Chapter 5

I followed Sarah into her office.

She closed the door and pointed to a chair. "Sit."

"I've heard some things about your family." She poured a glass of water and set it in front of me. "It must be hard."

I didn't say anything.

"But business is business. What happened today is terrible for the company's image."

"Joy," her voice softened, "take a week off."

"Go home and sort out your family issues."

"The company employs a lot of people. We can’t let one person’s personal life ruin the entire business. You understand, right?"

I raised my head to speak, but she waved her hand.

"I know it’s not your fault." She paused. "The cleaning lady told me she saw you throwing up blood in the restroom. More than once. I know about your health."

She pulled a card out of her drawer and slid it across the desk.

"This is for the medical center our company partners with. Go get checked out."

"Health comes first. You can always make money later."

I looked at the card, my eyes welling up with tears.

"Thank you..."

Suddenly, the door burst open. My mom was standing there.

"Director, I am so sorry, so sorry. I was just too emotional."

She bowed slightly, rubbing her hands together nervously. "I have a bad temper, and when I get anxious, I lose control. I’m so sorry for causing trouble."

Sarah didn't say a word.

My mom rushed over and grabbed my arm.

"Joy, quick, get down on your knees and apologize to the director."

I didn't move.

She yanked me, but I remained still. The fake smile on her face stiffened.

"This child, she is so stubborn." She smiled apologetically at Sarah. "Director, please don't mind her. She’s never known how to behave. I’ll teach her a lesson when we get home."

I used the desk to pull myself up.

My stomach suddenly cramped violently. The pain was so intense that my vision blurred.

I gripped the edge of the desk, my palms dripping with cold sweat.

"Mom..."

"What are you whining for?" She glared at me. "Apologize right now!"

"Do you want to lose your job? If you lose this job, how are you going to support me?"

Sarah ignored my mom, rushed over to me, and held my shoulders. "Joy? Joy, are you okay?"

My mom sneered, "Director, don't worry about her. She’s just acting. She always pulls this 'I don't feel well' card."

"She’s been like this since she was a kid. Whenever I asked her to do chores, she’d suddenly have a headache or a stomachache..."

"Actually, Director, if we put this family drama online, it would generate a ton of traffic, wouldn't it?"

I stared at her.

Her mouth was moving, but I couldn't hear the words. Everything in front of me began to fade into a dark haze.

I reached out, desperately grabbing my mom’s wrist.

She looked down at me.

"Mom... I just want to ask you one thing..."

"What now?"

"Are you proud of me?"

"Can you... just once... tell me I did good?"

She looked at me, blinking. "Of course I am!"

I stared at her, thinking I had finally gotten what I wanted.

The next second, she shook off my hand and muttered, "Look, our pig back home is named Joy. We fatten it up to sell it for cash. You eat to make money. In my eyes, you’re both the same. You’re both my pride and joy."

I let out a hollow laugh.

She frowned. "What are you laughing at?"

The taste of copper rushed up my throat.

Before I could even lower my head, I opened my mouth and sprayed a fountain of blood right onto her face.

My mom froze. The dark red blood dripped down her chin.

Her face turned deathly pale.