"He also said I'm just like you, bossy and likes to bully people. Mom, you're the best Mom in the world. You're not like what Dad said. Mom, I have a fever. I feel so awful. I'm going to faint."
Then, there was silence. My heart skipped a beat.
I stood up abruptly, grabbed my bag and rushed out. I knew that a persistent high fever could lead to coma or even death.
I kept calling my daughter desperately, but there was no response. My worry grew and my eyes stung with tears. After hanging up, I called 911 and then called Stefan.
He kept rejecting my calls, but I was relentless. Finally, he picked up. I blurted out anxiously, "Stefan, Stefan, Ysabell has a fever! You have to go back and help her!"
Stefan scoffed dismissively, "She's faking it! Don't believe her! I have important things to do tonight. Don't use this as an excuse to bother me, Zelda."
He added, "Even if you're trying to compete for attention, there should be a limit. I'm just having a meal with Yolanda. Please don't use our daughter's illness to deceive me. It's disgraceful."
My anger flared and I couldn't help but say, "I would never joke about my daughter's life, Stefan."