“That man was a coward, abandoning Ms. Carter when she lost her leg. He’s worse than an animal.”
“Look at his mother, shielding him even now. Disgusting.”
“Don’t pity her—if anything, Ms. Carter isn’t being harsh enough.”
Emily kept her gaze on the door, disappointment flashing across her face when I didn’t arrive. She had the money picked up and forced into my mother’s mouth, bill after bill.
“Ethan, are you watching? If you don’t want her dead, you’d better come out.”
“If you don’t return the money by tomorrow afternoon, prepare to collect her body.”
My mother coughed blood, staining her clothes red. On the ground, barely alive, I sobbed and begged Emily to stop.
I never betrayed you. If you hate me, unleash it on my soul, not her!
But my hoarse cries never reached her.
Mom, get up, please! Don’t sleep! I’m sorry—it’s all my fault.
Curled on the ground, my mother’s eyes closed faintly, her breath barely there.
“My… son… Ethan… he wasn’t unfaithful to you.”
I fell to my knees, reaching to hold her, but Emily had her dragged away and locked up.
She wanted to use my mother’s life to force me to appear. Patience was never her strength.