To outsiders, my mom was the picture of kindness—easygoing and always smiling. But with me, she was venomous, wishing me dead with every harsh word. I used to think I just couldn’t make her happy, but now I see she’d prefer me dead, just to get her hands on my money.
I didn’t even bother packing a bag. I went straight back to my own place, which I hadn’t visited in ages. A thick layer of dust covered everything, so I spent the night cleaning. By the time I collapsed on the sofa, exhausted, I finally felt a sense of peace.
When I first bought this place, my mom was furious. She thought, as a girl, I had no business buying a house. If I had money, it should go to Richard so our family could get a bigger place. I usually listened to her, but this time, I didn’t. I bought the house in secret. When she found out, she stormed over, kicking me down in front of everyone and calling me shameless for “wasting” the family’s money.