Chapter 1827
Morrison paused, processing the words.
Really?
Without a word, he made his way to the bathroom. The reflection that stared
back at him was haggard, a weary shell with puffy, swollen eyes ringed with dark
circles.
This wasn’t just looking bad. He hardly recognized the person in the mirror.
The previous night’s worries about Rose possibly running off with someone else
had kept him tossing and turning until the wee hours of the morning.
Enter title…
Normally, a late night at the office would be no big deal, but last night, lying in
bed, he felt more drained than after a week’s worth of overtime.
He knew Rose had a thing for good looks, and that very fact had granted him a
chance to spend the night with her. And now, with his face a wreck, wouldn’t she
be even more restless? Especially since they had a bona fide actor living
downstairs.
His complexion was sallow, making him look all the more unsightly. He turned
the tap and splashed his face with water, trying to wash away the fatigue.
Rose finished dressing and opened the hospital room door. After a moment, the
door suddenly swung wide open, and several people let out a surprised “Huh.”
“How odd, it was just locked, and now…”
They stopped short when they saw Rose, clad in an ill-fitting men’s suit that was
clearly not designed for her, standing beside the hospital bed looking at them.
Molly’s eyes flickered with mirth as she turned to the medical staff beside her.
“Thanks for your help. Now that the room’s open…”
“Ma‘am, we need to conduct the routine check-up,” said the doctor with a
friendly smile, as morning rounds were the norm to assess patients”
conditions.
Molly set the thermal container aside on a cabinet and looked at Rose with a
warm smile. “Rose, where’s Morrison?”
Rose felt her cheeks flush. The meaning behind Molly’s smile was all too naked,
and she knew exactly why. After all, the previous night, they had indeed
engaged in unspeakable acts.
“He’s in the bathroom.”
Morrison came out of the bathroom, looked at the room full of people, and
frowned slightly. His gaze shifted from Molly to the thermal container, which he
opened to find layers of breakfast delights: the top layer held muffins, the
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtsecond layer biscuits, and the bottom layer oatmeal.
Taking the container, he walked over to Rose and handed it to her. “Go sit over
there.” His voice was cold, his eyes briefly flicking to the sofa and coffee table
with clear intent.
Molly raised an eyebrow as Morrison climbed into the hospital bed and gave the
medical staff a chilling glance. They promptly began their cursory examination.
Rose, holding the container, watched from where she stood.
“Mr. Morrison, it seems you have some new injuries.”
Morrison looked at Rose, still standing there, and said, “What are you waiting
for?”
She blinked, hugged the container, and settled on the sofa, peeling an egg.
Finally, Morrison looked back at the doctor and gave a noncommittal grunt.
The medical staff were at a loss. “We need to take some detailed scans to see
what’s going on,’ they said.
Molly frowned. “How did you get these new injuries?”
“It’s nothing; Morrison said dismissively.
Rose lowered her head and took a bite of the egg. “Mr. Morrison, since you
haven’t had breakfast yet, would you like to go for a check-up now?”
“I’ve said it’s fine, no need for a check-up.”
The doctors looked at Molly, a little embarrassed. Molly, however, looked at
Rose and then nodded, “He’s probably fine”
If there was really something wrong, how could he still have the strength to have
sex? It’s not like he could risk his life with a broken arm or leg to indulge in such
activities.
Rose took a bite of the muffin. She’s trying to be completely transparent, and
acted like everything that happened yesterday had nothing to do with her.
In the end, the medical staff gave up on further examinations. Instead, one of
them left Morrison with a word of advice, “Mr. Morrison, given your current
condition, you should abstain from any strenuous activity. Some things are
better left until after you’ve fully recovered. It would be much more… efficient.”
Rose nearly choked on her muffin at these words. “Cough. cough, cough.”
She quickly took a few sips of oatmeal.
Morrison sat up, glaring at the doctor who just shrugged with a smile. “You
should be more careful. You don’t look well today, and normally people don’t
have the energy for certain activities. It would be quite embarrassing if you were
to have an accident midway.”
Morrison’s complexion turned even more sour. An accident midway? What kind
of accident?!
As Morrison was about to lose his temper, the doctor chuckled and led the
group of medical staff away with a smile.
Molly felt a bit awkward. After all, she had maintained a certain level of reserve
throughout her life. Hearing about the private matters of her son and daughter-
in-law, it was inevitably uncomfortable for her.
The room fell into an awkward silence. Rose, still blushing, took another bite of
her muffin.
To break the tension, Molly finally spoke up. “How did you get those new
wounds?”
Morrison pointed at Rose. “Her fault, he said.
Rose met Molly’s gaze. “Really? Complaining about your wife to your own
mother?”
“It’s the truth”
Molly snorted. “If having a wife is so much trouble, I, as the mother-in-law,
certainly cannot tolerate it. Divorce her. I can’t afford a daughter-in-law who stirs
up such drama. Once divorced, you go your separate ways, and she can find
whomever she wants.”
The very image of a difficult and formidable mother-in-law.
Morrison frowned. “I thought you liked her?”
Molly spoke with a maternal certainty that brooked no argument. “But you’re my
own flesh and blood, my dear boy. You fell right from my own tree, so to speak.
Sure, I don’t mind her, but no amount of fondness can trump the love I have for
you. Your grandma and I, we’ve been talkin’—we just want you to be happy. If
you truly don’t love Rose, then we won’t stand in your way of a divorce. And as
for Mona, if she’s the one you want, then go ahead, son.
Marry her. We’ll make sure she has a grand entrance into the Witt family, no
slights or slurs, I promise. All we want is for you to be happy, and we’re willing to
meet you halfway on this.”
Rose slowly lifted her head to look at Molly, while Morrison’s face twisted into an
expression of utter distaste. “You can leave now if you’re just here to rile me up.”
He wondered if they were deliberately trying to make his life more complicated.
Was it not enough that he was already on edge?
Molly arched an eyebrow, her voice laced with incredulity. “What’s with the
attitude? You were unhappy when we tried to keep you from Mona, and now
you’re still upset when we’re giving our blessing. What will it take to please
you?”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“lL had no intention of divorcing once I was married.”
“That won’t do.” Molly’s voice rang clear and crisp. “You don’t love Rose, and all
this quarreling—it’s plain to see she’s not the daughter-in-law I was hoping for.
But that doesn’t mean she can’t be a treasure to someone else. A marriage
without love is no happy union. Even if you’re reluctant to divorce, you can’t
deny Rose her chance at happiness. She owes you nothing.”
Morrison clenched his jaws tightly. “if you’re done, then please leave.”
Molly ignored his request, turning instead to Rose with a direct proposal.
“Rose, since Morrison doesn’t love you, there’s really no point in dragging this
marriage out any longer. As your mother-in-law, I’m not pleased with the
constant chaos between you two. Divorce seems like the best option.”
Rose stood up gracefully. “I admit I haven’t been the daughter-in-law you
deserved. I’m grateful for your care these past days. You’re right, a loveless
marriage can’t be happy. Since Morrison has someone else in his heart, I won’t
cling to him.”
Morrison leaped to his feet. “Have you lost your memory?!” he demanded.
Rose frowned in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve said it clear as day—I love you. You! How could you forget something this
important?”
A reluctant smile flickered at the edge of Rose’s lips.
Molly, still eyeing Rose with a challenging look, pressed on. “What’s that? You
just said you love Rose? Morrison, don’t be absurd. Don’t say something so
insincere just to save Witt family’s image. You’ve been pining over Mona for
years, and now you suddenly love Rose? Who would believe such a story?
Certainly not Rose herself. Do you think you can fool her?”
“Who says I’m doing this for the Witt family? Is the Witt family so fragile that a
single divorce could bring it down?”
“If it’s not for the Witt family, then don’t you find it ridiculous to claim you’ve fallen
in love with Rose overnight?”
“I’ve never loved anyone else!” Morrison was growing impatient, his own mother
constantly singing a tune contrary to his.
Molly’s face darkened. “What are you saying? Morrison, you better explain
yourself clearly today, or I won’t accept Rose as my daughter-in-law any longer.
Even if you refuse to divorce, I’ll never let her step foot in the Witt family home
again. Don’t you realize the impact a good or bad mother-in-law relationship can
have on a family?”
Morrison gritted his teeth, glanced at Rose, who stood there in silence with her
head lowered. It seemed like the issue of divorce wasn’t something she was
currently concerned about.
If the relationship between Molly and Rose was poor, and his mother ended up