gradually took over all the household chores and the responsibility for Noah.
"Michelle, we're out of toilet paper."
"Michelle, we're out of rice."
"Michelle, take Noah to buy some clothes."
"Michelle, I'm short of cash for my card game. Can you transfer me some money?"
At first, it was just a few hundred. Then it became thousands, even tens of thousands.
They borrowed money for emergencies but never paid it back.
Neighbors all said I was lucky. I divorced with a child, living comfortably at my mom's house without spending a penny.
My mom cared about it, and I couldn't speak up about my suffering.
"Michelle, kneel and apologize to Mom!"
A heavy force pressed on my shoulder, causing my knees to buckle. I knelt uncontrollably.
"Michelle, if you didn't want to pick up Noah, just say so. Why did you try to burn him to death?
"We were willing to let it go if you apologized to Noah for the family's sake.
"But you are so stubborn, we won't cover for you anymore. You were the one who was heartless first!"
Seeing my angry expression, my sister-in-law clung to my brother's arm and shook it.
"Adam, if Michelle doesn't want to admit her mistake, let it go. Why force her?
"Besides, in the end, her conscience made her save Noah.
"We're a family. Harmony brings wealth. Let's not make it too ugly!"
My sister-in-law's words implied that I had deliberately set the fire to burn Noah.
Noah heard this and lay on the ground, screaming and throwing a tantrum.
"Aunt is a bad person! I saw Aunt deliberately set the house on fire to burn me!" he said.
I forced myself to suppress my anger.
"Noah, do you believe I'll hit you if you keep talking nonsense?
"Since you are convinced I set the fire and staged it, then call the police!"
If they wanted to make a fuss, then let's make it a big one!
