The hospital waiting room was cold—too cold. Anna sat hunched in the corner chair, her coat still on, arms wrapped around her body as if it could shield her from everything that had just happened.
The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air. Somewhere down the hall, a child cried. Every passing second felt like an hour. She kept glancing at the swinging doors marked Pediatric Emergency, hoping, praying, willing someone to come through with news.
Her hands trembled in her lap. Aiden's jacket was still clutched in her fingers.
She'd carried him in sobbing, burning up, barely able to speak. Nurses had rushed over. A gurney appeared out of nowhere. Then they had taken him—her little boy—through those double doors, and told her to wait.
So she waited. Alone.
Not a single call from Andy. No message. No footsteps running down the hallway in a panic. Nothing.
She had checked. He was still at the hospital—but in Penelope's ward.
Anna blinked back the sting in her eyes.
Finally, the doors opened, and a doctor stepped out, scanning the room.
"Mrs. Roberts?"
She shot to her feet. "Yes—yes, that's me."
The doctor gave a warm, professional smile. "Your son is stable now. He's resting. It was food poisoning, but nothing severe. His vitals are strong. We've given him fluids and something to settle his stomach."
Anna let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Her knees nearly buckled with relief.
"Thank God. Can I see him?"
"Of course. He's asking for you."
She followed the doctor down the hallway and stepped into the room. Aiden lay on the bed, his cheeks a little pale, but his eyes were open. When he saw her, he smiled sleepily.
"Mommy."
She rushed to his side, brushing his hair from his forehead.
"I'm here, baby. I'm right here."
He reached for her hand, and she held it tightly, kissing his fingers.
"I was scared," he whispered.
"I know, sweetheart. But you're okay now. You're safe."
They sat like that for a while—just mother and son, heart to heart, skin to skin—until he drifted back into a light sleep.
Anna gently pulled her hand away and stood up. There was still one more thing she had to do.
---
Margaret's room was on the second floor. Anna hesitated outside the door before pushing it open.
Margaret was sitting upright in bed, sipping from a cup of water. A nurse was just leaving.
Her eyes landed on Anna like daggers. Cold. Sharp. Ready to wound.
Anna took a cautious step inside. "I just wanted to check on you. See how you're feeling."
Margaret set the cup down with a clink. "How considerate. Poison us all and then come by with flowers, hmm?"
Anna flinched. "It wasn't me. I would never—"
"Save it," Margaret cut in, her voice rising."You know, I used to think you were just cold. Now I'm not so sure. Maybe we all misjudged what you're really capable of."
"I didn't do it ",Anna mumbled.
"You served the food. You were the last one in the kitchen. Do you think I'm stupid?"
"I didn't touch the food after I basted the turkey. I put it on low heat and left it—"
"Oh, please." Margaret rolled her eyes. "You've always had that look in your eyes. Like you're too good for this family. Like we should all bow to you."
"That's not true."
"No?" Margaret leaned forward, her voice low and venomous. "Then why does everything go wrong the moment you walk into a room?"
Anna stared at her, stunned.
"Let me make this clear," Margaret went on. "If anything had happened to Aiden, to Sophie, to anyone at that table—you'd be in jail right now."
"I love Aiden," Anna said quietly, firmly. "More than anything in this world. I would never do anything to hurt him or anyone else."
Margaret scoffed. "Spare me your mother-of-the-year speech."
Anna looked at her for a moment, the weight of everything finally landing on her shoulders.
"Andy didn't even come see his son," she said, more to herself than to Margaret. "He stayed with Penelope."
Margaret smiled tightly. "Good. At least someone stayed by her side."
Anna didn't respond. She turned, walked out, and closed the door behind her with a quiet click.
In that moment, something in her heart shifted.
She had come to the hospital afraid and unsure. But as she walked back down the hallway toward Aiden's room, her steps were steadier. Her mind clearer.
They had shown her exactly who they were
Anna pushed open the hospital room door.
Penelope lay in the bed, pale but alert, her hand cradled in Andy's. The moment Anna stepped in, both heads snapped toward her like they'd been caught whispering secrets."I was so scared, Andy... I thought she'd actually hurt me."
Penelope's eyes welled up instantly. "Your wife wants to kill me," she whimpered, tears sliding down her cheeks like a faucet turned on for show.
Andy stood up so fast his chair scraped the floor. "Anna! What the hell are you doing here?" His voice thundered through the room like a clap of lightning. "Did you come to finish what you started?"
Anna folded her arms tightly across her chest. "I didn't do anything."
Without warning, Andy's hand flew across her face with a loud smack.
Anna stumbled back, gasping. Her cheek burned like fire, and her ears rang. The world tilted. She stood frozen, shaking, trying to make sense of what just happened.
"You jealous witch!" Andy shouted. "You wanted to hurt Penelope out of spite—didn't you?"
Anna touched her cheek, eyes wide. Her lips trembled as she pointed at Penelope. "You hit me... because of her? You hit your wife for your mistress?"
Penelope didn't say a word. But the smug little smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth said plenty.
Anna's voice dropped to a whisper, laced with hurt and fury. "Andy... you'll regret this. I swear you will."
She turned to leave.
"Don't you dare walk away from me!" Andy barked. He grabbed her arm and yanked her back with enough force to rattle her bones. "You don't get to just leave while I'm still talking!"
"Let go of me," Anna snapped, her voice sharp as broken glass.
Andy didn't flinch. "Go home, pack your things, and get out of my house."
Anna stared at him, stunned. Was this really happening? Her heart pounded in her ears, but her face stayed unreadable.
"I mean it, Anna. I don't want to see you there when I come back."
But she didn't cry. She didn't plead.
Instead, she calmly pulled her arm free, lifted her chin, and walked out the door without another word.