Chapter 4
It must've taken all the strength Mom had left.
After being abandoned in her previous life, it took coming back again for her to even try asking Joseph for help.
Even after everything, she was still willing to reach out to him one more time.
But Joseph's silence said it all.
The tiny spark of hope in Mom's eyes faded away.
Joseph sighed, looking at her. "Even if you come back to the Peyton Estate with me for one night."
"What about tomorrow? And the day after that?"
"Claire, do you really think one night is going to change anything?"
The wind in the yard picked up, biting cold.
He reached out, his long fingers tucking Mom's collar in, making sure she was bundled up. "If I let you stay at the Peyton Estate for one night.
"Everyone in the Compound will just assume Nina's doctor is shady, and that she's got something going on with James.
"And people will believe that's why I bring you home as your family. Claire, I'm not going to play along with these childish games."
I couldn't really understand what Joseph meant.
But I knew that, in that moment, Mom was just asking if she could stay at the Peyton Estate with Joseph for one night.
She just wanted to spend one night at home.
The home where she used to be surrounded by people who loved her.
Mom gently pushed Joseph's hand away.
She let out a laugh, but as she kept laughing, her eyes welled up with tears.
But there was no more hope or pleading in her eyes. She smiled, "I was just joking. Why are you taking it so seriously?"
Joseph was taken aback.
Mom lifted her hand and brushed the collar where Joseph had touched, flicking away some imaginary dust.
Her tone was icy. "Relax, you. Even if I had nowhere else to turn, I'd never rely on you. But talk about that estate..."
She paused, then continued seriously. "That house was left to both of us by Mom and Dad. Shouldn't you have someone appraise it and give me half the money? Oh, forget to mention that..."
Anger and disappointment flashed across Joesph's face.
He broke in suddenly before Mom continued, "You used to always cause trouble, and now you're so obsessed with money.
"All you care about is getting your share. And then what? Are you really going to walk away from me? From James too?"
Mom didn't hesitate; she replied in a calm, almost detached voice. "As long as I get my fair share of the money, I can walk away. It makes no difference to me whether we cut ties or not."
Mark finally lost his patience. With a dark look on his face, he stormed out of the courtyard.
Mom's hand, holding mine, was trembling.
But she still looked at Joseph's back and called out after him.
Mom said, "I'm already an adult. My inheritance from Mom and Dad, either give it to me now, or I'll see you in court."
Joseph suddenly stopped in his tracks, spun around, and stared hard at Mom.
He looked at her like she'd just turned into a stranger, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
He said, "Court? Are you serious? Claire, do you even realize what you're saying? Do you have any idea who you're talking to?"
Mom didn't say another word. They just stared at each other in silence for a long time.
After a long silence, Joseph ripped off the watch Mom had given him and hurled it to the ground right in front of her.
His eyes were bloodshot, his voice trembling with anger.
Joseph said, "Fine, just fine! Claire, look at you now! I'll leave the estate to you, and all the savings Mom and Dad left are yours too. I'll have someone drop off the transfer papers tonight. Go ahead, take whatever you want!"
With that, he stormed off in a rage.
Mom stood there, frozen, for what felt like ages.
She didn't move until Joseph's silhouette had long faded from sight.
Only then did she come back to herself, squatting down to pick up the watch from the ground.
She gently wiped the dirt off, whispering to herself. "It's an expensive brand should be worth quite a bit."
She carefully slipped the watch into her coat pocket.
Then she looked up, gently patted my head, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
She said, "Annie, you'll never have to worry about the treatment fee again."
She slowly stood up, took my hand, and led me inside.
We walked toward the room where Dad and Nina were.
Her voice lingered in my ears, gentle yet unwavering. "My story is already set in stone, but Annie, yours is still unwritten. You'll get better, and you'll have plenty of money. Annie, my baby, you'll always be safe and healthy."