Chapter 188 Lisa's Temper

"Don't push this any further, Mom! I had to start my own business, just to have an excuse to avoid you for all these years. It has been difficult, but I would not change a thing to keep you out of my life! I thought you had changed, but now I realize that I was naïve. The only thing you did change was the fact that you became more unreasonable. Now you are trying to make me and my best friend feel bad for what happened to a creepy old man. I want nothing to do with you!" Lisa shouted.

Lisa's mother was frightened by her words. She wanted to explain, but Lisa pushed her again. After a few minutes, she laughed helplessly, "I have always known that I am not a great mother. But do you know how hard it was to raise you?"

"I do, and that is the only reason why I still speak to you. Otherwise, I would have cut ties with you years ago…" Lisa did not want to cry, but she was so angry and upset she could not hold back, "I try my best to be kind to you and obey your wishes. When you are not satisfied with me, you cry and threaten to kill me, even over that blind date. I disagreed with you, then you…"

Suddenly, Lisa stopped crying and laughed, "Holy shit! If Kate and I do not give in to your demands to help that bastard, will you try to have us killed?"

Not giving her mother time to answer, Lisa grabbed Kate's arm and warned, "No matter what you are planning, neither Kate nor I will give in! I will not obey you as I did before!"

Lisa pulled Kate away, leaving her mother stunned.

Once they were around a corner and far enough away from her mother, Lisa stopped. She was so upset that she could barely speak; Kate put her arms around her, letting Lisa cry.

Kate had been aware of the pressure Lisa grew up with and the fact that she had been fed up with her mother for a very long time. However, she never spoke a word of it until her mother stood up for a man who beat her best friend. Kate held her until she was done crying then passed her a tissue.

After wiping the tears, Lisa said with a smile, "I don't even know why I am crying about this. I have grown accustomed to her attitude!"

Kate comforted her, "You can cry whenever and wherever you want. Just be happy!"

The familiar phrase made Lisa laugh out, "That is my saying!"

"Yes, but you always tell me to be happy when I am sad. I know you are only trying to comfort me, but it isn't that easy, is it?"

"Because we are thinking of others, we neglect our own feelings. It is exhausting!" Lisa wiped her eyes and laughed, "I need a drink! Let's go get one!"

Kate shook her head, "No, that will do you no good! Drinking will only make you feel worse; it will not solve any of your problems."

"You are just afraid that Joseph will get angry," Lisa teased.

"Yes, I need to. She cared more about others rather than her own daughter; why would I apologize to her?" Lisa snarled.

Kate knew that Lisa was just hurt and that she did care about her relationship with her mother, or else she wouldn't have been so obedient her entire life.

"It is better to resolve your conflicts, or in time it will be even more uncomfortable," Kate urged.

Lisa knew that Kate was right, but she was angry and didn't want to admit to anything, so she changed the subject, "Are you hungry? How about we get something to eat?"

"Okay!" Kate agreed.

After a dinner filled with casual conversation and laughing, Kate and Lisa prepared to go their separate ways. But before she left, Kate reminded Lisa, "Talk to your mother. Be patient and tell her that I will help that disgusting man."

"Are you kidding? He hurt you! How can you help him? Don't let my mother's comments make you feel bad."

"I don't want to help him, but I think that his wife and children are innocent and they are suffering," Kate smiled. She had thought about it while she had dinner and made her decision. She was uncomfortable when she thought about his family, so if helping them made her feel better, she would do it. She quickly added, "The help will be anonymous though; that way, it won't cause any problems."

"Okay," Lisa nodded.

"Now go and apologize to your mother," Kate reminded her.

"Thank you, Kate."

Kate knew that Joseph would still be working so she went to a cafe to get some coffee. She realized that there would be others working, so she also picked up pizza.

At JK group, Joseph and Alisia were analyzing data from the newly launched product when Kate arrived. John quickly jumped up to help Kate with the food.

"Thank you!" She asked John in a low voice, "Is Joseph still busy?"

"He is having a discussion with Alisia about the new product. Do you want to join them?"

"No, I don't want to disturb them. I will just sit here and play on my phone. You go back to work!" Kate pointed at the coffee, "If Joseph is available though, take him his coffee so he can drink it hot. It is delicious!"

"Okay," John nodded to the pizza box, "And with this?"

"That is for you and Alisia! I just hope you like the toppings!"

"I am sure we will! Thank you!"

"You are welcome," Kate replied and sat down on the sofa.

Half an hour, then an hour, and then two hours went by before Joseph came out of his office. Kate was so tired that she fell asleep waiting and never even stirred when Joseph picked her up to take her home.