Selma had not once set foot inside in the hospital for the past month, but she had been in regular contact with the staff, keeping a close watch over Eddy's condition. She knew that the boy would be discharged today.
The news put her in high spirits.
At once, she had given the maids instructions to clean the entire house and to prepare a party to welcome Eddy back and celebrate his recovery.
No one had expected the celebrant to miss his own party.
Selma waited eagerly for Eddy's arrival, running towards the door every time it rang. The hours passed and morning turned into night, and her anticipation dwindled down until it turned into disappointment. It was already early the next day, but there had been no sign of Eddy.
She grit her teeth when she finally pieced things together. Kevin and Anne made a fool of her. They weren't coming back again.
The next moment, a loud crash echoed through the empty room. Shards of glass and broken plates littered the floor. Still unsatisfied, Selma smashed the table, sparing not a single tableware or food.
"That bitch!" she screamed. Yes, this was all Anne's fault. First she had taken away her son, and now she was trying to take her grandson away from her too. What more did she want? Selma had already apologized and acknowledged her mistake, and it had been half a month.
Now, even Kevin had refused to see her. Selma was sure that even that had been Anne's doing.
She just never stopped ruining her life.
"Just you wait, Anne. You'll be out of the picture soon enough. I promise you that!" Selma screamed, her voice vindictive in the cover of darkness.
There was a glaring contrast between Anne's house and the cold and empty mansion. It was a simple home, not in any way lavish or elegant, but it was filled with joy and warmth.
When Eddy was finally discharged from the hospital, Anne and Kevin's happiness was unrivaled. Sally was excited to play with her brother, and the whole family was in a state of complete bliss. Anne and Kevin personally cooked so they could celebrate Eddy's improving health.
As they enjoyed their time together, a wayward thought cast a shadow over Anne's happiness, turning the shades darker. How great would it have been if Simon was also here?
She watched her two children as they cheerfully talked and ate, and couldn't help but wonder how her other son was feeling at this moment. A sliver of guilt crept into her chest. Did she have any right to enjoy a moment's peace when one of her children was missing from her arms? Before her resolve broke, she steeled herself. No. She could not falter now. They had just survived a storm. She believed in Kevin, and in herself. They would definitely get Simon back, and their happiness would be complete.
Early next morning, the momentary spell of peace that had settled upon their home broke. A loud bang woke Anne and Kevin up in the darkness of the hours before dawn.
It was an undeniable, human sound. Someone was pounding on the door.
Kevin's body sprang into action. He pulled on his clothes and said to Anne, "Go to the children. I'll go and see what's going on."
Anne nodded and quickly headed to the direction of their children, but not before catching a glimpse of the person at the door. Her gaze went past Kevin's broad back and fell on Selma's figure at the doorway.
It had come as no surprise to Anne and Kevin that Selma had found them despite no one telling her of where they lived. Tracking someone down was a piece of cake if you had enough money.
Kevin frowned at his mother, clearly not expecting her visit at this hour. "Mom, what are you doing here at this time? Aren't you afraid of scaring the children?" he said in a low voice.
But Selma only smiled wryly and took off her sunglasses. There were dark circles under her eyes.
The sigh made Kevin raise a brow in surprise. Selma sneered, "It's good to know you still know what to call me. I waited for you at home the whole night yesterday. I thought you had forgotten me. How is Eddy? I have a right to know how my grandson is doing."
She spoke loudly and without restraint, and the sound had awakened Eddy. The next moment, he was walking out of his room as he rubbed the sleep off from his eyes. "Grandma, I'm here. I'm not sick anymore. Look, I'm very healthy."
Eddy approached his grandmother without any trace of hesitation.
Selma was gratified at his actions and held him in her arms, the corners of her mouth lifting in satisfaction. She cupped Eddy's cheeks and looked into his eyes as she spoke. "Look at you, my little prince. So young, and already so sensible. You knew I was worried about you, didn't you? I'm so glad you understand grandma so well, not like someone who had forgotten his mother after he got a wife. He even didn't recognize his mother when she showed up. Promise me you won't ever forget me, okay?" she said, taking Eddy in her arms again and sending Kevin a meaningful look.
Kevin's brows were knit together at the scene that his own mother was creating.
As Selma kept holding Eddy in her arms, Sally shrunk back behind Anne, holding tightly to her mother's legs. She pressed herself as close as possible, as if afraid that Anne would leave her behind.
Anne's chest tightened as her daughter stood behind her, frightened and unsure at their own home, but she kept silent.
When Selma finally released Eddy from her embrace, she took his hand and looked at Sally next. Anne felt her begin to tremble as she met her grandmother's eyes.
Anne took a deep breath, and shifted her gaze from Eddy to Sally, who kept clinging to her.
The next moment, she had grabbed hold of her children and locked themselves with her in their room.
The door pounded from the outside with the sound of Selma's voice muffled by the walls. "Anne, I'm telling you, you can't keep my grandchildren from me! You can hide in the room all you want, but I'll break it open. I have a locksmith with me."
Emily was so angry that she felt like breaking something to vent out her anger. She said to Anne, "This Selma has gone too far. Anne, take care of Sally and Eddy in the room. I'll go out and drive her away!"
Kevin and Anne were the focus of the media, but it had nothing to do with Emily, so Emily thought it would be fine if she went out to deal with Selma.
With a frown, Anne held Emily's hand and said, "Selma came with bad intentions. She even brought a locksmith with her. If I don't go out, not only will she hurt me, but Eddy and Sally will also be implicated.
I did nothing wrong, so I am not afraid of her. Since she wanted to make a scene, I will go out to see what she really wants to do."
Anne knew if she kept running away, there would be no end to all this.
Emily Looked at Eddy and Sally who were frightened with their eyes wide open. She touched her forehead helplessly. How could Kevin have such a mother?
Eddy saw his mother's eyes turn to cold steel. He squeezed her hand and said, "Mom, I know that things are not good between you and grandma now, but she loves me very much. If I go out, she will calm down. Can I go out and talk to her?"
Anne wanted to crumble at his son's words. He had just escaped death, and yet here he was, still trying to protect them.
She lowered her head and held her son in her arms. He was too young to be carrying such a responsibility. What was even worse was that there were always eyes on their family. Kevin was a prominent name, and his enemies would stop at nothing to destroy him, even it meant involving his children and his family. Eddy's name would be plastered all over the headlines once the paparazzi sank their claws into him. He would never escape.
No. This was something she had to do alone. Whatever happened, she would not offer her children as collateral just to protect herself.
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