Olivia leaned over and chuckled. “Let me check your wounds.” Stefanie hid further into the bed. “Why should I ?”
“Then I supposed it’s okay if I ask Alex to come inside and see the doctor tending your wounds?” After that, Olivia pretended to go for the door.
“S-Stop it right there!” She stopped in her tracks and turned to watch the woman who called out to her. “Finally coming clean?”
Stefanie didn’t answer, but it was a tacit admission anyway. Regret was written all over her face. I should’ve kept my composure. I wouldn’t have given myself away if I could control my temper when I saw them.
Olivia returned to the bed and studied Stefanie’s face. “I know you’re trying to break Alex and Jewel apart by scaring him. But can’t you tell Jewel has lost her memories? She might have feelings for him, but it can’t be deeper than Alex’s for her. The way you handle things only hurt him in the end. She’s the woman who has been on his mind for over eight years, and you’re his mother who raised him. How can he
choose between the two of you? Do you think your son coming to the hospital to take care of you every day is a victory? Do you have any idea how much it hurt him?”
Tears rolled down Stefanie’s cheeks. “I forbid them to be together! It’s wrong!” Olivia frowned. “That’s all I want to say. I won’t tell the others, but it’s better to tell him yourself. You can’t hide the fact that there’s no wound on your wrist after you go home, and you can’t depend on an artificial wound to cover your lies forever.
Once he finds out you’ve been lying to him, he will stop believing every word you say in the future. Do you remember the story of the boy who cried wolf? It’s not easy to regain someone’s trust.”
The turn of events shocked Stefanie. “You won’t tell them?” Olivia smiled and muttered, “I could’ve done it when the others were around.”
She’s not wrong, though. At that, Stefanie continued, “What do you want? My approval in exchange? Keep dreaming.”
Olivia shook her head with a sad smile. “It depends on you, and I won’t interfere. I know that parents always want the best for their children, and you must have your reasons. It’s just that you’re his mother and you can talk things out. Remember, he’s your son. He understands your difficulties best as long as you reason with him. It’s better than forcing them to break up. Aren’t you aware that the more you disapprove of them, the more Alex feels guilty for Jewel?”
Stefanie didn’t speak anymore. Since Olivia got her point across, she decided to leave Stefanie to rest, so she took leave. Eugene was waiting for her in the corridor while Jewel and Alex were nowhere to be found. Olivia approached Eugene with a smile. “Where did the two go?”
“Over there,” he replied. Then, he raised his chin, gesturing to the stairwell. Olivia followed his gaze before shrugging. At last, she shook her head and sighed.
“Did you call her out?” he asked, his tone filled with amusement. She arched her brows in surprise. “You can tell?” A chuckle escaped him. “When she was pointing at Jewel.”
“Observant, aren’t you?”
Olivia was pleased by Eugene’s quick wit and she let it show on her face. “You know what? There’s dextrose in the infusion bottle. This woman is good at making a scene. She’s a walking drama queen.”
At that, Eugene said, “It might have to do with the fact they only had each other for a long time, and her world basically revolved around her son. Now that Alex’s attention is on Jewel practically every day, Mrs. Road must be unhappy to see it.”
Olivia tilted her head and pondered for a moment. “I feel like there’s more to it.” “What makes you think so?”
“She’s strong with her opinion,” Olivia explained. “If it’s what you said, she hates Jewel at best. However, she objects to the duo to the degree that she refuses to make it work. Besides, she told us more than once that it could be anyone but Jewel.”
Eugene frowned as he gave Olivia’s guess a thought. “When she was younger, Alex’s father betrayed her. Thus, she did not see anyone even after all these years. Is it because she has been hurt in a relationship, so she can’t let go of Jewel’s betrayal back then?”
