She began sliding to her knees.
I didn’t move. And in that moment, Ryan rushed out.
“Mom, don’t kneel to her. Don’t beg her.”
He held Margaret with one hand and slapped me with the other.
“You’d let Mom kneel to you? Aren’t you afraid of cursing yourself to an early grave? Shameless! If it weren’t for Mom, I would’ve beaten you to death yesterday.”
Margaret carefully pulled Ryan back.
“It’s my fault… Since your sister has already hardened her heart, there’s nothing I can do. I’ve written my will. I’ll sell blood—today, I’ll sell blood.”
I gritted my teeth, my throat filling with the taste of iron.
“I can pay for myself. I don’t need money from this house. If you’re selling blood, who exactly are you selling it for?”
At my words, Margaret’s eyes widened in shock, her whole body trembling.
“Emily, what are you saying? Everything I do is for you—of course it’s for you…”
I let out a cold laugh.
“I told you. I don’t need your money. Why torture yourself selling blood?”
Margaret stared at me, eyes filled with unfamiliar helplessness.
“You may not need money, but your brother does, your dad does, the house does. I have no choice, Emily, no choice at all.”
I fixed my gaze on her.