Chapter 2

Given a second chance, I could see the whole thing with a much cooler head.

She played her part beautifully, vivid enough that it almost looked real.

She lied without the smallest flicker of guilt.

A talent like that, wasted on real life instead of the screen. A shame, really.

Going on about how hard it was for one woman to raise two children.

Before Dad died, he'd already set aside a bank card each for me and Herbert, meant for college.

His accident came with a settlement payout too.

All of that money stayed clenched in my mother's hands. Not a single cent ever reached me. Every bit of it went to fund Herbert's studies abroad.

And now she was playing the pitiful card again, claiming there'd been nothing she could do back then?

Herbert gently wiped the tears from her face.

He crouched halfway in front of her, held her hand, and said,

"Mom, I know Zoe won't blame you. She'll come back to see us!"

"She's the best sister in the world, and your best daughter too, Mom. She'd never really hold a grudge against us."

Then he lifted his head and looked at me.

"Zoe, you feel the same way, right? We're family. Family doesn't really resent each other. Family is supposed to make room for each other, help each other."

"Mom's only wish now is to see you every day. Just seeing you sets her heart at ease. You wouldn't refuse that, would you?"

Watching his eyes wait for me to agree, I found it almost funny.

Family?

The two of them had never treated me as family, and they had never had room for anyone but themselves.

Before Dad died, he'd still speak up for me.

But the moment he was gone.

Herbert and my mother started freezing me out.

Acting pitiful in front of me, confessing they'd been wrong, all of it came down to one thing. They'd seen I was worth using again.

Even in my past life, when I poured everything into caring for my mother through her final years, she never spared me a scrap of tenderness.

On her deathbed all she could think about was Herbert. Whether he'd eat properly without her. Whether he'd have money to spend.

The same tricks. I wasn't going to fall for them a second time.

They could play pitiful to win sympathy. So could I.

I put on a deeply troubled face and said, "I'm about to be laid off. I'm in millions of debt now, and I'm getting ready to sell the house."

"Honestly, Mom, ever since I left home I wake up every night from nightmares. I dream about the day you wanted to trade me off for a dowry payment."

I covered my face and sobbed softly.

"Forgive me, there's nothing I can do. I can barely keep myself afloat right now, so I can't forgive you either. Please give me some time."

Herbert looked a little startled. "How could that be?"

"I asked around before we came. You're doing great these days. How could you possibly be in debt?"

I lowered my hands and looked at him with red eyes.

"I just wanted to hold on to a little dignity. Would I show the ugly side of things to outsiders?"

"Herbie, Mom, if it were you two, would you?"

Herbert and my mother exchanged a glance.

I didn't wait for their answer and pressed on.

"Mom, does it hurt you to see what I'm going through? Then could you lend me a hand and help me out?"

"I'm 2.26 million in debt. Your life right now has to be a little better than mine. Could you take me home and give me a place at your table?"

"After I sell the house I'll still be 560 thousand in debt. Can I come home with you? I'd like for us all to live together as a family too."