Hailey sat on the couch, idly flipping through the channels on the TV. She had already toured the large mansion after her husband, Leonardo, had left for the office. But still, she felt bored and lonely. She missed the hustle and bustle of the city, the people and activities that kept her busy.
After a few minutes of aimlessly scrolling through her phone, Hailey decided to call Grandma Mary. She missed Grandma Mary and wanted to see her. And spend some time with her. "Hello, Grandma Mary?" Hailey said when the woman answered the phone.
"Hailey! How lovely to hear from you," Mary replied cheerfully. "I have missed you sweetheart but I couldn't call. I don't want to disturb you and your husband on your honeymoon."
Hailey smiled and then replied, "I miss you too Grandma. And I'm just feeling a little bored and lonely at home," Hailey admitted. "I was wondering if you wanted some company?" Grandma Mary's voice brightened even further. "Oh, I would love that! I was just about to head out to the shops. Why don't you come with me?"
Hailey grinned at the invitation. "That sounds perfect Grandma! Let me grab my purse, and I'll be over in a jiffy." She hung up the phone and quickly got ready, excited to spend some time with Grandma Mary.
Hailey stood in front of her closet, pondering what to wear for her outing with Grandma Mary. She wanted to look nice but also be comfortable for a day of shopping. After a few minutes of searching, she settled on a simple yet elegant outfit. She put on a white t-shirt and paired it with a light blue denim skirt that fell just above her knees. Hailey slipped on her favourite pair of brown sandals and accessorized with a simple pendant necklace. Her long, chestnut hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders.
Satisfied with her outfit, Hailey made her way to the front door, ready to head out to see Grandma Mary. However, before she could even reach for the doorknob, Mark, the head staff, appeared before her.
"Good morning, Mrs. King. May I ask where you're heading?" Mark inquired politely.
Hailey smiled at Mark. "Good morning, Mark. I'm going to see my husband's grandma, Mary. We're going shopping together," she replied. Mark nodded thoughtfully. "Ah, I see. Allow me to assist you, Mrs. King. I'll have the driver take you to her place."
Hailey hesitated, feeling slightly guilty for causing so much trouble. "Oh, Mark, that's not necessary. I can just take a cab," she suggested.
Mark shook his head, a determined look on his face. "Please, Mrs. King. Your husband will be angry if I let you take a cab. It's our job to ensure your safety and comfort," he pleaded.
Hailey sighed, recognizing that Mark was only doing his job. "Alright, Mark. Thank you," she conceded.
As if on cue, the driver appeared, ready to take Hailey to Grandma Mary's mansion. Hailey climbed into the back seat of the car, feeling grateful for the staff's concern and care.
As the car pulled at Grandma Mary's Mansion, Hailey stepped out of the car and was immediately enveloped in a warm embrace from Grandma Mary. The older woman kissed her cheek and held her tightly.
"I missed you, my child," she said to Hailey, her voice filled with affection and warmth.
"I missed you too, Grandma," Hailey replied, hugging her again before they both entered the car.
As the driver drove towards the mall, Hailey and Grandma Mary talked about her honeymoon and her new life as Leonardo's wife. When they arrived at the mall, Grandma Mary quickly pulled Hailey to the luxurious shopping centre. Hailey followed her eagerly as they made their way through the mall. They browsed through racks of designer dresses, tried on elegant suits and blouses, and picked out new shoes and accessories.
Hailey was still trying on the outfit that Grandma Mary had picked for her when she heard the older woman's phone ring. Grandma Mary excused herself to answer the call, leaving Hailey alone in the fitting room. As Hailey examined herself in the mirror, wondering if the dress was a bit too revealing, she heard the sound of the fitting room door opening. She turned around to see Lydia, her ex-mother-in-law, walking towards her with a scowl on her face.
Before Hailey could say a word, Lydia pushed her roughly, causing her to stumble back. Hailey looked at her in shock, not knowing what to say or do. "You swine, what are you doing here?" Lydia yelled at her, her voice filled with anger and hatred.
Hailey was about to answer when Lydia grabbed her again and slapped her across the face. The force of the blow made Hailey stumble backwards, and she felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes.
Just then, Grandma Mary rushed into the fitting room, her phone call forgotten. She saw Lydia slap Hailey and reacted without hesitation. She stormed over to the other woman, grabbed her by the shoulders, and slapped her so hard that she fell to the ground. "How dare you come here and attack my granddaughter-in-law!" Grandma Mary spat at Lydia, her voice filled with fury.
Hailey looked on in shock as the two women faced off against each other. She had never seen Grandma Mary so angry before, and it was clear that she would not tolerate anyone harming her family. Lydia scrambled to her feet, her face red with anger and embarrassment. Without another word, she turned and stormed out of the fitting room, slamming the door behind her.
Hailey stood there, still in shock, as Grandma Mary wrapped her arms around her in a tight embrace.
Hailey looked up at Grandma Mary, tears still streaming down her face, as she explained that the woman who had just slapped her was her ex-mother-in-law, Lydia. She had told Grandma Mary about Lydia before, but this was the first time that Grandma Mary had seen her.
Grandma Mary's eyes narrowed in anger as she listened to Hailey's story. She wrapped her arms around Hailey and hugged her tightly.
"Don't worry, my dear," she said softly. "I won't let anyone hurt you. You're part of this family now, and I will always protect you."
Grandma Mary then turned to the salesperson and ordered her to pack up all of the things that they had bought. She helped Hailey get dressed and then led her out of the fitting room. As they walked through the store, Hailey felt a bit embarrassed and self-conscious, knowing that she had just been attacked by her ex-mother-in-law in public. But she also felt a sense of relief and comfort knowing that she had Grandma Mary by her side.
Once they had finished shopping, Grandma Mary ordered the driver to take them back to the car. She insisted on riding with Hailey and directed the driver to drop Hailey off first before taking her back home.
As they drove through the city, Hailey felt grateful for Grandma Mary's support and protection. She had never felt so alone and vulnerable as she did after she was thrown out of her house. But being welcomed into Leonardo's family and having someone like Grandma Mary in her life made her feel like she had a second chance at happiness.
As they pulled up in front of her mansion, Hailey turned to Grandma Mary and hugged her again.
"Thank you," she whispered. "For everything."
Grandma Mary smiled and patted her on the back.
"Anytime, my dear," she said. "You're always welcome in our family."