3
Mark called me on the way to the hospital, telling me to meet them there. When I arrived, the doctor was examining my mother.
Ulian looked me up and down. “And you are?”
In this life, I’d deliberately kept my distance from this toxic pair, giving her no reason to attack me.
I smiled. “You must be Lilian. I’m Mark’s sister, Sarah. You two make a perfect couple.”
My friendly tone disarmed her, and she said nothing more.
Back at the mall, she had put her entire strength into that punch, as if trying to kill my mother. My mother’s eyeball had ruptured on impact, blood streaming from the corner of her eye.
The doctor sighed. “The eyeball has to be removed. As soon as possible.”
My mother gasped at the news, her one good eye rolling back in her head as she started to faint.
I quickly stepped forward to support her. “Oh, my poor mother! Who did this to you? How will you live as a one–eyed woman?!”
My wailing reminded my mother that she hadn’t yet deal with the culprit. She lunged at Lilian, grabbing her hair and shaking her back and forth, slapping her repeatedly with her free hand. “You bitch! Give me back my eye! Give it back!”
Lilian was a bully who only picked on the weak. A sneak attack was one thing, but in a real fight, she was no match for my mother. She was getting pummeled, screaming for Mark to save her
Mark didn’t know who to help, so he just tried to pull them apart.
“Son, you have to break up with this little tramp! We can’t have this kind of woman in our family!”
Lilian, her face tear–streaked, clung to Mark’s arm. “Honey, I know I was wrong! I only lost my mind because I love you so much!” She then looked at my mother. ‘Ma’am, I’ve decided to marry into your family to atone for what I’ve done. I’ll be your daughter–in–law. I’ll take care of you. I’ll be your eyes.‘
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Mark’s face. He was clearly pleased with this outcome.
My mother, however, was not
*A shrew like you? Our family wouldn’t dare! Get out! I don’t want to see you!” she shrieked at Lilian. Then she turned to Mark. “If you stay with this woman, you can forget you have a mother!”
Seeing them at a stalemate, I stepped in to mediate, ushering the couple outside the room.
‘Look,” I sighed, “Mom’s furious right now. She won’t listen to anything. You two wait out here for a bit. I’ll try to talk to her.”
Lilian, still smarting from the beating, plopped down on a chair without a word. Mark immediately went to comfort her.
Once they were gone, I went back into the room.
Lilian had to marry into our family. The suffering I endured in my past life…. this whole family needed a taste of it.
I sat down beside my mother “Morn, calm down. Don’t let this ruin your health. We can’t change what’s happened, so let’s think about the future.”
Still fuming, she glared at me. “What are you getting at?”
A little while later, I called the two of them back in.
1
I agree to let you marry my son,” my mother said to Lilian.
