Sweet Sorrow

As Nicole walked down the street with her suitcase in hand, her phone suddenly rang. It was Austin's mother, Selina Zhang. For a while, Nicole deliberated whether or not she should pick up. With a sigh, she answered the call and put the phone to her ear.

"Blanche said you just came back. Is this true?" Selina Zhang asked in an angry voice.

"Yes," Nicole replied in low spirits.

"Well, you'd better come here right this instant. Tom came by yesterday and gave me some delicious pork ribs. I need you to make some soup,"

Selina Zhang ordered in her usual, bossy tone.

"I..." Nicole stammered, getting all flustered, "I don't think I--"

But before she could finish her words, Selina Zhang said on the phone, "The doctor told me to drink more soup to supplement nutrition when I went to the hospital yesterday. You can come later. I'll take out the spareribs from the frozen room."

The phone was directly hung up, and Nicole didn't have a chance to express her will.

She hesitated for a while and decided to go to her mother-in-law's home.

"How was Blanche feeling?" Selina Zhang asked upon Nicole's arrival.

"She's fine!" Nicole bit her lip and answered indifferently, "She and her baby are doing pretty good."

"I'm going to give her a call. You should start cooking dinner now. The ribs are on the table."

Then Selina Zhang impatiently waved her hand, and entered her bedroom with her phone in her hand.

Nicole clenched her teeth, trying her best not to snap back at Selina Zhang.

For over a month, Nicole had been taking care of Selina Zhang's daughter wholeheartedly. Despite this, Selina Zhang didn't even really care about how Nicole was nor did she even mutter any words of thanks.

There was no warmth or love here for Nicole.

After stewing the sparerib soup, Nicole cooked some rice and prepared some other dishes. She put them on the table and went to Selina's bedroom to tell her that dinner was ready.

As Selina chatted away on the phone, her face was full of smiles. She had never smiled at Nicole that way when she was talking to Blanche Liang.

later, Selina finally hung up the phone and

had prepared. When she had finished

be back until tomorrow. You can stay here tonight. Wash my clothes while

surprised.

can't be right. Did Austin lie to his

though Nicole knew that Austin was definitely not on a business trip, she decided not to expose

Nicole had to wash it all by hand since Selina did not own a washing

from the amount of dirty clothes here, it looked as if Selina had not washed a single article of clothing ever since Nicole went to the countryside to look after

"I'm still feeling a bit weak," Selina explained as she gently rubbed her hands. "That's why I waited for you to do the laundry. I'm old and incapable now, you know." With a sigh, Selina went on

feeling that Selina was just acting. But when Nicole thought of her own mother, who was

midnight when Nicole had finished washing everything. Feeling so exhausted, she slumped on the sofa

are so many things in this house that need some decent cleaning," Selina said to her. "Oh, and when you're done with that, I need you to go to

until she had finished making

just sit here quietly. Go and boil an egg custard for

Nicole was doing nothing, Selina

became angry

"What

teeth and

talking about! My son works so hard to earn money outside. Why do you still feel wronged to cook an egg custard for him? Don't act like you are suffering from some injustice! It is my son who suffers a lot, raising you up

let him raise any more in the future!" Nicole couldn't bear it any

had spoken to Selina

completely shocked and dumbfounded. At that moment,

and see. I will not

to the door and opened it. She grabbed Austin's arm and began

her head, crying

want to cry, but she couldn't

a rest. I'll talk with Nicole," Austin said in a

ought to get a better education!" Selina said with a snort, "Otherwise, she might

and reached out to hold

moved

know what my mom is like. Don't make her angry.

covered with tears. "I made her angry? How could I make her angry? I have been bossed around her like a servant. How is this still my