During dinner, my mother-in-law, Sophia Valdez, suddenly clutched her chest. Her face turned pale.

I quickly put down my fork and went up to her. "Mom, is it your heart problem?"

Sophia nodded.

I picked up my phone to give my husband, Caleb Wright, a call. He was a cardiologist.

Caleb did not join us for dinner since he said he would be working overtime tonight.

I tried calling him several times, but Caleb did not pick up the phone. When the line finally got through, I could hear a soft female voice speaking on the other end.

"Esther, my cat, Bailey, is feeling a bit under the weather. Caleb is preparing some food for him. Can you stop calling? The noise is going to wake Bailey up."

I stiffened for a moment.

It was Lexie Simmons, Caleb's first love.

The two of them dated back when they were still in high school. However, Lexie's parents did not like the fact that Caleb came from a poor family.

They eventually forced the couple to break up and sent Lexie away to study abroad.

After that, Caleb met me and fell in love with me at first sight. I only agreed to date him after he had spent more than half a year trying to pursue me.

Even after getting married, we had a stable relationship. Caleb was the perfect husband in almost everyone's eyes.

That was until three months ago when Lexie came back to our country. Caleb started acting like a completely different person.

He would leave home early and come back late. Caleb was also rarely home during the weekends. He claimed to be busy with work whenever I asked about it.

However, I knew he was not busy with work. Instead, he was meeting Lexie. When I got so fed up and asked him about it, Caleb said I was being paranoid and narrow-minded instead.

It seemed like he had lied to me again. Caleb was not working overtime that day!

However, now was not the time for me to bring this issue up. I said in a cold voice, "Tell Caleb to answer the phone."

"Lexie, who's on the line?" I could hear Caleb's voice on the other end of the line this time.

I quickly said, "Caleb, Mom's having a heart attack. You need to hurry and get back now."

I thought Caleb would be anxious after learning that Sophia was having a heart attack. To my bewilderment, he replied, "Esther Lloyd, are you mental? You're making up these horrible stories about my mom just to make me go home?"

Caleb hung up right after saying that.

I tried calling him again but found that he had turned off his phone.

Since Sophia's condition seemed to be worsening, I decided not to waste any more time. "Mom, I'll take you to the hospital."

I brought Sophia to the hospital.

After entering the hospital lobby, I supported the unconscious Sophia and lowered her into a chair. When I turned around, I spotted an acquaintance. It was Caleb's colleague, Morgan Shaw.

I called after him frantically as though I had just found a lifeline, "Morgan, my mother-in-law is having a heart attack. Please help her!"

Morgan glanced at me with a resigned look on his face.

"Esther, Caleb told me that you got Sophia to help you put on an act just to make him go home and that I should just ignore you."

I replied anxiously, "This isn't an act. My mother-in-law is really having a heart attack."

Morgan still refused to believe me. "Esther, you shouldn't joke about these things. It's inappropriate. It's getting late. You should bring Sophia home so that she can get some rest."

I lost my temper at that moment since Sophia's life was at stake.

"Morgan Shaw! I'm demanding you perform the necessary medical procedures for my mother-in-law right now! Otherwise, I'll file a complaint against you!"

Since I was usually polite and mild-tempered, Morgan was momentarily stunned when I started yelling at him.

"You weren't lying, Esther? Sophia is really having a heart attack?"

I answered sternly, "You're a doctor. Can't you see that my mother-in-law is really feeling unwell now?"

Morgan finally realized that I was not trying to trick him. He went up to Sophia and did a brief examination. Then, Morgan quickly fetched some staff to transfer Sophia to the emergency room.

A while later, Morgan came out of the emergency room.

He said anxiously, "Esther, Sophia is in critical condition. Caleb is the only person in the entire city that can perform the surgery for her. I tried calling him, but he had turned off his phone."

I subconsciously held my breath.

Sophia had always treated me well as though I was her real daughter. She never made me do any house chores, and she would even prepare delicious meals for me every day.

Sophia would often transfer some money to my bank account since she was worried that I might not have enough money for my spending. She would also reject my gifts, saying I should spend the money on more useful things.

Moreover, she would not just side with Caleb whenever he and I were having a fight. Instead, Sophia would usually defend me and ask Caleb to apologize to me.

I must find a way to save her.

Soon enough, I rushed to the residential area where Lexie was staying. I was panting heavily when I pressed the doorbell.

A short while later, someone opened the door. It was Lexie. She was wearing a nightgown with a plunging neckline. Anyone could see what was underneath her dress if she just bent forward slightly.

I curled my fingers into a fist. However, I did not have the time to question what she and Caleb were doing in her house.

"Where's Caleb?"

Just as I said that, Caleb walked over to the door with a cat in his arms. His expression darkened the moment he saw me.

"Esther, what on earth do you want?"

He seemed extremely annoyed. "I told you that Bailey was sick and had trouble eating his usual food. I'll go home after making him some food. Can't you show a small animal some empathy?"

I did not want to waste my time arguing with him. I grabbed hold of Caleb's arm. "Come with me. Mom just had a heart attack."

Yet, Caleb pulled away from my grip.

"What nonsense are you talking about? I know about my mother's condition better than anyone else. She's doing well.

"I did a medical checkup on her during the day. She's in a stable condition, so don't use that as an excuse to threaten me."

Indeed, Caleb had been monitoring Sophia's condition all along. Still, there was no telling when unforeseen circumstances could happen. As a cardiologist, Caleb should know that better than I do.

I tried my best to suppress my anger and remain calm.

"Caleb, I'm not joking about this. Mom's waiting for you at the hospital, and she needs your help. If you don't go now and something bad happens to her, you're going to regret it for the rest of your life."

Caleb started wavering as he took in the grim yet anxious expression on my face.

At that very moment, Lexie gazed at me with a dejected look on her face. "Esther, I know you're jealous that Caleb is here at my house. That's why you've made up that lie about Aunt Sophia having a heart attack.

"However, there's really nothing going on between us. It's just that Bailey is sick and Caleb is here to see him. Please don't be mad."

Upon hearing Lexie's words, Caleb swiftly concluded that I was saying all this out of jealousy.

"Lexie's right! Don't you know how it's not right for you to say stuff like that about my mom? She's the only family I have left. You can make up stories about yourself dying if you want. Don't say such ominous things about my mom!"

I was so infuriated that it felt like I was about to lose my mind.

The person lying unconscious in the hospital's emergency room was his own mother. Did Caleb somehow fall and hit his head?

Unfortunately, I did not have the time to quarrel with Caleb. Sophia was still waiting for him to perform the surgery on her.

"If you don't believe me, call Morgan. He can prove what I'm telling you is true."

Caleb took his phone out and was about to call Morgan. However, Lexie responded as though she was being thoughtful. "Caleb, you don't have to make that phone call. You should follow Esther. Hand Bailey over to me."

As she was saying that, Lexie tried to take the cat away from Caleb's arms. However, Caleb avoided her hands and petted the cat's head.

"I'm not leaving. I'm going to stay and watch over Bailey. I haven't even finished preparing his food."

I pointed at Caleb in exasperation after seeing how he was more concerned about a cat and chose to neglect Sophia's safety and well-being.

"Caleb Wright, you'd rather stay here and prepare food for a cat than follow me to the hospital to save your mom?"

Lexie replied before Caleb could say anything, "Esther, I know you're angry because you've misunderstood me and Caleb's relationship.

"However, Aunt Sophia's condition has always been quite stable. So, you shouldn't say such ominous things about her. I'm afraid it may come true someday even if you don't mean it."

Caleb knitted his brows and spat, "How did you end up becoming someone like this, Esther? My mom has always been nice to you. Yet, you're using her as an excuse to make me go home.

"You're truly an ungrateful and cold-hearted person. No wonder your parents abandoned you."

I clenched my fists so tightly that the joints of my fingers turned white.

My parents preferred having boys over girls, so they abandoned me not long after I was born. I was brought up by my uncle.

This part of my past had always been a wound that still festered in my heart. Yet, Caleb was rubbing salt into my wound now.

I bit my lip so hard that a cut was made.

I could almost taste despair on the tip of my tongue as the taste of blood filled my mouth.

I said in a choked voice, "I'm begging you, Caleb. Mom is in critical condition. You need to follow me to the hospital and save her."

Lexie put her hands on mine, seemingly kind and understanding.

"Esther, don't worry. Caleb will go home after he's done making food for Bailey. So, you shouldn't make up those stories about Aunt Sophia anymore."

If it had not been for her, Caleb would have followed me to help Sophia at the hospital. The thought of it got me boiling with rage. I tore myself from her grasp.

"That's none of your business. You should just stay out of this!"

I did not even use that much force, but Lexie fell backward onto the floor when I yanked my hand away.

Caleb immediately helped her get up from the floor. "Lexie, are you alright? Did you get hurt?"

Lexie shook her head slowly. "I'm alright."

Caleb glared at me. "That's enough, Esther. I've had enough of your bizarre behavior. Stop making a scene here!"

Then, he pushed me away and slammed the door shut.

As I came to my senses, I quickly pounded the door and shouted desperately, "Caleb! Caleb, open the door! You need to come with me and save Mom! She's waiting for you!"

Yet, Caleb completely ignored me no matter how hard I pounded at the door.

In the end, I had no choice but to rush back to the hospital. I even tripped and fell a couple of times because I was in a hurry.

Morgan asked the instant he saw me, "Esther, where's Caleb?"

"He wouldn't follow me to the hospital. How's my mother-in-law doing?"

Morgan turned his face away and avoided my gaze. "You should prepare yourself for the worst, Esther."

My face went as white as a sheet. I rushed into the emergency room at once.

I felt so bad as I took in Sophia's weakened state. "Mom, I'm so sorry. I couldn't find Caleb."

I could not bring myself to tell Sophia that Caleb had refused to come with me to the hospital.

"You don't have to lie to me, Esther. Caleb is my son. I know him better than anyone else does. He must be with that woman again.

"He chose to forsake me, his mother, because of that woman. What an ungrateful child!

"I knew you were a good person from the first time I met you, Esther. Caleb has been seeing that woman recently. You suffered a lot because of it. Instead of telling me, you kept it all to yourself. It's my fault that Caleb turns out to be an awful person like this."

I sobbed uncontrollably.

"Mom, it's not your fault. Please don't say that."

Sophia coughed a little. I added nervously, "Mom, you shouldn't speak anymore. Just get some rest and you'll be fine."

Sophia's eyes were bright with tears. "If I don't say it now, I may never get the chance to say it later on."

A sob caught in my throat.

Sophia directed her gaze at me. "Esther, you should take good care of yourself after I'm gone. Don't let others make you feel miserable. Get a divorce. I want you to be happy…"

After saying that, Sophia closed her eyes.

"Mom!"

I hunched over the side of the hospital bed and broke down in tears.

Sophia passed away.

Morgan stood to one side with his head hanging low. He dared not utter a word.

When morning came, I gazed at Sophia's cold, stiff body and gave Caleb a call. Still, his phone was turned off.

I clicked on Instagram since I decided to send him a message. Despite what happened, we should hold a proper funeral for Sophia. Caleb should see her one last time before we bury her remains.

Yet, before I could send my message, I saw that Lexie posted a new update on her Instagram page.

She uploaded several photos.

In the photos, Lexie sat on a chair with a cat in her arms. I could see a man's arm beside her, and I instantly recognized that it belonged to Caleb.

The caption went like this. "Bailey is so lucky to have met a father who loves him so much. We're off to watch a concert!"

Caleb even left a comment under the post. "Just watching how happy you guys are makes me happy."

I gripped my phone tightly. My heart ached so badly.

Sophia had just passed away. Meanwhile, Caleb was in the mood to bring Lexie and her cat to go and watch a concert.

In the end, I did not send Caleb any message to inform him.

I took care of matters relating to Sophia's funeral all by myself. After most of the procedures were done, I brought the urn containing Sophia's ashes back home.

I was overcome with sadness when I spotted Sophia's cup on the table. Tears streamed from my eyes.

Caleb's father passed away a long time ago. Sophia had to take on several jobs at the same time to earn enough to raise Caleb. The work was taxing, which led to her developing heart problems.

Caleb came home the next day. He asked as soon as he entered through the door, "Where's Mom?"

Sitting on the couch, I cast him an icy gaze and lifted the urn in my hands.

"Mom's here."

Caleb stared at me with barely disguised contempt.

"Esther, are you still not done with that nonsense? Just because Mom takes your side doesn't mean you can make her go along with your nonsensical act. I won't fall for it.

"Where's she hiding? Tell her to come out now." Caleb tossed the bags he was carrying onto my lap.

"See how much Lexie cares about my mom? She bought a lot of clothes for her. Yet, you, her daughter-in-law, were making her put on an act with you!"

I snickered.

Sophia was already gone. Nobody would need these clothes.

I just could not understand how someone as kind as Sophia ended up raising such a dumb son.

I picked up the bags and threw them forcefully at Caleb.

"Caleb, you believe every single word that Lexie says! Do you not have a brain of your own? Mom's dead!"

Caleb was momentarily stunned. Then, he snatched the urn from me.

"Esther, it seems you really have a few screws loose in the head. You even prepared an urn to trick me. This is completely mental!"

He lifted his arms and smashed the urn onto the floor.