Chapter 2
Flora Fletcher, my fragile cousin, was clutching her six-month belly, nearly in tears, accusing me of being heartless.
Imagining it made me smirk.
I felt no guilt.
Only cold, vindictive pleasure.
I opened my phone's photo gallery.
It had pictures of the house.
From unfinished walls and sketches to the home I always dreamed of.
I often pictured myself with the man I loved, watching the sunset through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
I planned to cook him various international dishes in that open kitchen.
In my bedroom, the big bed had the art we'd agonized over for weeks above the headboard.
That place was my dream and vision of happiness.
That man, my ex-fiancé, hooked up with his female coworker a month before our wedding.
He did it right there on the bed I chose.
That house, once my dream, became my personal hell and a constant reminder of shame.
I stared at the photos of the once warm, bright home, now filled with lingering disgust.
Delete.
I deleted every photo of that house.
It felt like erasing a rotten chapter of my life.
My phone screen dimmed, and the room darkened.
I stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep all night.
This calm was my last peace before everything blew up.
*****
The next morning, bright sunlight flooded through the curtain cracks.
The persistent ringing jolted me awake.
The hotel phone rang.
I turned off airplane mode and my phone lit up with missed calls and unread messages.
Calls and texts from my mom, aunt, and strangers.
I ignored them and answered the hotel phone.
"Miss Rivers, a woman downstairs claims to be your mother and wants to see you," the front desk clerk said, flustered.
I rubbed my temples.
That was fast. She already found me.
"Let her up," I replied.
Shortly after I hung up, my mom stormed in, swiping her keycard angrily.
She had dark circles, hadn't slept, and wore yesterday's clothes.
"Jade, what do you think you're doing? Acting all high and mighty?" she snapped angrily.
"Your aunt called all night, crying. She said you locked Flora and her family in the house. Your pregnant cousin is at risk. Can you take responsibility?"
I sat on the bed edge, watching her calmly.
When she stopped, I asked, my voice raspy, "Mom, do you remember how I got this house?"
Her face stiffened, and she looked away, avoiding my eyes.
I spoke slowly, "This house? Sean Chase's hush money after cheating, plus my family's down payment. I bought it with crushed dignity, a lost wedding, and a city mocking me.
"I let Flora stay because she was pregnant and homeless. I wanted to revive that place and move on from its dark past."
My voice turned icy.
"I didn't let her bring wolves and celebrate over my pain."
"A party? Why sound it bad?" her voice faltered. "They're her in-laws. Isn't it normal to visit? Your place is big. What's wrong with a few extra guests? We're family. Shouldn't we help each other?"
"Help each other?" I laughed. "I gave them my fully furnished 1800 square feet free, paid utilities, and they acted like owners. The old lady at the door eyed me like a thief and asked who I sought! Mom, that's my house!"
I stood and looked her in the eye.
"Do they think I'm a sucker or running a charity for them?"
My mom's phone rang, and she quickly put it on speaker.
My aunt screamed into the phone, "Sis! Have you found Jade? You must reach her! Flora's been in pain since last night, and her stomach won't stop hurting! That ruthless executioner wants to destroy our family!"
I laughed coldly and took the phone from my mom.
"Auntie, you sound lively this early, despite falling apart," I said.
The other end was silent.