"I'm doing this for your health." Chloe said in a gentle tone, "Seeing you unable to get out of bed because of pain really breaks my heart."
Oliver knew that Charlotte was faking her illness, and he also knew how she would dread missing out on eating crabs. He added another crab to her plate, “Don’t worry, a little won’t hurt.”
“Yeah, a single crab won’t do much harm.” Charlotte grabbed the crab, ready to eat.
“This won’t do.”
Chloe took the crab from Charlotte again.
“The doctor specifically warned that seafood is off-limits. If your uric acid level is too high, it could trigger back and leg pain or even a severe gout attack, which is life-threatening. I'm really doing this for your own good; please listen to the doctor and hold back on seafood."
After taking the crab, Chloe peeled it open and poured spicy sauce over it, making it look irresistibly mouth-watering.
Charlotte swallowed hard, turning to Oliver.
Oliver was helpless.
This was their plan, and they had to accept the consequences.
Oliver could only pretend to persuade his mother, "Mom, listen to Chloe; take a break from seafood for now."
Charlotte fell silent, unable to find any counterarguments.
Charlotte could only watch as others enjoyed the feast, sighing in resignation.
Oliver's sister was peeling a crab leg and dipping it in chili sauce, savoring every bite. "Mom, it's such a shame that you're missing out on all this delicious seafood that Chloe made."
"Are you trying to make me drool?" Charlotte pinched Ava Lewis.
Ava complained discontentedly, "Mom, just because you can't have seafood doesn't mean others can't. Seriously!"
Everyone in this family loved seafood except for Chloe.
She dipped the crab meat in sauce and purposely handed it to Ava, "Here, have some more."
"Thanks, Chloe." After being pinched by Charlotte, Ava deliberately took a big bite, praising as she chewed, "So good, so delicious."
Charlotte swallowed hard again, and even though she was craving, she could only watch with envy.
Just then, Chloe served Charlotte some light vegetables.
"You have high uric acid levels; you should eat lighter. No spicy or greasy food for a few days; go easy on the flavors."
However, Charlotte was used to spicy dishes. She found the plain vegetables with just salt and oil quite unappetizing.
Chloe wanted her to feel uncomfortable. She wanted her to crave the food she could not eat.
All because Charlotte was pretending to be ill.
As a daughter-in-law, she should respect and take care of her mother-in-law, Charlotte.
But her kindness and patience were met with increased hostility from Charlotte. After being bullied by Charlotte, she complained to Oliver, but instead of understanding and sympathy, she received his criticism. How could she continue to be kind and patient?
She didn't want to be the fool she used to be.
She was determined to use this seemingly harmless but actually cruel method to teach this family a lesson.
Otherwise, Oliver and his family would continue to treat her like a doormat.
After dinner, she deliberately handed the medicine and a cup of water to Charlotte, "It's time for your medicine."
"What are these?"
"It's the uric acid-lowering medication you've been taking, called Febuxostat."
"But I don't want to take it."
"Charlotte, you're in so much pain that you can't even get out of bed; how can you not take your medicine?"
"But I just don't want to."
"Charlotte, you'll feel better after taking the medicine. I'm doing this for your own good."
Chloe pretended to be concerned.
"Charlotte, are you feeling better already? Is the pain gone?"
Charlotte didn't want to admit that she wasn't in pain anymore.
If she told the truth, she would have to help Chloe with the kids.
Charlotte didn't want to look after the kids; she just wanted things to be like before, with Chloe staying at home and taking care of her.
But Chloe insisted on going to work.
Now, with the medicine right in front of her, she had to take it, or else Chloe would know she was faking her illness.
With no other choice, Charlotte reluctantly took the medicine.
Chloe smiled with satisfaction as she watched her mother-in-law take the medicine, "That's more like it. Charlotte, I hope you recover soon too. It's painful to see you suffering in bed every day."
Charlotte looked upset.
Once Chloe left, she immediately rushed to Oliver, "Oliver, Chloe just made me take Febuxostat; will it harm me if my uric acid levels aren't actually high?"
"Did you take it?"
"The medicine was right in front of me. If I didn't take it, wouldn't that be admitting I was faking it?"
Oliver checked his phone, then reassured her, "Mom, you shouldn't take this medication if your uric acid levels aren't high. But if you only took it once or twice, it should be fine."
"Are you sure? Should we ask the doctor?"
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Windfalls of Love