Before he could respond, his daughter stepped forward, finger jabbing toward my mother. "Zhang Cuicui, what is wrong with you? Everyone in the village knows you call Naomi a jinx. And you expect my dad to raise her? Why?"
She didn't back down. "This is *your* daughter. Maybe you and your husband did something evil in a past life, and she's your retribution. Who can say?"
That hit a nerve.
My mother hated nothing more than being told I was her karma. Her face twisted in fury as she lunged forward, claws out. "You little brat! You're mocking me? Your father started running his mouth first! It's easy to talk when it's not your life being ruined!"
"I think you just came here to laugh at us! I'll tear that mouth off your face!"
She moved to strike, but my father snatched a porcelain bowl and smashed it against the floor.
*Crash!*
"Enough!" His bellow shook the walls. "Why are you making a scene? My mother is dead! If you want to fight, get the hell out!"
The room fell into resentful silence.
The bowl had shattered at my feet. A jagged shard ricocheted upward, slicing a gash across my cheek. Warm blood trickled down my face instantly.