In that moment, Emily understood everything. This wasn’t an accident. It was a planned crime against her beloved son’s life.
And the mastermind was none other than her own mother. Jacob gripped his mother’s hand tightly and said quietly, Mommy, let’s go home. Emily picked up her son and began walking toward the venue exit.
She could hear her mother and sister’s voices behind her, but she didn’t look back. When Emily turned toward the hotel lobby, she heard hurried footsteps chasing her from behind. Looking back, she saw her mother Margaret and sister Sophia running breathlessly.
Sophia was holding up the hem of her wedding dress, desperately chasing her sister. Emily, please, wait, Sophia’s voice was mixed with tears. What happened? My wedding is being ruined.
Emily stopped and turned around while holding Jacob. Her son clung to his mother’s neck and turned his face away from his grandmother and aunt. Sophia, I’m sorry, but this isn’t about your wedding, Emily’s voice was calm, but deep anger lurked beneath it.
Ask mom. Have her explain this memo. Emily held out the white piece of paper again.
Sophia took it and read aloud. Table 8, please add shrimp to the main dish. Don’t worry about allergies.
M. Sophia’s face turned pale. This is about Jacob’s shrimp allergy, right? But why would there be a memo like this? Emily stared at Margaret. Please explain.
Why did you give instructions that would endanger my son’s life? Margaret was pressing her trembling hands to her mouth. In that moment, the mask of the kind grandmother fell away from her expression. The face of a cornered woman was there.
Emily, you’re misunderstanding, Margaret said in a shaking voice. I love Jacob. Why would you think I’d do such a thing? Then what is this memo? Emily raised her voice.
It’s in your handwriting, isn’t it? The reason you were abnormally worried about my physical condition all day was because you knew something was going to happen, wasn’t it? Other guests in the lobby noticed the commotion and turned around. However, Emily no longer cared about the stares of others. Her son’s safety was the top priority.
Mom, surely you didn’t really. Sophia looked at her mother with an expression of disbelief. At that moment, Margaret suddenly broke down crying.
She fell to her knees on the floor and covered her face with both hands. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Emily and Sophia watched the scene in shock.
Jacob made himself small in his mother’s arms. I’ll tell you everything, Margaret said through her tears. But not here, somewhere quiet.
In a private room in the corner of the hotel lounge, Margaret opened her heavy mouth. Sophia had chosen to be present despite being in the middle of her wedding. She had told the groom David that there was a family emergency.
It’s about Michael’s life insurance money, Margaret began in a small voice. Jacob is the beneficiary, and you’re managing it as his guardian. Emily listened silently.
That was correct. After her husband’s death, she had been carefully managing those funds for her son’s future. If something happened to you, I would become the next guardian, Margaret continued.
And there are problems with Sophia’s marriage that you don’t know about. Sophia looked up. Problems with my marriage? What are you talking about? Margaret stared at Sophia.
David’s investment company went bankrupt three months ago. He’s carrying enormous debt. Sophia stood up.
That can’t be true. David is a successful investor. I heard his company was doing well.
Sophia, sit down, Margaret’s voice was exhausted. David is on the verge of bankruptcy. And he came to me asking for help.
As a condition of marriage, he demanded that I take over his debts. Emily was beginning to see the whole picture. So if I died in an accident, you would become Jacob’s guardian and could manage the insurance money.
You would use that money to pay off David’s debts and protect Sophia’s marriage. I was cornered, Margaret held her head. I wanted to protect Sophia’s happiness.
And David threatened me. He said if I couldn’t pay back the debt, the marriage would be called off. Sophia collapsed into her chair.
My marriage was about money problems. David doesn’t love me. I don’t know about that, Margaret answered.
But he was definitely in financial trouble. And he was targeting our family’s assets. Emily held her son on her lap while thinking calmly.
So what was today’s plan? After my son had an allergic reaction and was taken to the hospital, were you planning to do something to me too? Margaret shook her head. No, not that far. Just while Jacob was hospitalized, I was going to slip you sleeping pills and make it look like an accident.
You mean you were planning to kill me and make it look like an accident? Emily’s voice was cold as ice. I was confused. I couldn’t make normal judgments, Margaret continued crying.
I just wanted to protect my beloved daughter’s happiness. Sophia stood up. You were going to kill my sister and nephew for my sake.
You thought that was my happiness. Sophia, you don’t understand. You’re being deceived by David.
He’s a man covered in debt who’s targeting our assets. Then why didn’t you tell me that from the beginning? Sophia’s voice shook with anger. Why did you choose to kill my sister? Emily stood up and took Jacob’s hand.
That’s enough. I don’t need to hear any more. Emily, wait, Sophia pleaded.
I didn’t know anything. I really didn’t know anything. I understand that, Sophia, Emily looked at her sister.
But we’re not family anymore. The moment mom tried to kill us, everything ended. Margaret stood up.
Emily, please. I made a mistake. But Jacob is my grandson.
Don’t take him away from me. You tried to kill my son, Emily’s voice was resolute. Never come near us again.
Emily pulled her son’s hand and tried to leave the private room. At that moment, Sophia came chasing after them. Emily, what should I do? The wedding? David? Emily turned around.
That’s for you to decide, Sophia. But one thing I can say is that there’s no real happiness in a relationship with a man who marries for money. Emily left the hotel with her son.
It was completely dark outside, but a light of determination shone in her heart. From this day forward, their new life would begin. In the car, Jacob said in a small voice, Mommy, won’t we see grandma anymore? That’s right, Jacob, Emily stroked her son’s head.
But we have each other. That’s enough. Jacob nodded as if he understood.
Three months later, in a small apartment in Portland, Oregon, Emily was greeting a new morning with her son Jacob. The autumn sunlight streaming through the window illuminated their modest but warm living room. It was a contrast to their luxurious life in Boston, but here there was peace more precious than anything.
Mommy, can we go to the park today? Jacob asked while eating his breakfast cereal. Of course, Emily answered with a smile. Maybe you’ll make some new friends.
The decision to leave Boston hadn’t been easy. However, Emily had no choice. After leaving the hotel that day, she had immediately contacted a lawyer and consulted with the police.
Restraining orders had been issued against Margaret and Sophia, and she was legally protected from them as well. In the new city, Emily had started working at a small accounting firm. The salary was less than her job in Boston, but she was able to spend more time with Jacob.
She continued to carefully manage the insurance money that her husband Michael had left for their son’s future. On her desk lay three unopened letters. All were letters of apology from her mother Margaret.
Emily had never opened them and intended to dispose of them. No matter how much she was apologized to in words, the fact that her son’s life had been targeted wouldn’t change. Jacob was adapting well to his new environment.