Chapter 3
Joseph and Larry exchanged glances, their gazes filled with quiet anger as if they were trying to burn holes through me with their eyes alone.
But I sat there, head held high, looking down at them with an air of superiority, as if I wouldn't even consider agreeing to anything unless they groveled at my feet.
Finally, Joseph and Larry couldn't hold it in any longer. Slowly, they leaned their heads toward my feet...
Just as their faces were only inches away from my toes, I suddenly kicked them both to the ground with a swift motion. Larry's palms scraped against the floor, leaving his skin raw.
I looked down at them, eyes cold and unfeeling, and said as though I hadn't even noticed what had just happened.
"You think your filthy mouths can actually touch my feet? Suck my used water, losers."
With that, I stood up and poured the dirty water over their heads, drenching them completely.
The scene faded to black.
The audience watching the livestream erupted in outrage.
"What if there's fungus in the water, they're gonna get skin disease! "
"Not just that, if they accidentally took a drop of the water, they might end up with something even worse!"
"What kind of heartless monster makes their own children drink foot bath water?"
"Aurelia is beyond evil! That's foot bath water, for God's sake! Who knows what kind of germs are on her disgusting feet? Her kid could get seriously sick!"
I glanced coldly at the chatters in the room, my voice sharp and cutting.
"Mind your own business! Joseph and Larry drank that water down happily.
"Or maybe you all want to drink it too? Too bad, there's no more foot bath water for you. How'bout licking my shoes instead!"
I kicked off my shoes and threw them at the group of neighbors.
"Let's see if that shuts you all up!" I thought.
Just then, as if to validate the neighbors' concerns, the scene from memories suddenly shifted to a ward.
Larry lay on the hospital bed, his eyes swollen from crying as he called me.
"Mom, last night Dad and I drank your foot bath water, we're having acute gastroenteritis. Can you come see us at the hospital?"
Joseph took the phone from him.
"Aurelia, Larry's been craving your soup for a long time. As his mother, the least you could do is come visit us, no matter how busy you are."
Over the phone, I seemed busy and shouted back.
"Joseph, what nonsense are you spouting? Speak up. I can't hear you!"
"I said, Larry and I are both sick..."
As Joseph spoke, both his and Larry's stomachs made loud, gurgling noises. A sudden flow of blood started pooling beneath their beds.
Like deadly flowers blooming at the edge of hell, Joseph looked at the scene in horror as he saw the blood seeping out. He cried out in panic.
"Aurelia, I don't care what you're doing right now, you need to come to the hospital now! Larry's bleeding, all because of your foot water!"
On the next bed, Larry curled up like a wounded kitten, his voice barely a whisper.
"Mom, Mom, my stomach hurts so much. Please come and warm my tummy for me.
"I'm so scared, Mom, I'm scared I'm going to bleed to death and never see you again. Mom, can you come see me one last time..."
I let out a cold sneer over the phone, my voice sharp with bitterness.
"It's just a little blood! It's not like you're dying right this second.
"Even if you two kick the bucket, I'll come when the hospital calls me to collect your bodies!"