Adeline spat in contempt. "Old hag's faking it. Probably trying to guilt-trip us into giving her money. Let's go. She's bad luck."
She hurried out with Peggy and Alex in tow.
My mother's face was ashen. She couldn't get a single word out. Her eyes slowly rolled shut.
I didn't think. I scooped her up and ran for the hospital.
In the ER, the doctor examined her. "She has hypertension. The emotional distress caused a dangerous spike in her blood pressure. She needs to be admitted for observation."
I stepped out of the room and called my father, who was overseas on business.
"Hello? Ronald?" His voice came through the line.
I told him everything.
Silence on the other end. A few long seconds passed before he spoke. "I'm booking a flight home right now. They'll answer for this."
"Take care of your mother. I'll handle the rest." He paused. "Alex Swanson and the Hardings. I'll deal with them too."
After hanging up, I sat by my mother's hospital bed and pulled up the credit card I'd authorized under Adeline's name. I revoked her access.
That card was supposed to be for groceries and daily expenses. I'd told her the monthly limit was ten thousand dollars.