Chapter 5

"I accept your terms."

Only then did my mother look pleased. I wanted my father's keepsakes back, but she was afraid I'd change my mind, so she insisted on holding them until the divorce was finalized.

That night, I couldn't sleep. Jason was already spending the night at the house my mother had bought for Jolene, and now and then I could hear their voices drifting over.

When morning came, he couldn't wait to come knocking and drag me to the courthouse to file the divorce papers.

Once the paperwork was filed, I didn't wait for him. I just started walking, with no particular destination in mind.

I don't know where I ended up. I only know that with every step, some of the weight I'd been carrying seemed to lift.

When I got home, no one was there. All I saw was a fire basin full of ashes.

And a photograph, more than half burned away, with part of it still intact. It was the last portrait my father had left behind.

I crouched down in disbelief and, my hands trembling, the veins standing out beneath my skin, picked up the little scrap of a photo that had long gone cold.

That was when I understood what it meant for your heart to turn to ash.

Back in my room, I found the safe empty as well. The five hundred thousand in cash was gone without a trace.

Just then, I got a call from a friend, Chelsea.

"Sylvia, your mom is so biased. She didn't even blink when she bought your cousin a house."

"She'd shown up with a bag containing $500,000 in cash to pay the remaining balance."

"And isn't it strange—why does your husband keep his arm around Jolene?"

I let out a bitter little laugh, and my friend thought I was losing my mind.

I gave her a few halfhearted responses, then hung up and called a friend of mine who was a lawyer.

"Suzanne, do me a favor."

"I want to sue my mother. She stole three million from me to buy Jolene a house."

"I won't settle. I'll fight to get every last cent back, no matter what it takes."

My few sentences left Suzanne stunned.

"Okay, sis, hold on. Who did you just say you wanted to sue?"

"Your own mother? Are you sure?"

Bitterness clogged my throat, and I couldn't find the words to answer.

Suzanne heard the change in my voice and sighed.

"You should have done this a long time ago."

"You know what? I saw your mom, Jolene, and Jason on my way to work this morning."

"It’s so weird that Jason had Jolene in his arms, the two of them all over each other, and your mother not only didn't stop them, she was even smiling as she led the way."

"Chelsea told me too, before you called me— your mother handed over a bag with five hundred thousand in cash to pay the remaining balance."

"Chelsea thought she was buying you a house, but she's just throwing money at your innocent-looking cousin again."

"We completely understand how you feel right now, so just wait. We'll win this case for you."

"So what are you going to do after this? Don't tell me you're going to keep living with that suffocating family."

"I'm taking the overseas assignment. I'll be gone for three years."

After a few more exchanges, we hung up.

Then I saw Jolene had posted something.

She'd posted several pictures—the property deed and the house.

Her caption read: [So what if I don't have a mom and dad? My Auntie takes just as good care of me anyway!]

"Thank you, Auntie. When I strike it rich someday, I'll never forget you."

I could only wonder whether, once she struck it rich, her aunt would be the first person she'd throw away.

A lot of people thought Jolene was a decent, well-bred girl.

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes that day—when she grabbed a stray cat off the street and tortured it to death—I'd have been fooled too.

She had the face of a sweet, obedient girl, but underneath it lurked something vicious and twisted.

I can't forget that the cat was pregnant, and Jolene stomped straight on its belly.

I couldn't reach it in time. I only heard it shriek in agony.

And someone that cruel was supposed to be the devoted niece who would take care of my mother?

I let out a derisive laugh. Jason and my mother had no idea what they were in for.

I quickly packed up everything, grabbed my suitcase, and walked out the front door without looking back.