Chapter 4

"Don't be mad anymore. Since there aren't any tickets home, let's book a flight to Hainan. We'll take a trip for the New Year!"

"From now on, we won't give her a cent of our pension. We'll spend it on ourselves!"

My throat closed. Tears blurred everything until I couldn't speak.

"Mm!" The sound scraped out of me.

Perhaps Heaven was finally watching over us. On New Year's Eve, seats opened up on flights from both North City and River City to Hainan.

We booked immediately. My husband's voice came through the phone, relaxed and warm. "Wife, I'll meet you at the Hainan airport tomorrow! I heard it's warm there. I'll buy you a whole new wardrobe when we arrive!"

"Okay."

A few more words of comfort, then the line went dead.

I stood, hailed a taxi to the airport, and printed my boarding pass. Departure: 1 a.m.

I was scanning the waiting hall for a quiet corner to rest when a familiar, grating voice sliced through the noise.

"Dad, Mom! Over here!"

My daughter, Jade, stood on her tiptoes, waving frantically toward the arrivals exit. Beside her stood my son-in-law, Patrick James, holding little Savannah Stafford in his arms.

The three of them wore radiant smiles.

Smiles I had never seen directed at me.

I turned to leave, but my granddaughter had sharp eyes. Her finger shot out, pointing directly at my chest.

"Bad Grandma!"

Heads swiveled. The crowd's gaze locked onto me like a spotlight.

Jade froze. She whispered something to her husband and in-laws, then stormed toward me, heels clicking against the floor like gunshots.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

Before I could answer, her expression shifted—smug realization spreading across her face.

"You knew I was coming to pick up my in-laws, so you came here on purpose to make a scene and embarrass me, didn't you?" She scoffed. "You quit the family group chat, blocked me, and now you show up here? What exactly do you want? It's New Year's Eve—do you have to humiliate me?"

I pulled my hand from her grasp.

"You're overthinking it. I came to pick up my ticket. I'm leaving tonight."

A harsh laugh escaped her. "Stop trying to scare me, Mom. I already checked—there are no flights to North City today."

Patrick approached with his parents.

"Mother-in-law? Where are you going?"

His mother, Zoey Lambert, let out an exaggerated gasp of surprise. Jade quickly looped her arm through mine—her grip a vice—and forced a smile.

"My mom heard you and Dad were coming, and she insisted on making a fuss and coming to the airport to welcome you. She even brought a box of local specialties as a gift!"

Patrick caught the look in his wife's eyes instantly. "Yeah, that's right. We couldn't talk her out of it." He reached for my luggage. "Mom, let me put this in the car for you. We can look at the gifts later."

He yanked the suitcase from my grip. I tried to protest, but Jade pinched the tender flesh of my arm.

Hard.

"Mom, stop being difficult, okay?" she hissed. "Even if I was wrong today, I'm begging you—give me some face. If you have a problem, we can talk about it behind closed doors at home."

I ripped my arm free, pulled out my phone, and hit record.

"Fine. Pay me back the money I used over the last seven years to pay your mortgage. Otherwise, don't speak to me."

I stared her down. "Since you keep calling me scheming, let's settle the accounts clearly."

The color drained from Jade's face. Her lips trembled, but no sound came out.

"Don't worry, I won't take advantage of you," I continued, my voice steady. "Rent is $1,500 a month. Food is $1,000. That's $30,000 a year. Over seven years, that's $210,000."

"I also paid $5,000 toward your mortgage every month. Rounding down, that's $60,000 a year. Seven years makes $420,000. You just pay me back the $210,000 for living expenses. Very fair, right?"

"As for being your live-in nanny all these years—cooking, cleaning, raising the kid—I won't charge wages for that. Consider it a gift from your biological mother. Does that work for you?"

Jade looked like she might faint. Her voice rose to a shrill pitch.

"Mom! Do you have to do this here? I'm your only daughter—talking about money hurts our relationship! Besides, you and Dad will rely on me to support you in your old age. What's the point of calculating everything so clearly now?"

I opened my mouth to retort, but Patrick hurried over, urging us toward the car.

"Mom, Jade has a bad temper and speaks without thinking. I already scolded her. For my sake, please, let it go just this once?"