Chapter 3

After leaving the hospital, I planned to return to my rental apartment.

The Audi I'd bought with my savings five years ago had been sold these past years to pay for Mom's treatment.

I got on the subway in a daze.

My phone buzzed with a message from Mom.

"You're just leaving like this? Leaving your mother alone in the hospital? The hospital is already trying to discharge me."

I replied, exhausted. "Don't you have money? Just pay them."

"How can I do that! Meredith will need money for so many things in the future! That money is all reserved for her!"

"Then go home and wait to die."

It was the first time I realized I could say something so cruel.

After I sent it, I couldn't help but break down sobbing.

Everyone stared at me curiously.

But I couldn't care about their looks.

Over these years, I'd lost my job, my savings, my car.

All because of that tiny thread of mother-daughter affection, fantasizing that I could improve our relationship before Mom died.

So she would understand I wasn't the bad sister who only bullied people, like Meredith claimed.

So she would know I was also her daughter.

But in the end, she didn't seem to care about any of that at all.

She knew I wouldn't abandon her.

She had no fear.

When I got off the subway, my eyes were already red and swollen.

As soon as I opened the door, I found the place packed with people.

"You guys..."

I looked in disbelief at the apartment full of relatives.

Right in the center, surrounded by everyone, was my crying mother.

She gripped her phone.

"I never imagined that after raising her all these years, she'd tell me to go die!

"When she ran away from home back then, I worried about her every single day.

"When she came back to take care of me, I thought she'd remembered our mother-daughter bond. I never expected that when she heard I was leaving more inheritance to Meredith, she'd turn around and tell me to die.

"How much longer do I have to live? She can't even pretend for that long!"

I pulled out my phone.

Only then did I discover the family group chat I'd set to "do not disturb" had gone 99+.

Scrolling up, the first message was a screenshot Mom had sent of our conversation.

The four words "go home and die" were particularly glaring.

"Miranda, your father died early. Without your mother, would you have grown up at all!"

"Apologize to your mother right now! If we hadn't rushed over, your mother would have jumped off the building!"

"Miranda, you left home for ten years. Meredith spent more time with your mother than you did. You didn't fulfill your duty as a daughter, but you want more money. People can't be this heartless!"

Mom sobbed.

"It's fine, it's fine. After all these years, I've come to terms with it.

"Whether she wants to acknowledge me as her mother is her business. I've done my duty to her. If my daughter doesn't want to support me, I don't want to be a burden anyway!"

With that, she shakily stood and lunged toward the window.

Everyone stopped her.

"Miranda! Get on your knees! This family has no room for an ungrateful wretch like you!"

"If you don't kneel and apologize, consider yourself disowned! Your father was a good man, so don't you dare tarnish his name!"

"After you apologize, you will take your mother back to the hospital and care for her properly. The entire family will be watching!"

Crash!

A glass shattered on the floor.

I was furious.

"Stop making a scene!"

Everyone looked at me in surprise.

I was breathing heavily.

I pointed at my uncle Lucas.

"You loaned her a hundred thousand for surgery, right?"

He froze.

I pointed at my another uncle Jimmy. "You loaned two hundred thousand."

Then I pointed at my aunt. "You loaned her a hundred and fifty thousand you were planning to use to build your son's house, didn't you!"

Mom's face went pale. "Miranda! Shut up!"

"Do you all know she actually has ten million on hand, but won't spend it-she's planning to leave every cent to Meredith!"

"What?!"

Everyone looked at Mom in shock.