Elizabeth stormed in, seething with anger.
Sandra barely had time to register her presence before Elizabeth shoved her aside and barged into the treatment room.
The impact sent Sandra’s arm crashing against the doorframe, sparking a jolt of pain. She remained silent, soothing the ache with her free hand.
Bowing her head, Sandra murmured, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”
Her apology wasn’t out of fear of Elizabeth.
The truth was, Elijah had sustained an injury while protecting her, and she had dismissed his pain as an exaggeration, leading her to act carelessly during their interaction.
Though the wound was not life-threatening, the deep gash had exposed the bone, complicating his recovery.
Overwhelmed by remorse, Sandra found herself unable to focus on Elizabeth’s demeanor.
Disregarding Sandra’s words, Elizabeth moved swiftly toward Elijah, hesitating just before examining his wound closely.
The nurse had just unwrapped the bandage, and the absence of pressure caused the blood to flow more freely, making the severity of the sight more apparent.
Blood soaked his entire arm, highlighting a gruesome slash across his upper arm.
Elizabeth was aware of the injury but had not been informed of the grim details.
Elijah, his voice steady, questioned, “Mom, why involve Sandra in this? Why must you blame her for everything?”
Elijah had not hidden his injury from Elizabeth, though the circumstances behind it remained undisclosed, with all involved keeping their silence.
His frequent overseas business ventures were fraught with risk, often resulting in injuries. Confident that Elizabeth would not dig too deeply, he spoke with an air of assurance.
Elizabeth cast a critical glance at Sandra, then refocused on his arm, voicing her disapproval. “You suffer such a severe injury, and yet she’s there, shoving you playfully in the corridor! Completely reckless!”
Catching Sandra’s eye as she stood there, head down and biting her lip like a scolded child, Elijah said, “The playful shoving was my doing.”
Elizabeth was unmoved by Elijah’s defense. “Playful or not, she needs to exercise caution. As your wife, her responsibility is to look out for you.”
Elijah said firmly, “She is my wife, not a servant bound to tiptoe around me all the time!”
After the nurse finished rebandaging his arm, Elijah glanced at his stained coat and discarded it.
The nurse, eyeing the discarded designer suit in the trash, briefly contemplated discreetly salvaging it.
Sandra pulled out her phone, saying, “I’ll call Oliver to fetch the backup outfit from the car.”
Having made the call, Sandra observed the tense exchange between Elijah and Elizabeth.
She recalled how Elizabeth had softened during their ride, even expressing concern after they saw the Sophias.
A relationship should not rely on one-sided sacrifices.
Sandra, not one to exploit situations, moved closer and said, “Elizabeth makes a valid point. I’ll be more careful in the future.”
Accustomed to Sandra’s sharp retorts lately, Elizabeth was taken aback by her soothing tone.
After a brief pause, Elizabeth responded, “Very well, as long as you’ve understood.”
Her voice noticeably softened.
Elijah watched, surprised by the shift in dynamics between Sandra and Elizabeth.
Could it be that their relationship as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was actually improving?
