Chapter: 88

Marie looked up at Bethany sternly and said, "Come here."

Without any hesitation, Bethany closed the door and approached the bedside. Before she could utter a word, Marie delivered a sharp slap across her face.

The sound of the slap reverberated through the room.

The force of it left a bright red imprint on Bethany's pale cheek.

She stood there, stunned. "Mom..."

“Do you know why I slapped you?"

Marie was visibly furious, her hands clenched into fists. It was the first time she had ever struck her daughter.

Bethany's mind immediately flashed to the message from her father's mistress.

"I thought you were a decent girl. I never expected you to be involved with a man in such a way! Don't call me Mom anymore. I refuse to have a daughter who acts shamelessly!"

As her mother hurled accusations, Bethany simply covered her face and listened without defending herself.

“Get me out of this hospital immediately. I refuse the surgery. I'd rather die than Live off the money you obtained from that man."

Marie's voice was so loud it made Bethany's ears ring, though she wasn't sure if it was from the slap or the shouting.

"The doctor had scheduled the surgery. It can't be canceled," Bethany responded.

"Then let me die right here!" Marie's agitation flared up again.

Despite the sting of pain on her own face, Bethany quickly moved to grasp her mother's hand.

“Mom, they told you, didn't they? You know exactly why they're doing this!"

"I don't care about the reasons. Tell me, is it true? Are you someone's mistress?"

Bethany was shocked by her mother's direct question.

She hadn't expected her relationship with Jonathan to be exposed so quickly.

Yet, if she wanted her mother to survive, she saw no other choice.

“Mom, that's not true."

"Really? Okay! Then explain to me, how did you manage to get the money for the surgery? How could your so-called boyfriend just lend you such a large amount?" Marie questioned.

Bethany pressed her lips tightly together and looked down for a long while. “I'm not anyone's mistress. I married him."

She hadn't planned to reveal this to her mother just yet. But now she felt she had no other choice.