Chapter 698: The Mother-in-law’s Bewildering Behavior
Chapter 698: Chapter 698: The Mother-in-law’s Bewildering Behavior
’Dad’s daughter with his ex-wife?’
Phoebe Sawyer furrowed her brow, thinking.
’If she really was Renee Jennings’s mother’s biological daughter, then wouldn’t the sister Renee mentioned be her paternal half-sister?’
Perhaps because Phoebe Sawyer didn’t answer, Sylvia Brooks spoke up, "Bella’s cooking really is amazing. I still remember her spicy crab to this day."
Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow slightly. "Next time we’re free, I’ll have her make it again. You and Phoebe can come eat with us."
"Okay," Sylvia Brooks agreed with a smile.
Phoebe Sawyer bit her lip, conflicted, and said nothing.
A moment later, the car stopped, and the three of them entered the veterinary hospital.
The veterinarian on duty last night had already gone home. Today, another female veterinarian was working, and the receptionist told them to go to Exam Room 2.
"Miss Jennings, are you here to see Inky?" The veterinarian knew why she was here the moment she saw Renee Jennings. She quickly led them to the observation room to see Inky.
Looking at Inky’s weak form through the incubator, Renee Jennings’s slender brows knitted together tightly. "Doctor, how is Inky doing now?"
The veterinarian explained, "Not bad. The bleeding has stopped, and Inky has a very strong will to live."
Hearing this, Renee Jennings breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good."
Phoebe Sawyer also let out a breath of relief. "His name is Inky, right? When he wakes up, I have to thank him properly."
After leaving the observation room, the veterinarian kept looking at Renee Jennings, wanting to say something but hesitating each time.
She usually watched Renee Jennings’s livestreams but was never lucky enough to be chosen.
Last night, she saw in her work group chat that a colleague mentioned Renee Jennings bringing a pet in for treatment. So, when she left for work this morning, she brought her little lamb from home.
Renee Jennings noticed the other woman’s strange behavior and took the initiative. "Doctor, is there something you want to say to me?"
The veterinarian seemed surprised that she had noticed. After a brief pause, she nodded. "Yes. I was just wondering if you’re in a hurry right now, Miss Jennings?"
At her words, Renee Jennings glanced sideways at Sylvia Brooks and Phoebe Sawyer.
The two of them exchanged a look and shook their heads in unison.
Sylvia Brooks said, "Phoebe and I aren’t in a hurry."
Renee Jennings turned back to the veterinarian. "Is there something you need from me?"
"There’s something I’d like to ask for your help with, Miss Jennings," the veterinarian said. "If you all don’t mind, we can talk over coffee in my office."
The veterinarian had a coffee machine right in her office. She ground the beans and brewed four steaming cups of coffee, and a rich, mellow aroma gradually filled the room.
Renee Jennings took a sip of her coffee and chuckled softly. "This is delicious."
"I must have outdone myself today, then," the veterinarian said with a smile before slowly continuing. "It’s nothing too serious, really. Just some trivial family matters. I’m actually a little embarrassed to bring it up..."
"Don’t be embarrassed. Life is all about the little things," Renee Jennings said, raising an eyebrow slightly. "It’s the same for everyone."
Hearing her say that, the veterinarian relaxed a little. "Okay, then I’ll just come out and say it."
Renee Jennings nodded. "Go ahead."
The veterinarian frowned. "I just got married three months ago, but I feel like my mother-in-law’s attitude toward me is very strange. It’s like she really dislikes me."
"Do you live with your mother-in-law?" Renee Jennings asked.
The veterinarian replied, "Sort of. My mother-in-law said she’s only staying for a while, but I don’t know if that’s true."
Renee Jennings blinked, puzzled. "Why do you think your mother-in-law dislikes you?"
"Sometimes, when I get home late from work, she says she saved me some food, but it’s always just leftovers." The veterinarian took out her phone and pulled up a few photos from her album. "It looks like it should be thrown out. I’ve never seen anyone save food for someone like this in my entire life."
Renee Jennings saw the photos of the messy, unappetizing leftovers and frowned. "That does look pretty disgusting."
"Exactly," the veterinarian said with a helpless, wry smile. "And it’s not just the food. She also frequently gets my clean laundry dirty. Sometimes there are even footprints on it."
"I asked my mother-in-law why there were footprints on the clothes, and she said that after she folded them and put them on the sofa, the lamb grabbed a slipper and left prints on them."
"Also, if I get a package delivered and don’t open it right away, it’ll be gone the next day. When I ask her about it, she always says she doesn’t know, and that I must have misplaced it or remembered wrong."
"Oh, and my skincare products have been running out strangely fast, and my vanity is always a mess. She says the lamb did that, too."
"Why is your mother-in-law like that?" Phoebe Sawyer asked, completely bewildered. "Can’t you just ask her not to stay with you?"
Sylvia Brooks couldn’t help but chime in, "Haven’t you thought about installing a security camera to see what’s going on?"
"I don’t have the heart to kick her out. I have thought about installing a camera." A flash of annoyance crossed the veterinarian’s face as she explained, "I suggested we install one to see what the lamb is up to, but my mother-in-law refused. She said she’s home by herself, and if I want to see the lamb, she can just record a video for me."
"You need her permission to install a camera in your own home?" Renee Jennings could tell this mother-in-law was definitely difficult to get along with. "Did you know she was like this before you got married?"
"Not before the wedding." The veterinarian shook her head and sighed. "When we were dating, she was very nice to me. She would even buy me gifts and always told my husband to treat me better. I never expected her attitude to change completely once we got married."
Phoebe Sawyer was baffled. "But why would she do that?"
"What about your husband? Has his attitude toward you changed?" Sylvia Brooks asked.
The veterinarian thought for a moment before answering, "No, not my husband. He’s very good to me, but he doesn’t know how to handle his mother either. Every time he tries to talk to her, she pretends to be sick."
Renee Jennings: "..."
Even she found the veterinarian’s mother-in-law’s behavior baffling.
’Why be so nice to someone before the wedding, only to pull all these petty tricks after they become family?’
Renee Jennings frowned and asked, "Are you sure your husband doesn’t know why your mother-in-law’s attitude toward you suddenly changed?"
"He says he doesn’t know." The veterinarian sighed. "That’s why I wanted to ask you, Miss Jennings, if you could communicate with my lamb and ask if she’s heard anything."
Renee Jennings gave a slight nod. "I can do that. Is the lamb here?"
"Yes," the veterinarian nodded. "I brought her to the hospital this morning. I’ll go get her now."
"Okay."
The veterinarian stood up and left the office. Two minutes later, she returned, leading an adorable, snow-white lamb.
"BAA~" The lamb let out a soft, sweet cry.
Phoebe Sawyer’s eyes lit up. "Your lamb is so cute!"
"Thank you," the veterinarian said with a bright smile. "Her name is Bella."
Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow with a smile. "Even her name is interesting."
"Are they easy to raise?" Sylvia Brooks asked curiously, then immediately realized she had asked a silly question. The woman was a veterinarian; of course it wouldn’t be difficult for her.
Sylvia Brooks quickly added, "Never mind, you don’t have to answer me. Let’s get back to business."