Chapter 1

My daughter-in-law, Emily, threatened to cut me off because I couldn't scrape together 150 grand to buy my grandson, Ethan, a spot at a good school.

You won't put up any money, and you won't help out at all. Seriously, what kind of grandmother acts like this? Emily snapped.

My son, David, slammed the table, flipping it over. "Mom, if you're not spending your pension on your grandson, what are you saving it for—your own funeral?"

My husband, Richard, let out a sigh as he picked up the pieces. "Honestly, Helen, whatever's between you and Emily is small stuff compared to Ethan's education."

I'd already handed over every cent of my pension to Emily. Where was I supposed to get another 150 grand?

With a guilty look, Richard awkwardly saw David and Emily off. I was eavesdropping by the window and caught Richard and David's whole conversation.

Dad, you never should've given Mom's pension to Grace, and you definitely shouldn't have bought a shared grave for you and Grace. So what are we supposed to do about Ethan's school now? David snapped.

There was nothing else I could do. This was my one wish in life. I didn't get it while I was alive, but at least when I'm gone, we'll be together, Richard replied.

I was stunned. So they'd been hiding this from both me and Emily all along. The 150 grand was just to fulfill Richard's affair with his old flame.

Fine. If this family had no place for me, then I wouldn't need these ungrateful bastards either.

*****

The door to Emily's place was left barely open, and I could overhear her and her mom Carina griping inside.

"She hasn't chipped in a single cent for years. When Ethan was born, she didn't even give us a proper gift!" Emily complained.

No wonder things got so tense between us after Ethan came along. She was always making me out to be a lousy grandma.

I barged in, making both Emily and Carina freeze with embarrassment.

"Let me set the record straight—on the day Ethan was born, Richard took my whole pension and handed it all over to you guys," I said.

Emily was in shock. "What are you talking about? I never saw a cent!"

Carina put herself between Emily and me, pointing her finger right at my face.

"Quit making excuses! Every time David and Emily needed help, it was our family picking up the tab. When did you ever do anything for them?" Carina snapped.

"Now you show up claiming you've given us money? Come on. We never spent a single cent from you!" Carina added.

Emily's face kept switching between pale and flushed as she frantically dialed David's number over and over, but he didn't pick up once.

I said, "Don't bother. I know exactly where he is."

I took her down winding alleys and side streets until we finally stepped into a hazy, cigarette-scented gambling room.

At the hottest table in the place, there was Grace Miller, dripping in gold and silver, all done up and practically glowing with pride as she played her cards.

And there was my darling son, doting on her, standing right behind, massaging her shoulders and calling her 'Mom' like he really meant it—way warmer than he ever called me.

"Don't worry about a thing, Mom. If you lose today, it's all on me!" David said.

"I'm treating everyone to a big lunch later, Mom. You and all your friends!" David added.

I got furious. I shot across the room, grabbed David's ear, and twisted hard. "Just who do you think you're calling Mom?"

Emily barreled after me, planting herself right in front of David and demanding, "Richard said Helen gave us 150 grand the day Ethan was born. So where did all that money go?"

The gambling room erupted. People all stopped their games and crowded in, buzzing and whispering like it was the juiciest scandal they'd heard all year.

I jabbed my finger right at Grace. "Where'd all that money end up? Of course—straight to this shameless homewrecker!"

Emily was burning with fury, ready to go off, but David rushed in front of Grace, blocking her.

"Mom, it was you who ruined Dad and Grace's relationship back in the day. That 150 grand is basically the payout Dad gave Grace—so just butt out. How she spends it isn't any of your business," David snapped.

I was so shocked that I nearly passed out.

That was my great son.

I'd poured my whole life into him, and now he was siding with his dad's affair and calling that homewrecker "Mom" right in front of me.

I threw my hands up in the air, flopped down on the floor, and just started bawling my eyes out.

I shouted, "Guys, get over here and see this for yourself. Look at this shameless old homewrecker!

"She used to think my husband was too poor, so she dumped him and married someone from the city. Then, the moment he started making some decent money, she came begging to get back in, desperate to hook up with him once again.

"Now she won't even spare my pension. She's living a good life using my money, and my own son calls her 'Mom' right in front of me."

The gambling room was packed with gossipers, all itching for some juicy drama.

With all these gossipy folks around, just a few words and her reputation's trashed—no matter where Grace went, people would be whispering about her behind her back.

Grace's eyes grew wet, her voice trembling as she tried to plead her case. "Helen, can't we just talk this over? Not here—everyone's watching us..."

David jumped in front of her, blocking the crowd's view. "Mom, that's enough. Don't turn this into a public spectacle."

Emily started to say something, but David shot her a warning glare that made her clamp her mouth shut.

Watching that go down, I just felt my heart freeze over. I decided to let it all out. I started bawling at the top of my lungs for everyone to hear.

I yelled, "Somebody come and judge this mess. Why is my life so damn miserable? I bust my back my whole life, only for that damn homewrecker to snatch my husband, and now my own son won't even take me as his mom.

"Every single cent of my pension was given to that shameless bitch. Now she's flaunting herself in jewelry and I have no money left for my grandson's school fees. Tell me, how is this even fair?"

The crowd kept growing, with people pointing fingers and whispering.

Grace finally couldn't hold it together anymore. She broke down in tears, fumbling for her phone and dialing Richard.

"Richard, hurry and get over here. Helen's causing a huge scene, embarrassing me in front of everyone," Grace blubbered into the phone.