"You young ones don't understand. You have to learn to endure hardships to strengthen your character."
After her friends left, Vivian opened the window, climbed onto the balcony, and softly called to me, "Mom..."
I responded casually, then turned around to see her half out the window.
It terrified me. "Get down immediately!"
"Mom, you just don't love me, right? Our family is wealthy, yet you treat me like a pet. You must hate me, so I should leave."
A tear slid down her face, and she jumped without hesitation. I couldn't find my breath, feeling like my neck was being tightly gripped. My mind went blank until the police arrived downstairs after someone called them.
The police questioned me about Vivian's death. I stammered, "I have no idea."
The police didn't mince words.
"You're a CEO, living in such a high-end apartment, yet your daughter has been wearing tattered clothes and even had her sanitary pads rationed."
Feeling as if my backbone had been struck, I wailed uncontrollably.
"I never intended for it to be like this. I never thought it would turn out this way."
At Vivian's funeral, I couldn't stop crying, and Miranda comforted me.