Chapter 110

Philip's POV

I had just wrapped up an investment meeting when my phone rang.Seeing my mother's name on the display, I answered casually,"Mom,what is it?"

"I'm at the police station." Betty's voice carried an unnatural tension that immediately set me on edge. "Could you come pick me up?"

"What? Police station?" I sat bolt upright, my attention fully captured."How did you end up there?"

"We'll talk when you get here!" Her tone was impatient as she abruptly ended the call.

I hastily set aside my work and rushed to my car. I couldn't fathom why my mother would be involved with the police.

As I walked into the station, I immediately heard my mother's strident voice echoingthrough the lobby: "This is absolutely ridiculous! I merely went to speak with her-what crime is that?"

I spotted her at the reception desk, confronting a visibly irritated officer.Several passing policemen glanced at the scene, their expressions a mixture of surprise and resignation.

"Mom!" I hurried forward, grasping her arm firmly. "Enough. Let's go home."

Betty turned to face me, her indignation slightly diminishing. "Philip, tell them I've done nothing wrong! I simply went to speak with Annie, and she called the police!"

Annie? Everything suddenly clicked into place. Sarah's recent complaints hadn't been unfounded--my mother had indeed gone to confront Annie.

"I apologize, Officer," I pulled my mother toward the exit while addressing the policeman. "I'll have a serious talk with her."

"Mr. Baker," the officer called after me, "your mother was publicly harassing your ex-wife outside Howard Technologies and spreading defamatory statements. We could have detained her, but considering her age,we've only issued a warning. Please ensure this doesn't happen again."

I nodded in acknowledgment, feeling the heat of embarrassment rise in my face. As my mother attempted to interject, I practically dragged her from the police station and bundled her into my car.

"How could you create such a scene at the police station?" I closed the door, my voice involuntarily rising. "What exactly did you do?"

Betty straightened her collar, which had been disheveled during our exit,and scoffed. "I simply went to Howard Technologies to have a word with Annie. That ungrateful woman actually called the police! As her former mother-in-law, am I not even entitled to speak with her?"

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm. "Mom, we're divorced.You're no longer her mother-in-law, and she has no obligation to listen to any of your criticisms or suggestions."

"What kind of logic is that?" Betty stared at me incredulously. "Marriage bonds can be dissolved, but how can family connections be so easily severed? From the moment she married you, she should forever respect the Baker family!"

I started the car and pulled away from the police station,feeling a wave of

exhaustion wash over me. "What exactly did you hope to accomplish by going to her workplace?"

"It was for Sarah's sake, of course!" Betty's voice was filled with righteous indignation. "Sarah is carrying your child and was publicly humiliated by Annie online. Not only did you fail to defend Sarah, but you allowed yourself to be insulted as well. I had to make Annie understand that the Baker family is not to be trifled with!"

My fingers tightened involuntarily around the steering wheel. This was precisely the issue-Sarah consistently managed to convince my mother that she was the innocent victim, while Annie was the unreasonable aggressor.

"Mom, I need to correct something," I struggled to keep my voice steady."Annie only retaliated because Sarah provoked her first. Have you considered why Annie would suddenly post that content online? It was because Sarah had already published defamatory statements about her."

Betty fell silent, though thetightness in her jawline told me she wasn't accepting my explanation.

"If you want a more peaceful life moving forward, you'd be wise to maintain some distance from Sarah," I continued. "She's been particularly provocative lately."

Betty immediately countered: "And you're just supposed to tolerate it?Philip,you've already lost Brian, and your only hope now rests with the child in Sarah's womb. If you don't treat her well and she gets upset enough to harm the baby, what will you do then? Find another wife and try for another child?"

I fell silent. My mother's words cut like a sharp knife, striking my most

vulnerable point. Since my relationship with Brian had deteriorated, I had indeed placed all my hopes on Sarah's unborn child. But lately, I'd found myself wondering-was this really the life I wanted?

"You need to understand that everything I do is for your benefit," Betty said, her tone softening as she noted my lack of response.

I suddenly realized that since divorcing Annie and getting involved with Sarah, my life had become chaotic. Each day was filled with arguments,suspicions, and various minor incidents. Initially, I had found this lifestyle stimulating, but now I found myself longing for the peaceful, warm days I'd shared with Annie.

"When it comes down to it, I think Annie is just inconsiderate and lacks class!" Betty continued complaining. "Society's consensus is that pregnant women deserve special consideration. But Annie-"

"What relation are you to Annie?" I interrupted.

Betty answered without hesitation: "Her former mother-in-law."

"So essentially, you have no relationship with her," I replied, my tone verging on sarcastic. "Why should she make allowances for you or Sarah?"

"But you're her ex-husband!" Betty exclaimed passionately. "She once loved you so much, valued you above her own life..."

Her words pierced my heart like a needle. Yes, Annie had once loved me deeply. She married me shortly after graduating from college, when her eyes held only me, treating me as her entire world. And how had I repaid her? With betrayal, deception, and ultimately taking away her son.

"But Mom,she doesn't love me anymore," I heard my voice grow somber. "She has Howard Thompson now, and..." I swallowed hard, "he's far better

than I am. She genuinely has no feelings for me anymore. If Sarah would simply stay home and focus on her pregnancy instead of causing troubole..."

"She doesn't even deign to speak with you," Betty finished my thought.her tone revealing clear disapproval. "How can she be so cold-hearted?How can someone completely let go of a man they once loved?"

I didn't contradict her, offering only a bitter smile. "Perhaps during those six years of marriage, her feelings for me had already faded. My entanglement with Sarah was simply the final push she needed to completely give up on our relationship."

"Fine, then." Betty remained unconvinced, but she recognized that pursuing the topic would only increase my frustration. For the remainder of the journey, we sat in silence, each absorbed in our own thoughts.

Back at home, I prepared two cups of tea, hoping to ease the tense atmosphere. Betty sat on the sofa, appearing much calmer.

"Mom, promise me you won't cause any more trouble for Annie, all right?"I handed her a cup of tea, speaking softly.

Betty accepted the tea and nodded perfunctorily, but her gaze had already shifted to a photograph of Brian on my desk. She set down her cup,walked over, and picked up the frame, her fingers gently tracing Brian's features.

"I haven't seen my darling grandson in quite some time," her voice suddenly became gentle. "How is he doing in school?"

"Fine," I answered, though my heart tightened. "He's been... busy lately."

In truth, I wasn't certain. Brian had almost stopped taking my calls and deliberately avoided being picked up by me.

Betty stared at the photograph, her expression becoming deep and complex."Such a bright child, truly inheriting the Baker family's excellent genes. I miss him terribly."

Her words seemed innocuous, but that intense focus in her expression gave me a sense of unease. I knew my mother too well-Betty Baker was not someone who conceded defeat easily. Today's setback at the police station clearly hadn't shaken her determination.

Perhaps my mother had simply shifted her strategy. If she couldn't confront Annie directly, maybe through Brian... perhaps she was already planning to use her grandson as a new point of leverage.

"Mom," I set down my tea, my voice carrying a warning. "Don't involve Brian in this."

Betty turned to me, her face displaying an innocent expression. "I'm simply missing my grandson. What's wrong with that?"

But I caught the shrewd glint in her eyes, and I knew this matter would never be as simple as she made it seem.