Chapter 4

Before the sting of the birthday party could fade, news came that Chloe's juice bar had gone under.

That afternoon, she barged into my house, sobbing hysterically. Her hair was messy, and her eyes were red and swollen. The moment she entered, she dropped to her knees, grabbing my legs and crying,

"Mom, I'm ruined! I owe $50,000 to loan sharks! They're threatening to show up at my job if I don't pay. You have to save me!"

I quickly helped her up, rubbing her back in distress.

"How did you end up owing so much? Didn't I tell you to be careful when you opened that shop?"

"I thought it would make money!" she wailed, gasping for air.

"Who knew business would be this bad? Rent, utilities, payroll... everything cost money. Now I’ve lost everything and I'm drowning in debt! Mom, I know you have $150,000 saved up. Just give me the money to pay them off, or they’ll destroy my life!"

$150,000. That was my life savings, scraped together over ten years.

After my divorce, I raised her alone, working at a factory by day and running a street stall at night, saving penny by penny.

I hesitated and didn't speak. She immediately guessed my thoughts, crying even harder as she brought up the past.

"Mom, have you forgotten how we survived together? You divorced my dad with nothing just to keep me, and we lived in that leaky, tiny rental. You promised you’d protect me forever. Now that I’m in trouble, how can you just stand by and watch?"

Her words pierced the softest spot in my heart.

"What about Eleanor?" I couldn't help but ask. "She’s always so good to you. Did you ask her?"

Hearing Eleanor’s name, Chloe’s crying stopped abruptly, and an uncomfortable look flashed across her face.

"Eleanor said she doesn't have any money. Her savings are locked up for her retirement. Mom, see? You're the only one who truly loves me. You won't abandon me, right?"

Thinking of the hardships we had survived, my heart softened completely.

Yes, if it weren't for her, why would I have given up all my assets during the divorce and suffered so much?

I was just about to nod when her phone slipped out of her pocket. The screen lit up, showing a Snapchat chat with her best friend, Ashley.

"Once I get that $150,000, I'm going to buy Eleanor a gold ring. She's been complaining that all her friends have one, and I can't let her lose face. My mom's savings are just sitting there anyway. If I don't spend it, who will?"

The words were like poison-tipped knives, stabbing straight into my heart.

I pushed her away violently, stepping back, my voice trembling.

"Chloe, is this true? You're begging me for money just to buy Eleanor a gold ring?"

Chloe's face paled, and she scrambled to grab her phone, her eyes darting around.

"Mom, you got it wrong, that's not what I meant... I was just joking with Ashley. Paying off the debt is what’s important right now."

"I didn't get it wrong!" I interrupted her, tears finally spilling over. "What do you take me for? Your personal ATM? A tool to buy your mother-in-law's affection?"

"That is what you're supposed to do!" Chloe suddenly screamed, her face contorting with rage.

"You're my mother! You're supposed to support me! You kept me after the divorce just so I’d take care of you when you're old, didn't you? Now that I'm in trouble, helping me is your duty! Hoarding your money makes you selfish! You don't deserve to be a mother!"

"I'm selfish?"

I shook with rage, pointing a finger at her.

"I sacrificed my own happiness, gave up every opportunity, and poured all my love into you, and you call me selfish? Chloe, ask your own conscience—have I ever failed you over all these years?"

"Yes, you did!" she shrieked back, refusing to back down.

"If you really loved me, you wouldn't hesitate to give me the money! If you really loved me, you’d be like Eleanor, giving me whatever I want! But you always disappoint me! I'm telling you, you must give me that $150,000 today, or I’ll tell all our relatives that you left me to die! I’ll let everyone see what a selfish monster you really are!"

I forced down the searing pain in my chest and spoke slowly.

"Fine. I'll give it to you."

Chloe instantly stopped crying, a triumphant, smug smile appearing on her face.

"I knew you loved me most, Mom!"

I told her to come pick up the savings passbook tomorrow. She left happily, but not before warning me,

"Don't go back on your word, Mom. I'll be here first thing in the morning."

After she left, I sat alone in the empty house and pulled out all the ledgers of the money I had spent on her over the years.

From her school tuition and allowance to her wedding dowry and job-loss subsidies, I had filled several notebooks. I also found my divorce agreement from years ago, which stated: "The wife voluntarily waives all marital assets and only requests sole custody of her daughter."

Looking at these papers, a bitter wave of clarity washed over me.

I made my decision. The next morning, I didn't wait for her at home. Instead, I took my savings passbook and the ledgers, and drove straight to a notary public office.