Chapter 7
Dad pulled out a yellowed promise letter.
“She agreed to this herself. I didn’t take advantage of her.”
“This is a written promise–don’t even think about backing out.”
Looking at that promise letter written and signed by Mom herself, I felt a complex mix of
emotions.
Turns out, Dad had laid his cards on the table with Mom before my SATS.
He’d brought his illegitimate son and mistress right into our home, making Mom so angry she ended up in the hospital.
Dad had even threatened to transfer the house to his name, or else he’d break my hands so I could never take the SATs.
The mistress was even more arrogant, standing by Mom’s hospital bed cursing her death.
Mom had several heart attacks from the stress and nearly ended up in the ICU.
Worried about me still preparing for my SATS at school, she decided to placate these lowlifes for the time being.
She signed that promise letter and agreed to do the transfer after my SATS.
But Dad’s family couldn’t wait that long.
The house was in a school district, worth about $450,000, and was Mom’s premarital property.
Dad’s whole family assumed the house would eventually be his.
Chapter 7
His kept woman also thought the house belonged to her son.
None of them expected Mom to secretly transfer the house to me.
And on the day I finished my SATS, she’d hidden the deed in my suitcase.
Dad was still rambling about how Mom’s life insurance money was given to me, so he should get a share.
He also said the family savings should go to him.
Getting more worked up, he pointed at Mom’s portrait on the wall and cursed: “You schemed your whole life, sneaky and cunning, hoarding all the family money. Well, karma caught up with you, hahaha.”
“This is your punishment. You deserved to die early.”
Several aunts dissolved into tears, while Marcus saw red and wanted to fight Dad to the death.
Behind Grandpa and Grandma stood several great–uncles and aunts, all looking grim.
Over the years, they’d gotten used to bleeding our family dry.
Aunt Patricia looked at me coldly: “Delia, what does a girl need a house for? Your brother’s education is what matters.”
“Give it to your brother, and you’ll still have a family home to return to.”
I lifted my head and tore that promise letter to shreds.
Addressing Aunt Patricia and all the relatives: “Want the house for his education? Fine.”
I pointed at the little boy: “Have your son and your mistress kowtow and keep vigil for my mom, and I’ll agree.”
Chapter 7
“Otherwise, get the hell out and go back where you came from.”
The woman’s voice went shrill with rage: “How dare you! Why should my son keep vigil for your mom?”
I wiped the tears from my face and shrugged helplessly: “Everyone saw–it’s not that I don’t care about my brother. It’s his mom who doesn’t want him going to a good elementary school.”
“Isn’t motherhood supposed to make you strong? Can’t even make this small sacrifice?”
The woman slapped Dad across the face and left with her child.
Dad was frantic, wanting to follow them, but was blocked and slapped around by Marcus.
Grandpa and Grandma’s side didn’t dare say a word because they were afraid I’d lose it completely.
Dad knelt in front of Mom’s altar, beaten black and blue.
He cried while cursing Mom for being heartless.
“You always looked down on me, called me a coward and a gold–digger. I have dignity too.”
“You never gave me a cent of your salary–it all went to your family. You think I didn’t know?”
“When it comes to being heartless, who could compare to you?”
Those words cut deep, and several of my mom’s brothers immediately flew into a rage.
Uncle Marcus kicked Dad and told him to make himself clear.
“What do you mean it went to her family? Stop trying to smear my sister.”
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You Send Your
Chapter 7
“How many times have I cleaned up your messes over the years, and now you turn around
and bite me?”
Dad clutched his face and screamed recklessly: “There’s not a penny left in our savings–if it didn’t go to you people, who did it go to?”
“I’ve done the math–with the insurance money, it’s about $200,000 total. Are you still going to deny it?”
Uncle Marcus was so angry he kicked him again.
“Bullshit $200,000–I haven’t seen any of it.”
“Delia’s college tuition and living expenses–have you ever paid for any of that?”
“You know damn well where that money went.”
Dad completely abandoned all shame, scrambling up to point at me and curse: “What’s a money–losing girl doing going to college? Should’ve married her off early for bride price money–at least then raising her wouldn’t have been a total waste.”
“All the family money should be saved for my son. Why should any go to her?”
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