CHAPTER 87: SWEET OR MANIPULATIVE

"I understand she is very important to you," he said. "And she adores you more than me."

Pauline didn’t say anything but when he tightened his grip on her shoulder, she leaned into him instinctively, letting herself rest against his chest.

For a moment, they felt like a married couple again and not the distant, polite strangers they had become over the years.

Olivia watched from near the door with her fingers curled around her handbag, jealousy slicing through her like a knife. Her lips pressed together as she turned her face away.

Seeing Benjamin and Pauline together made her feel threatened. It challenged everything she had worked so hard to secure over the years.

Even after being separated for almost twenty years, Benjamin still had a soft corner for Pauline. And that terrified Olivia in a way she refused to admit.

Before her resentment could deepen, Benjamin and Pauline stood and started walking towards the door.

Olivia quickly sat on a nearby bench, pretending to scroll through her phone.

Benjamin glanced at her once before looking at Pauline again.

"I will come back in sometime," he said, placing his hand on her arm. "You are going to stay with mom, right?"

Pauline nodded, wiping her eyes.

"I will manage," she whispered. "You don’t need to worry."

"Call me if anything changes. Anything at all," he said. "Don’t hesitate."

Pauline nodded again, feeling calmer now.

...

After Benjamin and Olivia left, Alexander and Evelyn came back with a bag pack with all necessities both Margaret and Pauline would be needing for their hospital stay.

While Evelyn was explaining the content of the bag to Patricia, Alexander stood near the foot of Margaret’s bed with his expression tight but controlled.

"Evie, sweetheart," she said gently, "you should go home. You have been standing for hours. Come tomorrow morning."

"I want to stay," Evelyn said quickly, "I don’t feel right leaving—"

"It’s okay," Pauline smiled faintly. "Alexander will drop you home."

Evelyn nodded quietly.

Alexander stepped closer. "We will be back early," he assured his mother.

Pauline reached out and touched his cheek briefly. "Take care of her."

"I will," he said softly before leaving the room with Evelyn.

....

[Next Morning]

The morning sun filtered through the hospital windows, warm but muted, unable to dissolve the heaviness that had settled over everyone.

Margaret was stable now and although she was still asleep, her vitals had improved.

Pauline sat vigil beside her bed, exhaustion softening her usually composed features.

Alexander and Evelyn arrived with breakfast from a café nearby—coffee for Pauline, tea for Margaret when she woke and sandwiches carefully chosen by Evelyn.

Pauline’s tired face softened the moment she saw them.

"Good morning," she whispered.

Alexander kissed her forehead. "How is she now?"

"Better," Pauline murmured, exhaling shakily. "The doctor said she will be able to take her home tomorrow."

Evelyn touched her arm gently. "We brought breakfast. You need to eat something."

Pauline smiled gratefully as Evelyn unpacked everything.

For the first time since yesterday, the atmosphere eased.

Alexander and Evelyn sat on the small couch against the wall, sharing a quiet conversation with small jokes, reassuring touches, an intimate tenderness that made Pauline smile despite her stress.

She was sipping her coffee when the door swung open.

A bouquet of white lilies appeared first and then Jack walked in.

Dressed immaculately with expression soft, almost glowing with sincerity, he looked completely out of place among the weary faces.

"Good morning," he said softly.

Evelyn stiffened and Alexander’s jaw tightened.

Pauline blinked in confusion. She opened her mouth to say something but she closed it immediately.

Jack stepped fully inside, offering a polite smile that felt too controlled and too rehearsed.

"I came as soon as I heard," he said, approaching Pauline first. "Mom, are you okay?"

Pauline momentarily froze at the word ’Mom’. It had been years since he had addressed her with so much affection.

She forced a gentle nod. "I am fine, Jack. Thank you for coming."

He hugged her lightly as if he intended the gesture to be seen.

Alexander watched him with a guarded expression, leaning back but not letting his eyes drift away for even a second.

Jack turned to Evelyn next and smiled.

A genuine-looking, warm, heartbreaking smile, one he probably practiced in the mirror.

"Evelyn," he said quietly, "it’s good to see you."

Evelyn offered a polite nod, nothing more.

Alexander shifted minutely closer to her. It was subtle, protective and unmistakable.

Jack finally approached Margaret’s bed. He gazed at her for a moment, placing the bouquet gently on the side table.

"She looks better," he said softly.

Just then, a sharp voice cut the air.

"She would look even better if people didn’t give her heart attacks by simply existing."

Jack jerked, startled.

Margaret slowly opened her eyes which were glinting with irritation and fixed right on him.

"Grandmother—" Jack began.

Margaret raised a hand weakly but decisively.

"Don’t ’grandmother’ me. The walls have ears but unfortunately, so do I. You are loud enough to wake the dead."

Alexander had to hide a smirk and Evelyn looked down, trying not to laugh.

Jack forced a small, awkward chuckle. "I—I just came to see if you were okay."

"That makes one of us," Margaret muttered. "I am still trying to recover from the shock that you of all people showed up at a hospital voluntarily."

Pauline cleared her throat gently. "Mother—"

Margaret didn’t stop. She pointed a frail but commanding finger at Jack.

"You are unpredictable, dramatic and painfully incompetent. And now suddenly you show up with flowers? Forgive me if I don’t faint from gratitude."

Jack inhaled deeply, clenching his jaw before composing himself again.

"I am trying to change, Grandmother."

"Change?" Margaret scoffed. "Did someone swap your brain in your sleep? Because that’s the only version of this story I would believe."

Jack swallowed the humiliation, turning to Alexander.

"Big bro," he said with a friendly grin, "good to see you."

Alexander’s expression did not move.

"Jack."

The dull coldness in the single word made Jack’s smile falter but only briefly.

He turned back to Margaret and gently touched the foot of her blanket.

"I hope you recover soon," he said softly, "we all need you."

Margaret narrowed her eyes. "Hmm. I will decide later whether that was sweet or manipulative."

Jack paled. "It was sweet."

"We will see," she said.

Jack forced a polite smile at everyone. "I will leave you all to rest. Take care."

He then walked out composed and calm.

But the moment the door clicked shut, Margaret huffed dramatically. "What was that?"

Pauline sighed. "I think he is trying."

"Trying WHAT?" Margaret retorted. "To give me a second heart attack?"

Alexander exhaled slowly. "He is planning something."

Evelyn nodded reluctantly. "He feels different."

Margaret leaned back. "Whatever the boy is scheming, we will know soon enough. Jack has never been capable of subtlety," she scoffed. "His plots unravel faster than Olivia’s Botox."

Evelyn choked on her own breath laughing.

Pauline covered her face—half embarrassed, half resigned.

And just like that, the heavy tension in the room lifted again.

Margaret closed her eyes briefly.

Then she pointed at Alexander and Evelyn without looking.

"And you two, get married soon. I want a great-grandchild before I actually die."

Evelyn’s eyes went huge and Alexander coughed loudly.

Pauline groaned, "Mother, please—"

Margaret ignored everyone.

"And I want the child to inherit my stubbornness, not yours," she added, glaring directly at Alexander.

Alexander rubbed h

is forehead.

Evelyn hid her face behind her hands.

Pauline just whispered, "Here she goes again."

....