Yet Ava, either oblivious or deliberately ignorant, stepped forward with a practiced smile. “Auntie, I brought you a little something.” She pushed a gift toward my mother-in-law, her expression filled with feigned warmth. “You’re getting older now; you should better care of your health.”
But my mother-in-law barely reacted. She simply pressed her lips together, not even sparing Ava a glance.
Seeing Ava being blatantly ignored, Hugo spoke up in her defense.
“Mom, Ava spent all morning at the mall, carefully picking out this supplement after doing her research. She just wanted you to have something good for your health. Can’t you at least say something nice?”
My mother-in-law scoffed, her voice laced with disdain.
“Hmph. No need. A weasel paying respects to a hen, she’s up to no good.”
Her sharp gaze locked onto Ava. “I know exactly what kind of person she is. I treated her like my own daughter, and what did she do?” Her voice turned cold. “When you were in trouble, she vanished without a word. Left you behind like you were nothing. She’s nothing but an ungrateful wretch.”