Chapter 2
A few hundred feet became a barrier that completely cut me off from Mom, haunting me after death.
Olivia struggled to sit up, desperation written all over her face. "Mom, I want to see Emma. It's all my fault."
She tried to get up in a panic, yanking out her IV line. Blood started pouring out, and Mom let out a startled cry.
"Sit back down. Do you hear me? Her miserable life isn't worth your concern," Mom snapped. "Even now, you end up hurt because of her. She is a troublemaker. Serves her right to die."
Mom called for the doctor, and after making sure Olivia was okay, she finally called me.
The robotic voice kept looping, and there wasn't a single message. Olivia was still crying, like she was born for the stage, able to cry or laugh at the drop of a hat.
Mom furiously slammed her phone down, still cursing under her breath. "That brat really pushes her luck. She'd better never pick up the phone or come home again. She gets on my nerves by being around."
Noticing Olivia's downcast mood, Mom immediately fell silent and started peeling fruit for her. "She's acting up. Don't worry. I will take you home soon, okay?"
Every cruel word replayed in my head, each one stabbing into my heart.
Mom, completely oblivious, happily got up to handle Olivia's discharge. Her injuries weren't serious, so the hospital bill was next to nothing.
But for me, after all the tests and life-saving equipment, the bill shot up to thousands of dollars.
Mom's face instantly darkened. She grabbed the doctor by the collar and demanded loudly, "You heartless hospital, who gave you the right to use so many drugs? Emma?
"Someone as worthless as her doesn't deserve any of this. It's just a little radiation exposure, and you're using so many medications on her.
"What a waste. I'm not paying for any of this. You might as well toss her out."
A crowd had gathered at the payment counter, and Mom's loud voice made everyone frown in annoyance.
Some people who knew her tried to calm her down. "Professor Smith, please don't get upset. If you really can't pay, I can help cover the bill. The kid's life comes first."
Mom, always so high and mighty, couldn't stand being talked to like that.
She straightened her clothes and stood up tall, regaining her usual arrogance. "I'm not saying I won't pay, but this bill is ridiculous. Olivia got the same treatment and didn't cost nearly as much.
"Emma's pretending to be sick, making a big deal out of nothing. She's nothing but trash, acting like she's some precious princess."
Anyone overhearing might think she was cursing out some enemy, but it was painfully clear that Mom was talking about me, her daughter.
I felt so humiliated that I couldn't lift my head, big tears rolling down my cheeks.
The bank card in Mom's hand was mine. She spent my savings without a second thought, but when it came to my medical bills, she refused to pay, causing such a humiliating scene.
Charlotte rushed over, her face grim and cold.
She didn't hold back, "She's already dead. What? You want me to dump her body on the street? The world has never seen a mother as vicious as you. And you call yourself a professor? What a joke."
Charlotte's words were harsh and full of resentment.
Mom gripped my bank card tight, swiped it with a scowl, and left under everyone's disgusted stares.
Before heading out, she gave Charlotte a nasty glare. "You think you're some saint? Pretending to care about her death for the money, right? Doctor? Please, you're nothing but a fraud, like Emma. Looking at you two makes me want to puke."