Phone 23

Albert refused to let me take him home. He got his chauffeur to pick him up from the hospital instead.

“It’s already late; you should go home,” Albert said, patting my head, I felt awkward because of his gesture.

“Thanks for caring about me,” he continued, amiling and trying to tease me.

“Oh, come on! Who’s caring? Don’t get too full of yourself!” I replied, pretending. to be annoyed.

*

Albert laughed again.

We parted ways in the hospital lobby. Joshua was already there to pick me up. Suddenly, my phone rang.

It was Sofia. I wondered what it was. It was unusual for the house help to call.

“Hello, Sofia. What’s up?”

“Ma’am… I’m so sorry…”

“What’s wrong, Sofia? Please, tell me quickly!” I panicked, fearing bad news about Gillian, my daughter.

“Sorry, ma’am. After school, Gillian asked to be taken to her grandmother’s house. I tried calling you, but I couldn’t reach you. Since Gillian insisted, we went there.”

I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Alright, it’s okay, Sofia. I’m on my way home, so I’ll pick her up.”

I ended the call.

“Joshua, let’s go straight to Ruth’s house to pick Gillian up.”

Joshua nodded.

When I arrived at Ruth’s house, it seemed everyone was inside. From outside, the house looked crowded.

I started walking toward the door, I heard someone crying.

Oh no! That was Gillian crying.

“S–sorry, Grandma, Aunt Lorraine… s sorry…”

Just because you’re rich now, you act stingy and arrogant like your mom!” I heard Lorraine yelling at Gillian.

“I never taught you to be stingy. This must be your mom’s bad influence. If you still want to be my granddaughter, lend your phone to your cousins. Now!”

What?? Ruth was also scolding and yelling at my daughter?

I quickened my pace.

“Eyén the maid has a phone. How spoiled! You really have an easy life!” I heard Lorraine yelling at Sofia as well.

“Hello. What’s going on here?” I asked as I opened the door, feeling my anger rising.

“Mommy!” Gillian, still sobbing, ran into my arms.

Lorraine’s children looked scared and stood behind their mother.

Why was Ruth so angry at Gillian? Yesterday, she seemed to adore Gillian.

“Gillian, what’s wrong, honey? Sofia, what happened?”

Sofia, who was trying to comfort Gillian, looked pale as Gillian hugged me tightly.

“W–well, ma’am, Lorraine’s kids tried to take Gillian’s phone…”

“Don’t you dare tell tales!” Lorraine shouted, glaring at Sofia.

“Continue, Sofia!” I said firmly, ignoring Ruth.

“Hey, Sarah, don’t just believe the maid. My kids just wanted to borrow it but your daughter was stingy and scolded them, just because she has an expensive phone!”

“You can insult me or mistreat me, but you can’t do that to my daughter!” I believe you scolded Gillian like that. Why would you do that?

spoil your child too much. Sometimes kids need to be scolded to replied without remorse.

But Gillian did nothing wrong. Lorraine’s kids just grabbed the phone from her. and it fell and broke,” Sofia bravely defended Gillian “Well, then, Lorraine should teach her kids not to grab other people’s things!” 1 said, my anger rising again after hearing Sofia’s explanation.

“I’m so disappointed in this family. I’ve lived here for eight years. You’ve never treated me kindly, often wanting to kick me out because you saw me as a freeloader. Don’t blame me if you get kicked out of this house one day. “My voice trembled with emotion.

What do you mean, Sarah?” Ruth shouted.

“Don’t you remember the house is about to be seized by debt collectors?” I reminded them with a smile.

“That’s our business, not yours!” Lorraine replied, though she seemed uncertain.

“Haha, are you sure, Lorraine? I could fire you tomorrow, and you wouldn’t be able to pay off your cheating husband’s debts.”

Lorraine looked shocked that I knew everything.

*Sofia, take Gillian to the car. I’ll be right there.”

“What about Gillian’s broken phone, ma’am?” Sofia asked.

*Just leave it. We’ll buy a much better and more expensive one tomorrow.”

bioked out Shah” Ruin’s voice softene Kama & red. Browse be the one to kick you about Gove Twoked out can feeding witONIQUE Hey, Swah! What do you mea Ignored their shouts and walked to the ga Joshua had the car ready. Once get in, we drove to my ་

In the car, I called Carrie Hello, Carrie, how’s the house wiches going? sit done “All set boss. Just waiting for the name as an is handing it.”

“Please expedite it I ended the call and leaned back in my seat releasing teesh and emotions that had been weighing on my heart and mine.

Gillian kept hugging me. She must have at the actrees. N little girl probably didn’t expect to be treated so badly by Ruth and Loraine *Joshua, let’s stop by the mall first”

“Yes, ma’am.” Joshua nodded.

“Gillian, let’s get some ice cream.”

“Okay, Mommy… I want ice cream.”

Her pretty face lit up instantly. Maybe taking her out for a bit and getting be favorite ice cream would cheer her up.

14 hugged each other again. It felt so good to see her smile return