Chapter 6
Mom always said she spent her whole life walking on eggshells, never daring to make a wrong move.
Every step she took, she was always on edge, afraid to mess up.
The Halls family had money and power, but all they ever saw was Mom's brother, James Halls. He was three years older than Mom.
He got everything handed to him, no questions asked.
School, the family business, connections, and even the shares all went to him.
When it was Mom's turn, Grandpa only had one thing to say.
"Make sure you look good, so you can marry someone who helps the Halls family."
Mom wanted nothing to do with that.
She spent years fighting, enduring all the neglect and scorn from the Halls family.
She gave it her all, and managed to get into the best university she could.
She turned down the art school Grandpa tried to force her into.
After graduation, she had another huge fight with her family.
Mom turned down the job Grandpa had arranged for her, the one he claimed would make her husband's family and husband happy.
Instead, she joined a clinic.
She became a Memory Eraser, helping patients erase their painful memories.
After years of careful effort, Mom finally built a good life and a future for herself.
The Halls family finally realized she was no longer under their control.
They couldn't accept losing the marriage pawn they'd spent all those years raising for their alliance.
So they started putting pressure on her.
They forced the clinic to fire her, and made sure she was blacklisted everywhere else.
All her years of hard work ended up being for nothing.
That was when Richard showed up, right when Mom was at her lowest.
He had been a year ahead of her in college.
When Mom was struggling the most and every other rich kid avoided her, he was the only one who stepped up.
He was the only one who helped her.
He used his small savings to help her rent a place.
When she couldn't find work, he told her he would invest in her and help her open a clinic.
He said, "Anna, no one should be anyone's pawn.
"Whether it's marriage or your career, you should be in charge of your own life."
So Mom opened her own clinic.
Whenever things got tough, Richard stuck by her side.
The one who lent a hand when everything fell apart was the one a person never forgot.
Mom couldn't help but be moved.
After Richard drunkenly confessed his feelings to Mom, she made the most impulsive decision of her life.
For the first time ever, Mom acted on impulse.
She got married to Richard on a whim, and only then did she break the news to the Halls family.
Her parents were absolutely livid.
No matter if it was her career or her marriage, they just couldn't accept any of it.
Mom refused to give in, and after a fierce argument, she severed all contact with her family.
She and Richard had a simple wedding. That was how I came into their lives.
It wasn't until I turned two that things changed.
One day, Richard suddenly said to Mom, "Anna, your hair has gotten really dry since you had the baby.
"Why don't you cut it short and let it grow back healthy?"
Mom was a psychologist, and she was a pro at reading people.
She could tell something was off.
So she secretly followed Richard.
That was when she found out about Fiona, the short-haired, loud woman who was always at Richard's side.
That night, when Richard came home, Mom asked about Fiona.