The Price of Misjudgment

My younger son, Jeremy Fuller, was being naughty and grabbed a snake. When he wouldn't let go, the snake bit him.My husband was on a business trip at the time, while my older son, Benedict Fuller, was working a night shift at the hospital.Without hesitation, I called a cab and brought Jeremy to the same hospital Benedict was at for emergency care.There, a pretty nurse ran over to me and asked me about Jeremy's situation. Then, she brought him a hospital cot and took him to the emergency room.Choked up, I explained what had happened and begged her to save my son.She kept her eyes on the machines while talking to someone else. Right before Jeremy was pushed into the emergency room, she stopped.I was confused and asked her if something was wrong.The nurse's eyes were dark as she stared at Jeremy. "Do you know Benedict Fuller?"I nodded. "Of course I do. He's my…"Before I could say "son", the nurse slapped me."What the hell?" Putting a hand on my swelling cheek, I looked up at her

I was shocked by this unreasonable request.Yvonne pushed me impatiently. She grabbed Jeremy by the hair and shoved his ashen face into mine. I was utterly hopeless.All around me stood Francis's burly thugs. They leered at me, their eyes roaming across my chest.I held my shirt closed by the collar and shook my head, tears falling.Yvonne laughed coldly. "I'm not in any hurry. I'm just not sure whether this little bastard has the time to wait for you to take off your clothes."My tears fell even quicker.Benedict had told me about Yvonne before. He told me that she was kind.I looked at the vicious woman before me and shuddered.Around me, the men were still leering. "Take off your clothes! You're already a cheating slut. What's there to be embarrassed about?" they taunted. "I see that bulge on your chest. What are you hiding under your shirt? Take it off and let us see!"Yvonne took out her phone and began recording. "Snake venom takes about an hour to kill. Figure it ou

Yvonne was stunned for a moment, but she quickly answered calmly, "Dr. Jansen and I are using the room. Are there no other operating theaters available, Ben?"I lay on the operating table and opened my mouth to scream, but as soon as I moved my facial muscles, my wounds stung with pain. I didn't dare to move."It's okay. I'm just asking," Benedict said.Yvonne was completely different when she was talking to Benedict. Unlike the insolence she'd shown me, she was now sweet and dainty as she came up with an excuse. At the end, she added, "Wait for me to finish up. I want to go shopping with you.""Okay. I need to get an Outoman figurine as a gift, too."Even though I couldn't see Benedict's expression, I knew he was smiling.A few days ago, Jeremy had clung to Benedict's arm and asked him for a "big boy" gift since he was turning seven soon.Benedict had nodded and asked him what he wanted, poking Jeremy's forehead as he did so. Jeremy had said, with all the confidence of a seven-

"Mom?" Benedict said uncertainly.I couldn't open my mouth, but I nodded with tears in my eyes.He broke down, his emotions whirling out of control. "Who did this to you, Mom?"His voice was trembling. He sounded like a helpless child. Suddenly, he stiffened. He had just realized—belatedly—that the "bitch" Yvonne was referring to was me.Thankfully, Benedict didn't take him long to calm down again. He picked up his tools. "Don't worry, Mom. You'll be fine. I will save you."He began checking me over. The more he looked, the more he trembled. His voice shook as he asked, "Mom, did Yvonne do all this to you? Including sewing up your private parts?"I closed my eyes without saying anything.My silence enraged Benedict. Several times, he tried to storm out of the room to look for Yvonne, but Dr. Jansen stopped him. "The most important thing right now is to treat the patient."Poor Benedict. He had always been a good son, but now, he was forced to face his own mother's humiliation.