Chapter 125
Elise had barely visited the nursing home in all these years—maybe five times, tops. But now, out of nowhere, she’d already shown up twice this month. People don’t just drop by for no reason, especially someone like Elise. Pauline couldn’t help but wonder what she was really after. Deep down, she was sure it wasn’t anything good.
Elise gave a small, polite smile and nudged Carola forward. “Go on, Carola. Tell Grandma what you came for. Pauline’s always been the most reasonable one. Once she hears you out, she’ll get it p>
Carola managed a gentle smile. “Pauline, I’m here to apologize. There was a misunderstanding between me and Dorothea. Things got out of hand, and she won’t answer my calls. That’s why we came to you for help p>
She made it all sound so casual, as if the whole mess online was just a bump in the road. She barely mentioned her own part in it, pushing the blame off onto Larry like it was nothing.
Pauline, who’d had her eyes closed, suddenly looked up and locked eyes with Carola. “So what you’re telling me is that Dorothea got dragged through hell online because of you p>
Her breath came faster. She called to the caregiver, “Can you look this up online for me? Read it out loud p>
Elise and Carola’s faces changed. They tried to stop the caregiver, but it was too late. The comments started coming, one after another, each one sharper and uglier than the last. Pauline listened, her chest aching with every word.
“Elise, is this the ‘little thing’ you mentioned p>
“If someone said these things about you, would you still call it little p>
Pauline might not have known her way around the internet, but she wasn’t clueless. She listened to the news every day. She knew there were girls out there who’d been bullied to death online. Carola was doing her best to push Dorothea to the edge. And Larry? He was probably just doing Carola’s dirty work.
“Pauline, you just don’t understand. It’s not that serious. Just some harsh words, that’s all p>
The caregiver jumped in, “It’s not just a few comments. There are tens of thousands! And honestly, I skipped the really nasty ones p>
Pauline’s hands clenched tight around her wheelchair’s armrests. “You hear that, Elise? Is this what you want? To drive Dorothea to her grave p>
“Instead of standing up for her, you bring the person who started it all, asking me to forgive her p>
“You want Dorothea to forgive you? Keep dreaming p>
“Elise, who’s really your daughter? Is your heart made of stone? How could Dorothea end up with a mother like you p>
Every word hit Elise right where it hurt. For a second, she lost her cool too. “It’s not my fault. She just has bad luck. If her father hadn’t died so young p>
Pauline’s eyes filled with tears. “This is on me. I never should’ve let her go to you when she was little p>
She thought about all those school breaks, how Dorothea would leave so happy, only to come back heartbroken and sad every time. Who knew what she’d suffered in that house?
“Get out. I don’t want to see either of you again. Don’t bother coming back p>
Elise pressed her lips together, then finally got up. “Pauline, you’re going to ruin Dorothea doing this p>
“Can you really stand to see her cut me out of her life p>
“Don’t you dare use Dorothea to guilt-trip me. If I forgave you, that would be the thing that finally broke
her heart.” Pauline shot back her voice unwavering. fo
Carola didn’t say a word. She just followed Elise out.
After a few steps down the hallway
Carola said quietly, “Mom, l
left a hecklace in Pauline’s room 檪 go back and look for it. Wait for me p>
“Fine,” Elise said, rubbing her temples. “I’ll wait in the car p>
Carola slipped back into the room, eyes darting. It was just Pauline, alone.
She walked closer, her voice low. “You don’t have to forgive me, Pauline. Honestly, I
don’t care if you do. My parents forced me to come p>
“Get out!” Pauline glared at her.
“I’ll leave in a second. But I thought you should know-Dorothea married a gay man p>
“Yes, Latham is gay. You’ve met him, right? Dorothea must have told you he wasn’t p>
“See how sad her life is? She’s stuck pretending, every single day. And you know why? Because she wanted to spare your feelings. All those lies were for you p>
“Pauline, Dorothea married a man who’ll never give her a child. She’s never going to have her own family p>
Carola’s laughter was soft and cruel, echoing in Pauline’s ears long after she left the room.
Suddenly, Pauline’s heart twisted in pain. She clutched her chest, gasping. Carola glanced back, her face calm, and walked out.
The caregiver came back with water and stopped cold at the sight of Pauline, slumped over in her wheelchair.
“Pauline! What happened p>
“Help! Somebody call for help, now p>