Chapter 80
“It was probably for the best. You would be an irresponsible mom, and you don’t deserve to have my child,” Cameron said.
Nellie’s hands, tucked away in her sleeves, balled into fists so tight her nails nearly broke the skin. When she caught a glimpse of Greta’s smug face, she suddenly deflated.
She forced a fake smile. “Babe, if I don’t have kids, who’s going to carry on your legacy?”
Cameron looked visibly annoyed.
Greta, however, brushed it off. “Nel, come on, what successful guy these days doesn’t have a few flings? Who doesn’t have a couple of kids out there?”
Nellie, with a gentle smile, reminded her, “Oh, I think kids you have with other women are just called bastards.”
Greta said, “Nel, you’re Cameron’s wife. Maybe you should be more understanding.”
Nellie glared at Greta, her voice frosty. “I’m not one to share my man. If he’s been with someone else, I don’t want him.”
Cameron frowned. “Nellie, are you threatening me?”
Nellie looked him square in the eyes. “Yes. I’m saying if you don’t want a divorce, you’d better stay faithful. Don’t mess around with other women.”
Greta felt a twinge of panic. “Nel, are you saying you don’t like me being close to Cameron?”
Nellie fired back, “Well, would you want your husband cozying up to me?”
Greta swallowed, her face flushing.
Cameron was taken aback by Nellie’s boldness and confidence. “Nellie…” he struggled to keep his cool. “My private life is my business. Stay out of it, or I don’t know what I might do.”
Nellie stood firm. “What are you saying? Do you want us to live separate lives?”
Cameron paused as if considering an escape from the marriage. “I won’t interfere in your life, and you stay out of mine. Maybe that’s for the best.”
Nellie’s expression was hard to read, but she put on a show of vulnerability, bursting into tears. “You promised to take care of me for life when you needed my kidney. Now that you’ve got it, you want to ditch me and live separately. Cameron, I must’ve been blind to fall for someone as vain and selfish as you.”
Cameron was left speechless, unable to deny Nellie’s accusations because they were actually true.
“Okay, I was just joking. If you can’t deal with us having separate lives, then I’ll still look after you,” Cameron said, sounding defeated.
But Nellie was done talking. She stormed into the room with her speaker, leaving Cameron and Greta outside her world.
Cameron and Greta exchanged a look, their eyes filled with a mix of sympathy and reassurance.
Greta’s expression darkened. “Nel’s gotten so cold. Maybe I should have my mom talk some sense into her.”
Cameron rubbed his forehead, feeling overwhelmed. “Your mom’s never been kind to Nellie. Just seeing her would bring back bad memories…”
“Cameron, my mom raised my sister. Maybe Nellie will listen to her.”
Cameron felt uneasy, but he was used to following Greta’s lead and didn’t argue further.
Nellie never expected her mother to show up one day. She looked so much older, and she was dressed in cheap, throwaway clothes. Her face was lined with deep wrinkles, and without knowing her real age, you’d think she was in her late seventies.
