She fell silent for two seconds. When she spoke again, her tone had turned cold.
"Alex Fox, get this straight. I'm your mother, not some nanny you hired."
"I raised you for decades. I've worked hard enough. I finally retired and can enjoy life, and you still want me to take care of your kid? Fine—I didn't say I wouldn't. But at least let me catch my breath first, okay?"
Tears welled up in my eyes.
That help-seeking post—what was there I still didn't understand?
I, her biological daughter, had become the neighbor she'd only met twice.
And the cousin she was rushing to help? That was the daughter she truly claimed.
"Then how long before you can come back?"
"Don't know! I just arrived at the first tourist spot and you call me. My good mood's completely ruined. Fine—no sightseeing today. I'm going back to the hotel to rest."
Dad took the phone.
"Alex, your mom's going through menopause. Don't take it to heart."
"But don't blame me for saying this—you upset her for one day, our trip gets delayed one day, and we come back one day later."
I understood perfectly.
They thought I was a nuisance just for making a phone call.