The next morning, I was jolted awake by an urgent phone call. The butler's frantic voice came over the phone.
"Mr. Henderson, that woman just showed up at the hospital. She's making a scene over there."
I had just woken up, and my mind was still groggy. I snapped fully awake at the butler's voice.
She was talking about Brenda.
Thinking of my sick grandmother, I quickly threw on some clothes and raced to the hospital. By the time I arrived, Brenda was causing chaos in the hospital room. Grandma had turned deathly pale and was breathing heavily.
I clenched my fists, my veins bulging in my arms. I couldn't hold back the anger rising in me and slapped Brenda.
She covered her face, staring at me in shock. "Harry, how dare you slap me!"
I rushed over to Grandma and checked on her. Noticing her labored breathing, I quickly urged the butler to get a doctor.
Brenda came up to me and grabbed my hand, her voice shrill. "Harry, have you lost your mind? How dare you hit me!
"Did this old hag say something to you? Did she ask you to freeze my bank card? And what's up with all these bodyguards? They were stopping me from going into the room.
"We're not even married yet, and this is how you treat me? How could I possibly marry you?"
I looked at Brenda calmly. "Brenda, if anything happens to Grandma, I'll make you regret it."
Uneasiness flickered in her eyes. She scoffed loudly at me, trying to mask her fear.
"Harry…" Grandma's frail voice came from behind me.
I quickly turned around and held her hand. While I wasn't paying attention, Brenda snuck off, but I couldn't care less.
Grandma tried to smile. "Don't be upset. You'll end up with wrinkles."
I nodded tearfully.
I instructed my bodyguards that, aside from my parents and me, anyone else who wanted to visit Grandma would have to go through me first.
As soon as I said it, Megan's gentle smile came to mind, and I added, "Ms. Cunningham is allowed to visit Grandma as well.
"She's the one who came with me yesterday. She's my wife, so from now on, please call her Mrs. Henderson."
I walked out of the hospital. Even though the sun was shining on me, I felt completely cold inside.
I sat down wearily next to the flowerbed. Just then, Brenda strode over to me, sounding a little worked up.
"Harry, don't you think you've gone too far? When you confessed to me back then, you promised you'd be good to me."
I looked up at her. Her once flawless face was now swollen, and even her eyes were bloodshot.
I asked, "What are you doing here?"
She said matter-of-factly, "Well, why didn't you answer my call? I had no choice but to come find you here.
"Harry, why did you freeze my bank card out of nowhere? I was planning to take Ethan shopping today!"
I shut my eyes, not wanting to look at Brenda, who felt like a stranger to me now. I couldn't believe the woman I had fallen for had become like this.
My voice cracked with anguish. "Brenda, don't you know my grandma's in poor health? She can't take any more stress!"
Brenda curled her lip in annoyance. "Fine. Got it. Also, I don't think we should get married right now.
"Ethan said that marriage is a big deal, and I need to think it through. I'm not happy with what you've done over the past two days, so I need to reconsider our relationship."
I snorted. "Don't bother. Let's break up."
Her eyes flew wide, and Brenda asked in disbelief, "Is it because I stood you up yesterday? I told you, didn't I? Ethan was drunk!
"My parents died when I was very young, and the Kramers raised me. To me, he's like a brother. Why won't you get it?"
I glanced at Brenda. I was about to say something when her phone pinged with a notification. She glanced at it, and her rage faded instantly.
I didn't even have to think about it. It had to be a text from Ethan.
After putting her phone away, Brenda pulled out a file from her bag and tossed it at me. I flipped it open and saw a partnership agreement full of one-sided clauses.
Brenda folded her arms and curled her lip. "Ethan wants to do business. You froze my bank card, costing him a client.
"You have to make it up to him. You should hand over your new energy project to him."
Seeing my expression darken, Brenda quickly added, "Ethan and I may not be related, but we're like family. He's like a brother to me. You don't want my family to disapprove of our relationship, do you?"
I tossed the file back at her. "He's like a brother to you, huh? When did brothers and sisters start kissing and making out?
"Brenda, I haven't even made you pay for what you said to my grandma at the hospital this morning. And now you're pushing your luck!"
Brenda immediately tried to defend herself. "We had too much to drink and lost control, but we didn't go all the way. I didn't actually cheat on you!"
My heart clenched.
Then, a pair of delicate heels came into view. I looked up and saw Megan.
She was wearing a cyan dress, her long hair pinned up. The bangs that used to cover her eyes had been brushed back. She looked like a model, almost glowing.
Brenda glanced at Megan. "Megan?"
Megan froze for a moment and gave me a hesitant look. She was about to say something when I asked hoarsely, "What brings you here?"
Megan ignored Brenda and flashed me a smile, holding up a container. "I made some soup for Penelope."
No one had ever ignored Brenda like this before. She pointed at Megan, hissing furiously, "You're all dressed up.
"What's with that attitude? Don't think a bit of makeup changes the fact that you're just a country bumpkin from the sticks!"
I took a deep breath. Her shrill voice was giving me a headache, and I didn't want to argue with her or make a scene in public. I was planning to take Megan away.
Brenda immediately snatched the container from Megan's hands and hurled it to the ground, growling, "You cheating scumbags! How could you be all over each other in front of me?
"Megan, you did this on purpose, didn't you? You really like being a mistress, huh?"
Megan looked a little sad as the amber-colored liquid spilled all over the floor. I held her cold fingers and swatted Brenda's accusing finger away with my other hand.
"Megan's not my mistress. She's not just anyone. She's—"
But before I could finish speaking, my phone rang. It was a call from the hospital.
When I ignored Brenda, she became frustrated and tried to snatch my phone away, but I shoved her aside and took the call.
Brenda flew into a rage, not expecting me to shove her aside.
"My condolences, Mr. Henderson. Your grandmother has passed away."
I tugged at Megan, wanting to walk away, but Brenda seized my hand. "If you don't explain yourself, we're breaking up."
I turned back to look at Brenda. "Brenda, it's already over between us."